Running Brave

Billy Mills, the 10,000-meter-run gold medalist at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, is a Sioux, hence the title of this unexceptional biography. The film follows Mills (Robby Benson) from the reservation to the University of Kansas, where he distinguishes himself as a distance runner under the watchful eye of Coach Easton (Pat Hingle), although he finds adjustment to his new surroundings difficult. After marrying and joining the Marines, Mills continues training and eventually triumphs at the Tokyo Games. Benson, whose versatility as a screen athlete often transcends his acting ability, fails to bring real depth to his portrayal of Mills, though his performance here is far...