![]() Noah Emmerich as the assistant coach and the man in-between Brooks and his athletes, does little more than passively question Brooks' tactics and then with a nod and a smile, see their value. The seemingly obligatory scenes of Brooks ignoring his wife (Patricia Clarkson) and children call to mind The Rookie and the scenes of the team bonding may remind of Remember the Titans. There's just something about Miracle that doesn't quite add up to the excellent film it should be, with its strong story and central performance. We also know it's 1980 when the cowbell-backed "Don't Fear the Reaper" is heard in a bar scene unfortunately, there is no scene of the team going to theaters to see Midnight Madness. Of course, without the cultural context, these Winter Olympics might not have gathered the type of attention they did. Cultural elements and "the Cold War" are touched upon in the film, but at the forefront is hockey. You may very well know the story of the team, and being 1980, the mentality that more than hockey is at stake as the US starts to look towards facing the team-to-beat and reigning champion Soviet Union team. While there is no doubt that much of Disney's young audience will be unfamiliar with the story, filmmakers do stay close to the facts. Though its real life inspiration is considerably more known, Miracle follows the sports film formula of Remember the Titans to a T. ![]() All the same, the team comprised of amateur athletes from all over the country has the attention of the press as it marks out on an unprecedented string of victories, all coming from behind. But then, this is the story of a team, or as Brooks puts it, "the name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back." Brooks stresses the importance of "team" repeatedly and even refuses to let players speak to the press. Nonetheless, we don't get more than a glimpse of any players, save for maybe three. Of course, if you were one of those who followed this Olympic run, the names may mean something to you. Unlike a film like Major League, which can quickly setup and use a diverse group of wacky personas, Miracle tries to remain true to the real players, which makes it difficult for us to keep track of who's who.Įven if you are able to keep track of characters, it may likely be with unspoken names of "Mustache Man" and "Pretty Boy." You'll probably want to stay away from "Sideburns," as there's at least ten players who fit that description. Miracle faces a problem that any sports movie, particularly one based on a true story does, of developing the characters of a teamful of athletes. The scene goes too far to make the point, but then Brooks probably did, too. One of the film's most memorable scenes shows Brooks making his players do line drills on the ice "again" and "again", even after the arena's lights have been turned off. Russell gives a winning performance and is the heart and soul of the film.Ĭoach Brooks has a distinct vision for the US team to not get embarrassed in the international competition, and it involves some unorthodox manuevers, from putting together a roster which overlooks some of the best players to making a point to distance himself from his team.īrooks' method also involves intense physical conditioning, perhaps to the point of madness. ![]() It is a noteworthy reunion of the actor and Disney films, even if Miracle is a far cry from Russell's Dexter Riley movies and other wacky comedies. Russell takes the lead role of Herb Brooks, the University of Minnesota coach who was appointed head coach of the Olympic team. Kurt Russell, the star of nearly a dozen Disney films in the late '60s and early '70s, makes a momentous but probably momentary return to family-friendly fare. Miracle retells the story of the United States Hockey team's improbably success in the 1980 Winter Olympics. With an apt balance of game reenactment, heavy preparation, and a touch of personal moments, Theatrical Release: Febru/ Running Time: 136 Minutes / Rating: PGĬast: Kurt Russell (Herb Brooks), Patricia Clarkson (Patty Brooks), Noah Emmerich (Craig Patrick), Sean McCann (Walter Bush), Kenneth Welsh (Doc Nagobads), Eddie Cahill (Jim Craig), Patrick O'Brien Dempsey (Mike Eruzione), Michael Mantenuto (Jack O'Callahan), Nathan West (Rob McClanahan), Kenneth Mitchell (Ralph Cox), Eric Peter-Kaiser (Mark Johnson), Bobby Hanson (Dave Silk)īuy Miracle from : Blu-ray + DVD
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