Without Limits

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Without Limits ★★★ Pre 1997 (PG-13)

Second biopic about ‘70s long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine (after 1996's “Prefontaine”) focuses mainly on Prefontaine's (Crudup) relationship with his University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman (Sutherland), who later was a cofounder of Nike. Also explores the heartbreak of the 1972 Olympics. Crudup does a fine job exploring the runner's playful arrogance, fearlessness, and iconoclasm (especially when dealing with the corrupt AAU). Sutherland, playing a three-dimensional character for the first time in a while, gives a fine performance. Kenny Moore, a close friend and fellow ‘72 Olympian, wrote the script with director Towne, with the full cooperation of Bowerman and Prefontaine's girlfriend. 117m/C VHS, DVD . Billy Crudup, Donald Sutherland, Monica Potter, Jeremy Sisto, Matthew Lillard, Billy Burke, Dean Norris, Gabriel Olds, Judith Ivey; D: Robert Towne; W: Robert Towne, Kenny Moore; C: Conrad L. Hall; M: Randy Miller.