Miracle (2004) User Reviews

A Surprisingly Good Sports Film Lacking Most Cliché

[classicalsteve · 8/10 · 28 February 2010]

During the 2010 Winter Olympics, NBC broadcast a 30-minute documentary piece on the 1980 US Olympic ice hockey team. While I knew the story of how they beat the Soviets and won the Gold Medal (I had seen it live as a kid), I was expecting some clichéd rhetoric about the team and what they had done, akin to films like "Knute Rockne, All American" (1940) and "Rocky" (1976). I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story was anything but. The coach of that team, Herbert Brooks, was no hackneyed clone of a Knute Rockne or a Vince Limbardo. Instead he was a tight-fisted uncompromising hockey general who distanced himself from his players, more like a Bobby Knight than a Knute. This was not someone with whom teammates would feel comfortable having a beer. Instead, his inspiration to the players came from the other direction, by exposing their weaknesses and in some cases using unfairness and resentment as anchors from which to get the best out of his players. I decided that "Miracle" might be worth a look, especially as a prelude to the US vs Canada in the gold medal round of 2010 Olympic Hockey.

Kurt Russell portrays Herbert Brooks as a lean and mean hockey coach who leaves sentimentality at the front door of the ice hockey rink. From the get-go he informs his players he's not there to be their friend. His goal is to let loose their highest playing potential coupled with the best conditioning among the Olympic hockey players at all costs. At times, he seems to be driving the players too hard well-beyond their comfort zones. Much of the story is the unconventional training techniques he uses to prepare the players for the 1980 Winter Olympics. According to the film, Brooks is relatively new to these techniques which he adopted while studying USSR hockey. His plan is to use the Soviets' techniques against them in the Olympics, which is not just about strategy but also about extreme discipline and an uncompromising tough sensibility akin to the military. One character points out that everything Brooks does has a purpose behind it.

The only short-coming in the script may be the portrayal of Brooks' wife who finds her relationship with her husband compromised, at least according to the film. I wondered if it played out in real life as in the film or if it was fabricated by the screenwriters. Too many sports movies have this sort of relationship with the wife acting as the balance between the obsessive coach and the needs of his family. She's been through this before. Why did she marry him in the first place? To be a successful account?

Certainly, most Americans know the outcome of the story, although the sequence of the game between the US and the Soviets is riveting and plays out about as well as the fight between Rocky and Apollo Creed. However, the meat of the story is really about the relationship between Brooks and his players, and the coach's single-minded determination to create the best Olympic team possible. By putting a certain amount of anger and determination into their hearts and heads, Brooks brings out the best in them, much like a sergeant in boot camp. The speech before the Americans played the Soviets is one of the better scenes of its type, leaving behind the "do it for the Gipper" silliness that has become a sports cliché. The only moment which was lacking in the film was the speech before the very final game when the US played Finland after the Soviets. In that speech, apparently Brooks told his team that if they didn't win, they would go to their graves regretting the missed opportunity. I would have liked to have seen Russell give that speech as well. Apparently Herb Brooks died before the principal shooting of this film had ended, and the film is dedicated to him. Just about as fitting a tribute as a coach could ask for.

A Miracle for Disney

[j-lacerra · 8/10 · 13 May 2005]

Don't let the fact that this is a Disney movie deter you from watching a thoroughly enjoyable and adult-level sports movie for two-plus hours. Kurt Russell does an excellent job portraying coach Herb Brooks as a complex and sometimes ruthless and inscrutable leader. Very UN-Disney-like indeed.

I am not a hockey fan - in fact I dislike the game intensely - yet I enjoyed the well-crafted scenes of competitive team play. Knowing the outcome of the BIG GAME did not detract at all from the excitement and suspense surrounding it. Sort of like the suspense Ron Howard achieved in Apollo 13 (where we knew in advance the outcome, but were worried about and later relieved for our astronauts).

A must-see for sports fans and non-fans alike.

Good movie

[michael-hatch · 7/10 · 30 March 2004]

I was wary at first of Disney production of this film. I didn't want the cheesy Mighty Ducks type of sports movie, especially when dealing with the awesome task completed by these players. I thought the film makers did a nice job and the movie itself was quite entertaining. I think it exposes a whole generation to the 1980 U.S. hockey team and what they accomplished. Even though I am not a fan of Kurt Russell, I thought he was very good as Herb Brooks. He had the mannerisms and the voice down very well. Russell is a huge hockey fan himself so I know it was honor for him to play Brooks. For die hard hockey fans, this movie will entertain and it does not poison the game action or what it is really like to play hockey.

