Prefontaine
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Is it age appropriate?
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Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Legendary runner's story is compelling, tragic.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of Prefontaine was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Parents need to know that this is a biopic of the legendary young middle-distance runner and Olympian Steve "Pre" Prefontaine. There is standard PG-13 language and a few scenes of passionate kissing and making out. The most disturbing parts of the film revolve around the 1972 Munich Olympics, as the hostage-taking of the Israeli athletes is depicted from the perspective of Prefontaine and the other members of the American athletes. The masked gunmen are shown and gunshots are heard, but the film focuses on how the violence affects Pre and the track team, not on the violence itself.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about what disadvantages Prefontaine had to overcome to compete as an elite runner. What was his strategy to win? The film contends that in the 1970s, college athletes at the Olympic level suffered financially, so they could be considered "amateurs." Is that the case today? Parents can also use the film as a way to discuss the events at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the origins of Nike.
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More on Prefontaine
What’s the Story?
PREFONTAINE was the first of two films about renowned Oregon runner Steve "Pre" Prefontaine released less than two years apart in the late 1990s. Neither biopic -- the second is Without Limits -- was a commercial success, but both brought the legendary runner, who died in a car accident at age 24, back to the mainstream media's spotlight. In Prefontaine, director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) chronicles Pre's short life, from his working-class upbringing in Coos Bay, Oregon, to the last track meet he organized between the American and Finnish track clubs, as if it were a sports documentary, with his "aged" friends and family reflecting on his milestones.
Is It Any Good?
Pre is played by Jared Leto, who at the time seemed destined to be one Hollywood's A-list leading men. He's almost too pretty an actor to play the masculine, cocky runner, but he obviously relished the role. Pre isn't always the most likable character; he's so competitive he won't even allow children running with him to pass him, and he egotistically steals the glory from his fellow University of Oregon track athletes. Seeing him as a flawed, overly competitive athlete who can be a huge jerk is refreshing, however, when most sports movies glorify and idealize athletes and coaches.
Although the primary on-screen sources are Pre's final girlfriend Nancy Alleman (Amy Locane) and his assistant coach Bill Dellinger (Ed O'Neill), the best scenes are between Pre and head Oregon coach Bill Bowerman (R. Lee Ermey), a man deserving of his own biopic. Ermey, best known as the drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket, is expert at playing coaches and officers, and his Bowerman is exactly the kind of no-nonsense, supportive man you'd expect to lead athletes to glory. Pre's personal quest for Olympic victory remained his one unrealized dream. According to the film, the horror of the Munich Games took its toll on Pre, who finished fourth in the 5K and never got another chance for the gold. James' film doesn't linger on what could've been, however. Instead, it rightfully focuses on Pre's unquenchable thirst for crossing the finish line first, which seems exactly what Pre would've wanted.
Movie Details
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Director: Steve James
Run time: 107 minutes
Theatrical release: 01/24/1997, DVD release: 09/03/2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language
Run time: 107 minutes
Theatrical release: 01/24/1997, DVD release: 09/03/2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language
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