Without Limits (1998)

Great Pick me up

Great movie that seems to follow closely to the actual history of this runner. Enjoyable, and as an ex-runner, I felt very connected. September 11, 2008

GO PRE GO !!

It's hard to say anything bad about a movie which features the life story of a terrific athlete who died way too young. Since the object of this film died in a car wreck at age 24, it seems it's somehow "off-limits" to be critical of "Without Limits" -- the compelling story of 1970s long distance phenom Steve Prefontaine, of the University of Oregon.

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

The film spawned a resurgence in Pre gear. Go to www.cafepress.com and order up a "Go Pre" tee-shirt, among other items, if you wish.

Pre was a hard-working "cab driver," with a real personality, in a sport routinely dominated by the more 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

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