Plot
Based on the life of Olympic hopeful Steve Prefontaine, a long distance runner who lived in Oregon and died young
Release Year: 1997
Rating: 6.4/10 (3,042 voted)
Critic's Score: 56/100
Director:
Steve James
Stars: Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermey, Ed O'Neill
Storyline Life and times of Steve Prefontaine, a young long-distance runner from Oregon who pursued the dream of Olympic gold in Munich and became one of the biggest, yet most tragic sport stars in America.
Writers: Steve James, Eugene Corr
Cast: Jared Leto
-
Steve Prefontaine
R. Lee Ermey
-
Bill Bowerman
Ed O'Neill
-
Bill Dellinger
Breckin Meyer
-
Pat Tyson
Lindsay Crouse
-
Elfriede Prefontaine
Amy Locane
-
Nancy Alleman
Laurel Holloman
-
Elaine Finley
Brian McGovern
-
Mac Wilkins
Kurtwood Smith
-
Curtis Cunningham
Adrian Amadeus
-
Finnish Teammate
Laurence Ballard
-
O'Hara
Ryan Brewer
-
12 year old kid
Robert Burke
-
Young Pre
Kevin Calabro
-
3rd Airport Reporter
George Catalano
-
Patron #1
Taglines:
He beat the odds... And became a legend!
Release Date: 24 January 1997
Filming Locations: Buckaroo Tavern - 4021 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, Washington, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $8,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $311,253
(USA)
(26 January 1997)
(201 Screens)
Gross: $532,190
(USA)
(2 February 1997)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Goofs:
Continuity:
During the football scene at the start of the movie, when Steve first puts his helmet on it has no side ear pads. When he's hit a moment later and is on the ground the pads are there.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Bill Bowerman:
Pre turned distance running into a blood sport. You wanna know what he meant to folks around here? What was it
[indecipherable]
Bill Bowerman:
kids said back then? "You just had to be there."
User Review
Inspiring And Haunting
Rating: 9/10
This is the real-life story of Oregon runner Steve Prefontaine who, despite
physical imperfections, draws on inner strength of character, to set
American track records, and race in the 1972 Munich Olympics. As a runner
myself, I found this 1997 docudrama inspiring.
But "Prefontaine" is far more than a cinematic pep talk for runners. It's a
character study of an extraordinary young man from an ordinary background,
his personal relationships, and his date with destiny. It is a story that
has lasting value.
The film's visuals and music effectively convey the look and sound of the
early 70's. The acting is above average. Jared Leto is superb as Steve.
Just as good is R. Lee Ermey as Steve's coach, the legendary Bill Bowerman,
a man who found a way to make running shoes with the help of a waffle iron.
Ed O'Neill, Breckin Meyer, and the lovely Amy Locane are good, in supporting
roles.
Leto's acting, combined with a clever script, portrays Pre as gutsy,
determined, intense, charismatic, vulnerable, at times reckless,
self-absorbed, brash, and arrogant. One of my favorite segments of dialogue
has Steve and his teammate Pat Tyson jogging along, and talking about the
great runner Jim Ryun. Steve comments: "Forget Jim Ryun; he's done; I'm
gonna be the first Steve Prefontaine", to which Pat responds: "It must be
nice to want to be yourself".
Later, Pre frustratingly says to his girlfriend Nancy: "All of my life
people have said to me: you're too small Pre; you're not fast enough Pre;
give up your foolish dreams Steve."
Pre's story is told in another film: "Without Limits"; both now available on
DVD, and both good, though I prefer this Steve James directed
movie.
Often and rightly compared to other sports films, "Prefontaine" reminds me
of a film one might not think of. Pre's life was similar in some ways to
another notable person from an ordinary background, one who set out bravely
on a personal quest, of sorts, and who, in the process, like Pre, made a
powerful and lasting impression: Karen Silkwood.
Coincidentally, Pre's fate and Karen's fate were tragically similar, and
only six months apart. In both "Prefontaine" and "Silkwood", the message to
the rest of us ordinary mortals is: don't underestimate your life; do your
best; and make each day count. You never know when "fate" may
intervene.
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