X
- 1997
- PG-13
- Buena Vista Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
- 1997
- PG-13
- Buena Vista Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
Summary The true-life story of legendary track star Steve Prefontaine, the exciting and sometimes controversial "James Dean of Track," whose spirit captured the heart of the nation! (Buena Vista Entertainment)
Directed By: Steve James
Written By: Eugene Corr, Steve James
- 1997
- PG-13
- Buena Vista Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
- 1997
- PG-13
- Buena Vista Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
Prefontaine
55
7.4
Summary The true-life story of legendary track star Steve Prefontaine, the exciting and sometimes controversial "James Dean of Track," whose spirit captured the heart of the nation! (Buena Vista Entertainment)
Directed By: Steve James
Written By: Eugene Corr, Steve James
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
55
53% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
40% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
55
53% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
40% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Using documentary-style Super 16 film and staged cutaway interviews with friends and family, James and his photographer and co-producer, Peter Gilbert, fashioned a movie with an affecting, candid look.
But then, just when it appears the race is lost, Steve James' love for his character and art form kicks in and wins the day, and, though flawed, Prefontaine is an engrossing portrait of a complex figure.
This is filmmaking in a higher-IQ Disney style, frequently verging on terminal sappiness, all heart-quickening-guitar-music, coming-around-the-last-turn, legs-pumping-toward-glory stuff.
For the most part, the documentary segments, in addition to being unilluminating, are intrusive.
But in this standard athlete-dies-young presentation, we never do catch the magic that made Steve Prefontaine a towering figure. Instead, this Pre is a shaggy-haired, sentimental favorite -- a teen angel rather than an Olympian.
Though it is always pleasant and agreeable, this film has the bland and undemanding texture that characterizes movies made for network TV.
The acting ranges from adequate (Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermey) to awful (Lindsay Crouse and everyone else).
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
7.4
70% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
20% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
10% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
7.4
70% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
20% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
10% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
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