Miracle

Reviewed by John Gibbon

     Miracle is the true account of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team and their victory over the world dominating Soviet team. Their slow rise to success was what people were searching for at a time when the United States was at its lowest. At a time when emotions had reached a breaking point, their victory was seen as a way to give the nation hope. Miracle never does become a patriotic film. It engages us to do one thing we do well, and that is to cheer on the underdog to victory.

     Miracle more resembles Slap Shot (1977) than it does The Mighty Ducks (1992). It delivers some funny moments but it’s a drama, not a comedy. Director Gavin O’Connor sets up a timeline in the opening credits to further strengthen the importance of events leading up to “The Miracle On Ice”. The movie is set against a backdrop of a decade's worth of political and social upheaval that by its end had changed/shaped the world and demoralized the United States. The beauty of this is that it doesn't intrude on the core of the film by trumpeting overt gestures of patriotism or nationalized showboating. It’s a feel-good film about hockey and the glory of one of the greatest sport’s moments in U.S. history. Its intent is to keep most of its focus on coach Herb Brooks and how he focuses on getting a team of talented kids to realize that they are not individuals but a team. Brooks is a successful college hockey coach who’s brought in to breathe new life to a failed U.S. Hockey program. His greatest challenge is to beat the best team in the world with a team that on paper couldn’t stand a chance.

     Casting for Miracle emulates that of Hoosiers (1986), a nice solid mix of unknown and veteran actors telling a heartfelt story. Kurt Russell is superb as Herb Brooks, right down to the eye-hurting plaid suits and subtle Great Lakes accent. Russell perfectly conveys Brooks’ mixed emotions in managing a bunch of college kids to become a force in the sport of Olympic Hockey. Russell’s dedicated intensity never comes across as being overacted to the point of a pathetic tantrum. The audience sees the insecurities and passion but also witnesses Brooks’ stoic bravado as a hockey coaching dictator on a quest for greatness.

     Patricia Clarkson nicely plays the coach’s wife offering every bit of backbone and emotion Brooks doesn’t have. Noah Emmerich plays the cool and calculated coach Craig Patrick. Friends co-star Eddie Cahill offers a strong performance as goalie Jim Craig, giving his character some personal insight and depth. The surprising benefit of the movie is that most of all the other ‘actors’ used as hockey players either never appeared in a movie or had little acting experience. By assembling this group of kids, the movie has a distinct feel of truth in it. These kids actually look like they came from Minnesota and Boston. A special case can made for Billy Schneider, who portrays his father Buzz.

     The game footage in this movie is incredibly shot. Fast paced and unforgiving from the bone crushing hits to the feet movement to the puck sailing onto open ice, every moment is convincingly caught onscreen. There’s great heart stopping moments as the U.S. faces off against the bigger, more menacing Soviet Union. The moments are slowed down to play with the intensity and give the film a true David vs. Goliath quality. While watching the team plays its heart out we can’t help but feel the desire to win, the anticipation, or the need for glory and we are cheering.  As the last half hour of the film builds towards its titular moment, the action holds us on the edge of our seat. What makes the experience all that much more enjoyable is that Miracle uses the actual footage and play by play announcement given by sportscasters Al Michaels and Ken Dryden during one of miraculous games ever witnessed. And, anyone who heard those famous words screamed by Michaels will feel that familiar leap in the heart.

     As a sports movie Miracle ranks as one the best ever made, but that’s not all this movie has. Miracle is one those great movies that have character and heart and encapsulates will and passion. We are able to watch as the team overcomes the impossible. Audiences will find themselves clapping and cheering on the underdog to victory. There’s no denying the rush of watching the moments of the game unfold, feeling like we are indeed reliving it again.