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Without Limits

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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

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(5 stars) - great and on time!
dvd was in great conditions and was quickly delivered. all I expect when buying a dvd. thanks!

(5 stars) - Great Film for Runners
I loved Without Limits. This is a film to watch when you are laid up on the couch with a running injury. Inspirational portrait of a cult hero, the favorite of high school cross country teams across America.
The perfect Christmas or birthday gift for your high school cross country runner.

(5 stars) - Motivation for runners of all ages
I have shared this movie with the local track team and it always draws an emotional response. It is a great movie for challenging teens to reach for their dreams- while not letting other influences and partying or just plain bad luck detract from their lives. And it does this without being preachy. This is one of my favorite actors, Billy Crudup's greatest movies.

(4 stars) - 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.

(5 stars) - GO PRE GO !!
It's hard to be negative about a movie about an athlete who died young. The subject of this movie died in a car wreck at 24, so it seems just "wrong" to knock "Without Limits" -- the compelling story of 1970s long distance phenom Steve Prefontaine, of the University of Oregon. But this movie earns its praise. You don't have to love long-distance running to love this movie, and love Pre even more. Like Springsteen, you sense that Pre could have been in his own audience -- yelling "Go Pre, you bleepity-bleep!" back at himself.

The film spawned a resurgence in "Pre" gear. You can go to www.cafepress.com and dial up a "Go Pre" tee-shirt, among other items. Pre had a refreshingly hard-driving "cab driver" personality, in a sport routinely dominated by the aloof "jet set."

Go "Pre" Go !!

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