Prefontaine Movie Review 1996

Sports bio has appeal, thanks to lead actor Leto, in covering the brief career of early '70s runner Steve Prefontaine. Cocky and outspoken, the charismatic University of Oregon star soon owns every American record for distances between 2,000 and 10,000 meters. He's expected to gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics but falters, thanks in part to the tragedy surrounding the games. Returning home, the flamboyant Pre becomes a sports activist for athletes' rights before dying in a car crash in 1975 at the age of 24. Relatively straight narrative and little psychological insight make for few lasting impressions.

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS
Running time 107 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Sports Dramas, The Olympics, Running, Biopics: Sports, Rebel With a Cause, Period Piece: 1970s

Screenplay

Steve James, Eugene Corr

Cast

Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermey, Ed O'Neill, Amy Locane, Lindsay Crouse, Laurel Holloman, Breckin Meyer, Kurtwood Smith, Brian McGovern, Peter Anthony Jacobs

Cinematography

Peter Gilbert

Director

Steve James

Music

Mason Daring

Producer

Irby Smith, Peter Gilbert, Jon Lutz, Mark Doonan, Hollywood Pictures, Buena Vista