Critic Reviews

Prefontaine (1997) Rank 2 Reviews

Expert Review Summary

Movie critics combined give Prefontaine (1997) a score of 2.6529 out of 4

based on (38) reviews

Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating

Excellent

(1)

Very Good

(26)

Good

(11)

Fair

(0)

Poor

(0)

Reviews by Score:

Chicago Reader (Lisa Alspector)

As the driven competitor who learns to make hubris work for him, Jared Leto gives a complex performance that suggests a deep, intriguing interior to the character even as he maintains a convincing one-dimensional facade. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at Chicago Reader (Lisa Alspector)

Entertainment Weekly (Lisa Schwarzbaum)

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. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Lisa Schwarzbaum)

Boxoffice Magazine

...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at Boxoffice Magazine

Box Office Magazine

...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at Box Office Magazine

Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)

Nothing more than a glorified, profanity-sprinkled made-for-TV movie, from the cast right down to the shallow treatment of its subject. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)

TV Guide (Staff(not credited))

Steve Prefontaine must have been something special -- everyone says so -- but there's no magic on the screen. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at TV Guide (Staff(not credited))

Variety (Todd McCarthy)

This first dramatic feature by "Hoop Dreams" director Steve James has one foot still squarely planted in the docu aesthetic and notably lacks any psychological interest or emotional depth. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at Variety (Todd McCarthy)

Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)

Though it is always pleasant and agreeable, this film has the bland and undemanding texture that characterizes movies made for network TV. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)

TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

Steve Prefontaine must have been something special -- everyone says so -- but there's no magic on the screen. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

The New York Times (Janet Maslin)

But even after the documentary affectation gives way to a more conventional narrative, the film has trouble ringing true. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at The New York Times (Janet Maslin)

New York Times (Janet Maslin)

Disappointingly colorless and squeaky-clean. ...read the complete Prefontaine movie review at New York Times (Janet Maslin)