Without Limits

Director/Writer: Robert Towne (1998)

Cast: Billy Crudup, Donald Sutherland, Monica Potter, Jeremy Sisto

The second film about Steve Prefontaine was released a couple of months apart, covers the same material as “Prefontaine”, but in a different way. Producers Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner allowed Oscar winning screenwriter Robert Towne (Chinatown) to direct and co-write the screenplay with screenwriter Kenny Moore.  Composer Randy Miller, who wrote many scores for Marvel Entertainment, made a name for himself with his score for this film that is used today in sports films, commercials, and live sporting events around the world.

Billy Crudup and Donald Sutherland headline the cast as distance runner Steve Prefontaine and Bill Bowerman, Prefontaine’s legendary track coach at the University of Oregon and the founder of Nike. Crudup has range in the role, mixing youth and passion for his running and wanting to be the best distance runner he can be and be true to himself.

Fun Fact: After watching “Without Limits and Prefontaine” again after all these years, the irony of the two lead actors in the films: Jared Leto is actually rock musician who, when not touring with his band around the world, will do his other job making films and getting an Oscar. As for Billy Crudup his most popular on film was playing Rocks Star “Russell Hammond in the classic film “Almost  Famous,”