Without Limits
Without Limits
| 11 September 1998 (USA)
Without Limits Trailers

The film follows the life of famous 1970s runner Steve Prefontaine from his youth days in Oregon to the University of Oregon where he worked with the legendary coach Bill Bowerman, later to Olympics in Munich and his early death at 24 in a car crash.

Reviews
Incannerax

What a waste of my time!!!

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Platicsco

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

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Nessieldwi

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

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Chirphymium

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

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matwood-1

Without Limits is an inspirational film based on the greatest runner that America has ever seen and the tragedy that ended his life, Steve Prefontaine. Billy Crudup, looking very similar to the late Pre, plays the role. The film takes a look into the personality of the swift footed Oregon native. It starts out with Bill Dellinger trying to recruit Pre. This is when you see the first signs of his sarcastic side taking two of Oregon's best track runners on an "easy ten" leading them all the way. You also get a glimpse of Pre's stubborn side as well telling Oregon's recruiter that he would not go to Oregon unless head coach Bill Bowerman (who didn't believe in recruiting) personally let him know that he is wanted. Pre got his greetings in a letter and headed to the running college of Oregon. Pre's first couple of weeks on the Oregon track team got him the nickname that lasted to his dying days, Rube, as a cause of his drive to push the limits. Pre's first collegiate race was a blowout that shot him to stardom, smashing the American record. After that he was the all-star of Oregon's track team. Although Pre was a performer Bowerman insisted on pushing the limits on Pre's mental side, trying to cure him of front running which in Pre's eyes was chicken sh*t. Racing was a work of art to Pre and he wouldn't sit back for 2.5 miles and then take the race in the last 500 meters. The movie focuses on this battle between front running and the way Bowerman wanted him to race (holding back). This was the biggest struggle for Pre in his collegiate career, trying to test the odds and push the limits when everyone thought they were impossible. He wanted to go all out until he had nothing left. In the 1972 Munich Olympics is where Pre would come to a devastating halt in success. With high hopes in the preliminaries Pre told reporters, when they asked how he thought the race would turn out he stuck to his normal routine in saying "I hope that it comes down to a pure guts race, if so then I am the only one who can win it." He also said at about the same time a phrase that is famous even still today "If you're going to beat you will have to bleed to do it." Pre got beat in the race for gold and from there he went into a state of depression. The movie is not just some statistic, though, it has the romance that diverges the movie to a more emotional side. Mary was the soft spoken religious type that went on with her normal self until she was spotted by Pre. Love that Pre had never felt before was driven to be with Mary. Although at first Mary wasn't interested Pre's sarcastic, outspoken, and completely goal driven attitude grabbed her and pulled her in. Pre's relentless and persistence really shows in his pursuit of love. His ability to think he could do anything he wanted confused most because he refused to believe in talent. Pre's legacy went to a crashing end as the movie closes out its story. A powerful ending that leaves a lasting impression of the 24 year old track runner that was troubled with the fact that a mediocre effort could win a race and a magnificent effort could lose one. Pre broke every American record from 2,000 meters to 10,000. Director Robert Townes does a great job depicting the struggle, with help from a friend of Pre's, Kenny Moore also a world-class runner, the dynamic duo comes together to make a classic sports movie that anyone can relate too.

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kinc1986

Billy Crudup's resemblance of Pre is astounding he looks very much like Pre. Also the movie has great spots of historical truth with the races he was in the way he raced and how he eventually helped with founding Nike with Bill. I saw this movie and it made me want to run, no i am going to college to compete and a Division 1 level, not as good as Pre but it got me going. The only thing that I wish was that I got to actually see Steve Prefontaine race, he would have been the best in the world.I wish that we actually knew what happened that night he died. Billy Crudup I'm a big fan of your movies, Without Limits, Almost Famous. Thanks

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opalmaia

What a great fantastic film. I bought this film on the reviews I read on IMDB and I was not let down. I don't really know much on any sports as you wouldn't ever catch me on a track! But, watching a film about one mans faith in himself & his sport means I have a new found interest, and one I will follow over the following future sports events. I really now want to read about Prefontaine and find out more about his short but amazing life. Billy Crudup is just compelling to watch and would like to know more about the research he did on this role on such a bright light of a human. What I like about Donald Sutherland is you sooo easily can see how he lives & captures the moment that you believe him with no doubt - he is Bill! Everyone in production, etc, have put their heart & soul into this story, which makes the film enjoyable and one you don't wish to end but it does very tragically. It's just inspirational in every sense about a man who won't ever be forgotten. A must!

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mhasheider

A fascinating and unique story of the legendary American distance Steve Prefontaine, who is portrayed here by Billy Crudup. To be honest here, I haven't seen the other film that was based on Pre's life ("Prefontaine"). This film places the majority of its' attention solely on the relationship between Pre (Crudup) and his coach in college and the Olympics, Bill Bowerman (Donald Sutherland). Like Crudup, Sutherland is near perfect here and should rank as one of his best performances. The monologue that Sutherland gives after showing television news footage of the infamous massacre that tarnished the Summer games in Munich is just...flawless. Monica Potter is fine here as the girl who Prefontaine had the most interest in. Look for director William Friedkin appears early in the movie in a small role. The film's director/co-writer, Robert Towne is wise in how to handle the drama and tension here and shows what a genius he is. Now that I look back at the film, I wonder if there'll be another great distance runner to come from the U.S.. The answer might come in Alan Webb? I don't know.

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