Without Limits (1998)

Since audiences are inclined to F/X spectacle, it was easy to understand the 1998 box-office battle between Armageddon and Deep Impact, which shared almost exactly the same premise. But two films about the now-obscure long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine? Without Limits and Prefontaine were in production at the same time, with the cheaper Prefontaine rushed into theaters in 1997 while Without Limits was held back until the fall of '98. As it turned out, neither movie scored a deep impact at the box office, but Without Limits is much more satisfying as a competent, heartfelt slice of sports history. Billy Crudup (a rising star who strongly resembles the film's producer, Tom Cruise, in both looks and intensity) plays Prefontaine, or "Pre," the mustachioed runner who blazed out of Coos Bay, Oregon, in the late 1960s. The movie grazes across the major events of Pre's career at the University of Oregon, where he blew away the competition and positioned himself as the leading American runner (and a charismatic hunk) going into the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich--that star-crossed competition at which Arab terrorists kidnapped and killed members of the Israeli team. Though the film suffers from some of the built-in problems of the true-life biopic, director Robert Towne (who earlier made a remarkable track-and-field picture, Personal Best) captures the texture of the athletes' world. Acting honors go to Donald Sutherland, turning in an emotional performance as coach Bill Bowerman; while tutoring Pre, Bowerman was tinkering with some waffle-soled running shoes, a hobby that later became a little company called Nike. --Robert Horton Amazon.com

GO PRE GO !!

It's hard to say anything really negative about a movie featuring the life story of a great athlete who died too young. It seems as if it's "off-limits" to be critical in any way of "Without Limits," the story of 1970s long distance phenom Steve Prefontaine.

But this movie deserves significant praise. You don't even have to be a lover of long-distance running to love this movie, and love Pre. Like Springsteen, you get the sense Pre could have been a member of his own crowd -- yelling "Go Pre, you bleepity-bleep!" out at himself.

Pre was a hard-working "cab driver" with a real personality, in a sport routinely dominated by the aloof "jet set."

Get Pre ... Go Pre !! July 15, 2008

Pre's Legacy in Eugene OR

Dear Prospective Buyer,

I must disclose first that I am a resident of Eugene, Oregon or "Track
Town, USA" (we are greatly anticipating the 2008 US Olympic Trials here at the end of June). so I may be a bit biased on this subject. This movie is well-written, acted, filmed and examines the life of Pre "warts and all". It is also the only movie (there is another) that included the participation of Bill Bowerman (Pre's coach) and other former members of the team with which Pre ran. Not only is Billy Crudup's likeness to Pre amazing, but he portrays him quite well! There are also segments that refer to Bowerman's constant experimentations for better shoes for his runners (leading to the founding of Nike). While Donald Sutherland does not look like Bowerman, he was able to project the wonderful mannerisms, jests and straight-talk for which Bowerman was infamous. While I am not currently a runner, when I was, I was in awe of the Univ. of Oregon track teams in the late 60's and early 70's, including the years Steve Prefontaine attended the school. As an aside, a good friend's father was a teammate of Pre's at Marshfield H.S. in Coos Bay, OR. There is a palpable pride of and aura about the legend of Pre here in Eugene even for us non-runners. The Oregon Track Club even maintains a bark running trail near the Willamette River that Pre first initiated upon his introduction to them in Europe. Enjoy.

As an adjunct to this movie, I can recommend the biography by Kenny Moore (former Pre teammate, long-time writer for Sports Illustrated and Eugene native-a good friend of mine owns the house he grew up in) about the late, illustrious U of O coach, "Bowerman and the Men of Oregon". Bowerman and the Men of Oregon: The Story of Oregon's Legendary Coach and Nike's Cofounder I was especially pleased to learn that Bowerman's great- and grand-parents founded and settled the little town of Fossil in Eastern Oregon because it was where my father was born when my maternal grand-father owned a blacksmith shop there in the late 1800's. The book is full of wonderful Oregon and track history. If you also purchase the book, you will have given yourself two wonderful gems.
Charlotte Brandt, Eugene, OR June 1, 2008

Moronic Wilkins and Sex...that's about it

I am amazed that anyone could consider this a good film. You see, when I go to a movie I don't need to know the size of a man's private part coupled with my Christian faith. Secondly, Mac Wilkins is portrayed as a hulking moron. Is it not safe to assume that producers/writers of this film have yet to graduate from Junior High? This is obviously their level of development. Rent "Prefontaine" with Jared Leto. Respect the memory of the Coos Bay native with a film worthy of his memory. GO PRE! To the writers of "Without Limits" > GO AWAY! May 27, 2008

Heartwrenching

If you have not seen this movie, you need you. Even if you know next to nothing about Steve Prefontaine, the film is excellent. It will pull you into the story and leave you full of emotion. It is an absolutely heartwrenching tale. February 26, 2008

Great movie, great service!

This is one of my favorite and most inspirational movies that I have ever seen. I too am a runner and agree with the way that Pre ran and thought. If you are a sports fan of any type, you will love this movie! November 27, 2007

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