Miracle

Released 2004
Stars Kurt Russell, Eddie Cahill, Michael Mantenuto, Patrick O'Brien Demsey, Nathan West, Noah Emmerich, Patricia Clarkson
Directed by Gavin O'Connor

The most amazing thing about Miracle, the unlikely tale of a bunch of unknown U.S. ice hockey players who overcame incredible odds to win the 1980 Olympic gold medal, is not the story, but the fact that it took nearly 25 years for this film to be made. Admittedly, a television version – with Karl Malden playing coach Herb Brooks and Steve Guttenberg as goalie Jim Craig – was made the year after those Olympics. But this is the first time this wonderful rah-rah story has made it to the big screen. The second most amazing thing about it is that the story is so compelling – and the production so well done – that even a grumpy Canadian like me finds it darn near impossible to avoid getting all choked up as events build to a thrilling Lake Placid Olympics climax.

While director Gavin O’Connor covers 1970s American history through newspaper headlines, radio clips and snippets of television footage during the film’s opening credits, this is very much the story of a hockey team, and it’s one that focuses in on coach Brooks and his single-minded determination to construct the best possible team from a bunch of young college players. While the movie touches on life at home for Brooks and the personal challenges facing Craig, the vast majority of the filmmakers’ attention stays on the ice throughout.

Summary by Brian Webster

This is a good flick and not at all what I expected. I thought it would be a syrupy sentimental sports flick, but I was way wrong. It avoids the sport movie traps by focusing on coach Herb Brooks and not blowing the event out of proportion. It was certainly one of the greatest upsets in American sports history, but it was, after all, a hockey game. It's true it was an incredible source of national pride at at a time when we desperately needed it, but it was still a hockey game. The movie understands this and how many people wanted to make it into much more, but Herb refused. Speaking of Herb, this was one hell of an accomplishment. It's amazing how he had a plan and was able to choose the proper kids to execute it. Above all, I think his stroke of genius was getting the scrimmage game with the Soviets. He knew he had to take the awe away from his players, and it worked in spades. The whole story is just incredible and fun to watch even though we know the final outcome. --Bill Alward, May 30, 2004