MovieChat Forums > Prefontaine (1997) Discussion > Leto or Crudup, Better Prefontaine?

Leto or Crudup, Better Prefontaine?

posted 20 years ago by Rimz
43 replies | jump to latest

Jared Leto in Prefontain and Billy Crudup in Without Limits, who was a more convincing Prefontaine? Who looked more like him, and who acted more like him?

[–] twolff13 20 years ago

Great question. I went to Corvallis High in Oregon, which was a competitor of Coos Bay. In the late sixties he ran and set records on our track, so as a runner of track 20 years later I was familiar with his name. When these movies came out in the late 90's I watched both of them. Billy Crudup does such a good job of playing him that it's scary. If you look at certain pictures of the real Pre, you don't know if it's him or Crudup. Without Limits may have changed a few more facts than Prefontaine, but Crudup definitely looked and acted more like Pre.

[–] alexelia 20 years ago

Crudup!

[–] CyberDalek 19 years ago

Whatever the answer to the question is, this film introduced me to the legend that is Steve Prefontaine, then i later watched without limits.

I like the Bowerman story that is within it too......Nike runners.

Good films both of them..

Go Pre

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Flush_that_poo 19 years ago

Jared makes a better prefontaine. Billy crudup's a stupid head.

[–] olephill2 18 years ago

Without a doubt, Jared Leto does a much better job as Steve Prefontaine. He even looks the part, much more so than Billy Crudup. And while R. Lee Ermey isn't exactly who you'd picture as Bill Bowerman, he did a better job with the part than his counterpart, Donald Sutherland.

"Prefontaine" was just a wayyyyyy better movie than "Without Limits" in my opinion.

[–] Myxomatosis407 17 years ago

Crudup is by far a better pre(not to mention a much better actor as well). Jared Leto is a douche! CRUDUP ALL THE WAY!!!!

[–] fategirl80 13 years ago

I liked Jared Leto as Prefontaine

[–] adcommunications 18 years ago

Crudup looked more like Pre. Leto ran like Pre. If you watch the old footage Pre ran with his hands at moments "cupped" Leto did the same, Crudup does not.

The sexual elements of the film (Without Limits) were unecessary and the language in both films should've been toned down. How do these two things enhance a film any way? I've always wondered about that.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jason.r.meyer 18 years ago

Sex and vulgarity are reality....that's how it enhances the films. You can't tone down real life for every virgin eye out there.

- Cornbread. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

[–] lildenise0521 18 years ago

leto hands down

Kayla
"IN VINO VERITAS"

[–] brefane 11 years ago

Sex and language are part of adult life and part of an athlete's life as well; it's called reality. It isn't the language or sex that seemed unnecessary, but rather 2 films about the same man who lived, competed and died young.

[–] housefish26 18 years ago

I'm sorry to say that even though Prefontaine was the better film and I liked Leto's character more, Crudup looks and acts more like the real Pre.

[–] mdscj3 18 years ago

Both movies were great, but I'm more of a Prefontaine/Jared Leto/30 Seconds to Mars fan; Crudup did a pretty good job though, but I still have to J. Leto.

[–] Ry30 18 years ago

Jared leto was a lot better and a lot more convincing