Movies:
Without Limits
DVD Release
- Release Date: 1999
- Languages and subtitles: English, Français
- Interactive menus
- Production notes
- One theatrical trailer
- Scene access
- Rating:
- Genre: Drama
- Movie Type: Sports Drama, Biography
- Themes: Fighting the System, Underdogs, Teachers and Students
- Director: Robert Towne
- Main Cast: Billy Crudup, Donald Sutherland, Monica Potter, Jeremy Sisto, Matthew Lillard
- Release Year: 1998
- Country: US
- Run Time: 117 minutes
- MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
One of two filmed biographies of late track star Steve Prefontaine to be produced in the late '90s, Without Limits comes from director Robert Towne, who previously took a stab at the track-star drama with his directorial debut, 1982's Personal Best. Billy Crudup stars as the ill-fated athlete who overcame physical obstacles to win an NCAA championship and compete in the 1972 Munich Olympics. The film follows Prefontaine from his youth in Oregon where, despite one leg being longer than the other, he shows himself to be a talented runner. Later, while attending the University of Oregon, Prefontaine meets and forms a strong bond with his coach, Bill Bowerman (Donald Sutherland), the man who would later go on to found the Nike shoe corporation. College is also where Prefontaine falls for classmate Mary Marckx (Monica Potter), beginning a romance that lasts until his untimely death in a 1974 automobile accident. The other film about Steve Prefontaine was 1997's Prefontaine which starred Jared Leto in the titular role. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie GuideReview
Without Limits is a return to familiar territory for screenwriter Robert Towne, whose directorial debut, Personal Best (1982), also focused on Olympic athletes. Towne makes his third stab at directing, with engaging if unspectacular results, successfully translating the love of the sport but unable to make it contagious. Produced by Tom Cruise, Without Limits failed to beat Prefontaine -- the competing version of the story directed by Steve James and starring Jared Leto -- to the multiplexes. But neither film made much of an impact on an audience generally unfamiliar with the exceptional distance runner, who was killed in a car accident at age 24. The 25th anniversary of the Munich Olympics seems to be the peg for the sudden renewed interest in Prefontaine, but his story is not quite compelling enough to speak to audiences beyond his group of worshippers, who will no doubt be satisfied with this project. Billy Crudup exudes effortless charisma as the mercurial athlete, and Monica Potter glows as his girlfriend. Donald Sutherland also has fun with eccentric coach and mentor Bill Bowerman, but what's even more fun is learning about the origins of the Nike shoe company, which Bowerman founded alongside magnate Phil Knight. For example, the prototype for Bowerman's revolutionary "waffle" sole design was indeed cooked up in his waffle iron. These and other details make Without Limits a likable biopic, but it's too middle of the road to make a lasting impression outside of distance-running circles. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie GuideCast
- Billy Crudup - Steve Prefontaine
- Donald Sutherland - Bill Bowerman
- Monica Potter - Mary Marckx
- Jeremy Sisto - Frank Shorter
- Matthew Lillard - Roscoe Devine
Billy Burke - Kenny Moore; Dean Norris - Bill Dellinger; Gabriel Olds - Don Kardong; Judith Ivey - Barbara Bowerman; William Mapother - Bob Peters; Amy Jo Johnson
