From the very beginning, Prefontaine takes an interesting route to tell its story. It opens like a documentary, with interviews from various people who knew Steve "Pre" Prefontaine; so convincing are these segments that at first I wasn't sure that these were actors representing Pre's family and friends, rather than the real individuals themselves. More than a framing device, these "interviews" are interspersed throughout the film, providing a deeper context for Pre as a person whose life had a great effect on those around him.

So right from the start, we know something of what Pre will become: a great runner. The first part of the film, then, follows Pre from boyhood to high school to college, showing his transformation from a spindly, unremarkable kid to a dedicated runner determined to achieve greatness.

But what does it take to achieve greatness? The question hovers in the background of the film, and from both Pre's personality and the events of his life, the answer appears to be a complicated one. Talent, to be sure, and a will to win; these are the attributes of greatness that come easily to anyone's lips. More than that, Prefontaine suggests that the elite in any endeavor go beyond talent and desire, into obsession.

Steve Prefontaine was consumed by his need not just to excel, but to be the best at everything. Nothing else could satisfy him; anything less than victory was complete and utter defeat. Given the tiny space at the highest pinnacle of achievement, and the many who strive for glory, it's inevitable that most who strive to win will fall short of their goal. One of the most telling attributes of a person's character is how he or she reacts to falling short of the mark. Most healthy, stable people accept that "doing one's best" is a reward in itself, and that victory isn't everything... which means that those who will snatch the gold medals will be those who feel compelled to win, driven to be the best in a way that's stronger than reason or good sense.

Whether the film is completely accurate with regard to Pre's actual life, I can't say; but one thing that Prefontaine does quite well is to present Steve Prefontaine as a real human being rather than a cardboard hero. Jared Leto's portrayal of Pre brings out his struggle with the demons of defeat as well as the glory of victory.

The most engaging portion of the film for me is the first half, in which Pre is still the "new kid on the block," attempting to prove himself to his coach and to the public. The fast pace of the story slows a bit when we get to the Munich Olympics, but it's more than made up for by an extremely well-handled presentation of Pre's race. I'm not a special fan of track as a general rule, but here Prefontaine had me feeling genuinely nervous along with Pre before the race, and completely on the edge of my seat during every moment of the race itself.

At 107 minutes, Prefontaine seems that it might be a trifle undeveloped in the latter half of the film. While the first half is very well-presented, Pre's post-Munich activities are sometimes sketchily explained. Track fans may pick up on the subtleties of Pre's dealings with the ruling organization of amateur track, but I found that the later plot development could have used a bit more context to be appreciated.

Video

Prefontaine is presented in a non-anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer. Other than not being anamorphically enhanced, it's a respectable effort. One of the best aspects of the image is that it's free from edge enhancement; colors and contrast also hold up well. Some noise is evident in the image, but on the whole it's a good-looking picture.

Sound

The Dolby 5.1 surround sound is very well-handled on this DVD. It hits the mark for all the requirements, with clear dialogue and a clean, natural-sounding feel to it overall, but in addition to that, the surround mix is excellent. All the channels are used very well for discrete environmental sounds, producing a very convincing effect of some off-screen actions taking place behind or to one side of the viewer. The total surround experience is also handled very effectively in the many crowd scenes, making the viewer feel a part of the audience that's clapping or cheering at the track meets.

Extras

All we get is the movie: no special features.

Final thoughts

Prefontaine is a winner, a well-crafted and very enjoyable movie. Mainly a character-focused piece that offers a thoughtful look into the psyche of a champion driven to win, Prefontaine also offers an engaging narrative and some nail-biting competition sequences. It's recommended both for sports fans and any interested viewers.