While this is an interesting film, well-made and thoughtfully constructed, the deviations that it takes from standard storytelling cause it to fall a little flat.
Namely, what feels like it would be the climax in another movie (Prefontaine's race in the Munich Olympics) falls about half-way into this film. (Not to mention the fact that a standard climax is prevented due to the actual events surrounding those Olympic games.)
The second half of the film concentrates on Prefontaine's frustrations and difficulties following the games (stemming both from the events that occurred there, and also the treatment of amateur athletes in general around that time). Because of this, the second half of the movie, to me, feels drawn out and longish, even though the movie itself comes in well under two hours.
While the interesting format of the film (it is told as though it is a documentary, featuring interviews with now-older friends and relatives of Prefontaine [well, not the real people -- they're all just actors playing the parts]) lets it stand apart from the standard Rocky-type sports film, that uniqueness can't quite make up for the weakness of the structure.
(One note -- I was particularly impressed at the way that the characters were aged for their older appearances. It's rare that this is done well, and it is surprisingly well done here.)
Namely, what feels like it would be the climax in another movie (Prefontaine's race in the Munich Olympics) falls about half-way into this film. (Not to mention the fact that a standard climax is prevented due to the actual events surrounding those Olympic games.)
The second half of the film concentrates on Prefontaine's frustrations and difficulties following the games (stemming both from the events that occurred there, and also the treatment of amateur athletes in general around that time). Because of this, the second half of the movie, to me, feels drawn out and longish, even though the movie itself comes in well under two hours.
While the interesting format of the film (it is told as though it is a documentary, featuring interviews with now-older friends and relatives of Prefontaine [well, not the real people -- they're all just actors playing the parts]) lets it stand apart from the standard Rocky-type sports film, that uniqueness can't quite make up for the weakness of the structure.
(One note -- I was particularly impressed at the way that the characters were aged for their older appearances. It's rare that this is done well, and it is surprisingly well done here.)