Queen, Mötley Crüe, Elton John, David Bowie, Hollywood is churning out biopics to capitalize on popular music that audiences have been listening to for decades. It was only a matter of time before Bruce Springsteen got his due. And although he isn’t getting a traditional biopic (yet), his music will be celebrated on the big screen in a movie that speaks to the power music has to change people’s lives. Check out the trailer for Blinded by the Light below:
Based on Safraz Manzoor’s memoir Greetings From Bury Park, Gurinder Chadha’s film Blinded by the Light stars newcomer Viveik Kalra as Javed, a teenager of Pakistani descent growing up in the town of Luton, England. Adolescence is a challenge regardless of your circumstances, but in addition to girl problems, Javed has to deal with being pulled between two different and seemingly incompatible cultures.
Javed is trying to reconcile his identity, desiring to make his family proud, follow their wishes and stay true to his Pakistani roots in an intolerant town. But he's also pursuing his own passions, being a teenager, and trying to fit in. It’s only when he is introduced to Bruce Springsteen’s music, music that really speaks to him, that he is able to find the confidence to be who he is.
It’s a coming of age story that is incredibly relatable and illustrates the power that music has to literally change our lives, especially when we’re young and our parents don’t approve of what we’re listening to. Music not only speaks to how we feel, but puts words to feelings we didn’t know we had, helping us understand and work through them.
Blinded by the Light looks like a pretty straightforward take on this type of coming of age story, but that is not a knock because this trailer makes it look positively delightful. Viveik Kalra looks great in the role and his unbridled enthusiasm for The Boss, even in the face of criticism and misunderstanding from his family and friends, is quite winning.
This feel-good movie sounds to be jam-packed with Bruce Springsteen classics, guaranteeing it will have a great soundtrack and be a fun theatrical experience for audiences, just like last year’s Bohemian Rhapsody. And while this isn’t a biopic of The Boss, he did give the film his blessing according to Deadline.
This trailer also has some really funny lines that paint this film as both heartwarming and hilarious. When Javed’s friend’s girlfriend lets him know that her friend would be perfect for him because she isn’t picky, you feel bad, but can’t help but laugh at the absolutely brutal backhanded compliment.
Blinded by the Light actually premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and the early reviews were quite positive and the film currently boasts a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Viveik Kalra is joined in the film by Rob Brydon, Kulvinder Ghir, Nell Williams, Dean-Charles Chapman and Peggy Carter herself, Hayley Atwell.
Blinded by the Light arrives in theaters on August 14. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see this and all the movies headed your way in a crowded summer season.
