- Classic DVD
- Exclusive interviews, highlights, and behind the scenes coverage
- DVD’s main menu allow you to jump directly to the action
- Presented in full-screen digital video
The film follows the life of famous 1970s runner Steve Prefontaine from his youth days in Oregon to Oregon University where he worked with the legendary coach Bill Bowerman, later to Olympics in Munich and his early death at 24 in a car crash.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
Buy “Without Limits” For Only $3.97
March 8, 2008
#1
This film documents the training and durability of Steve Prefontaine from Oregon to become a track star who overcame all odds to win. In his early live, he had been picked on by bullies because of his mother’s nationality so, like Forrest Gump, he had to learn to run fast from those crass youngsters. When he finished high school, he was courted by several universities but chose to stay in his home state to be trained by Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon.
Steve was a go-getter who really didn’t know his place and was unsophiscated, not knowing how to pace himself. Word of talent gets around and the athletes stick together. He is told by his coach that it takes eight percent more energy to be a leader than a follower. Steve always wanted to lead the pack and be out front. Bowerman thought he was a god.
One song fit in with the action, the Barry White sexy talking, when he hurts his foot in a very strange way. He resorts to telling lies about exactly how he hurt it. Female can be an athlete’s downfall, but Steve was unconcerned and had a determination to win at any cost. It was a likely story, and sometimes he had to admit that “it wasn’t a nice thing to do.”
He was able to run in the 1972 Olympics in Munich after graduating from high school in 1969. He burned himself out trying to be the best.
March 8, 2008
#2
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!
March 8, 2008
#3
Maybe because i had such high expectations; for the casting, the portrayal, the energy of the subject of Steve Prefontaine, that i could not get into the movie. I mention casting as the first because it was the first flaw. Donald Sutherland played his heart out as Bill Bowerman, but it was a mistake putting him in. Mind you, he is an outstanding actor, but i found him unconvincing. The actor who played Frank Shorter had no resemblance to him whatsoever. The U.S. Olympic Team was a faceless blur. Lasse Viren looked twenty pounds overweight and could have been a rugby player. The Bill Dellinger character was undeveloped. The movie just didn’t flow like the ’60′s and ’70′s. And where was his last race, the one where he wore the black singlet? This movie never delivered the excitement of any of his races, and it’s a shame. Read about Prefontaine, learn all you can about him and you’ll see what i mean about this movie. Then when you finish, watch the movie ‘Prefontaine.’
March 8, 2008
#4
This movie was good….if you don’t like to receive factual information. This movie was way too Hollywood-ized to be enjoyable to someone who thinks the real Prefontaine is anyone noteworthy. The plot was shaky, and didn’t come close to the actual person Pre was. If you want to see a good Pre movie, try the one called “Prefontaine.” It’s much better and is factual!
March 8, 2008
#5
Tom Cruise, Producer, should have seen to it that this biopic better fulfilled its subject matter. The story of Prefontaine is an inspirational one, for sure, but this seemingly “TV movie” version of the great distance runner’s life, doesn’t exploit either the heart of a human story, nor the excitement of competition. To compare this film with “Chariots of Fire” is ludicrous.
I suspect that this DVD will most appeal to devoted runners, like myself. It doesn’t offer much for the rest of the movie going audience.
Releasing the DVD could have provided the filmmakers with a great opportunity to punch up the appeal of the Prefontaine story by including some special features, such as a commentary track by some of the real-life professional who knew and worked with him (ie. Frank Shorter).
Distance runners are constantly advised to pace themselves. This work could have done with more front running!