It was winter of 1980, and I remember it well.

[TxMike · 1 November 2004]

'Miracles do happen', the announcer's original broadcast is heard during the scenes recreated for this movie, 'Miracle.' Anyone who remembers what happened during those Winter Olympics in 1980 will know what this movie is about, and how it ends. However, there can be no spoilers, because this is not a movie about a hockey game, or even the sport of hockey. Nor is it about the players. It is solely about the coach, Herb Brooks, who, with his unconventional style and wisdom about the game, took these young hockey players to a level no one thought possible. In the end it didn't really matter whether they won or lost the game against the Russian. What mattered was that each of the 20 players found out what was possible inside himself.

The movie begins with a montage of scenes from the period, the years, leading up to the selection of the Olympic hockey team in the summer of 1979. The cold war. The oil shortage and long gasoline lines. The disgraced President Nixon. The embattled President Carter. The Russians invading Afganistan. Then we see coach Brooks doing it his own way. A year and a half of scouting, one day of try-outs, to pick the 26 players which would eventually be cut to 20 for the competition. The DVD extras show us how much went into making the movie faithful, including a session with Brooks himself, who died in an accident right after filming was wrapped up. A very fine movie of a very inspirational journey.

Miracle Gets A Hat Trick

[mercury4 · 10/10 · 6 March 2008]

Miracle is a Walt Disney movie about hockey. This sounds like Mighty Ducks, but believe me, it's not. Miracle stands on its own as a great movie. Disney has made true stories about sports in the past like Remember the Titans, and movies like that had the same Disney feel. Miracle is a movie for everyone to go see. It is a wonderful movie about a true game in history.

This movie tells the story of Herb Brooks. Brooks works endlessly studying films and picking players to represent the United States in the Olympics. He doesn't just see this as a job, but he sees it as a second chance. Brooks was on the 1960 Olympic hockey team, but just before they left to compete, Brooks was cut from the team. The team went on to win, but Herb Brooks wasn't there to get the gold. Now this is his chance to win. The movie starts with Brooks getting the job and from there we see his plan. Brooks tells his players from the start how he's not going to be their friend, but he's going to be their coach. When Brooks says something he means it. Brooks changes the way the Americans play and he teaches them the way their tough opponents play. Brooks plans to beat them at their own game. It seems impossible in the beginning for Brooks to get these young guys that have never played together, and teach them a whole new way to play. It also seems impossible for the USA team to defeat the Soviet Union. The Soviets seem like an unstoppable force that can't be beaten. When you see the Soviets in action it does look impossible, but this movie shows how nothing is impossible. Miracle really doesn't go into all of the players, except Jim Craig. Craig and his father are going through a tough time because of Mrs. Craig's death. You see Jim struggle and all you want throughout the movie is for him to win the big one for his family. Besides Jim Craig, you're never really introduced to the rest of the guys. The only one that you're with throughout the movie is Herb Brooks, well portrayed by Kurt Russell. You see what it's like to assemble a winning team. You also see Brooks getting so caught up in his work that he has no time for his family. All you want is for this guy to win.

This movie is more than just a sports movie. It is a movie that shows dreams can come true. You watch a team of young guys bond and become a family. You see these guys win from all of their hard work and determination. Their win at the time was a miracle and even today watching this movie you get the same great feeling that these guys did the impossible. This is a great sports movie and even if you don't like sports, it is still a great movie.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone. It is a movie that you should definitely see if you're down because it is a movie about hope. It is also about victory and when the movie is over it will have every red-blooded American cheering for the good old USA. This movie must have done something right because it had everyone get just as excited as they would have been years ago. When the USA team shoots that final goal to make the score 4 to 3 and the clock starts to wind down, you see everyone getting more and more excited. Finally when the clock runs out and you see that the USA has won, everyone is on their feet cheering. Then when the American flag is waved high in the air you hear the people in the theater cheering USA. Miracle made you feel as if you were back in time witnessing the real game. The movie lets you know what's going on at the time with clips from history and it is just amazing how a film can do this. Be sure not to miss this spectacular film. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. The movie is well written, well acted, and well filmed so Miracle gets a Hat Trick.

Great job, Kurt et al

[canuckteach · 9/10 · 16 June 2011]

Kurt Russell does a wonderful job of portraying Herb Brooks, an innovative hockey coach, and a hard-driving motivator of the young American team that competed at, and won, the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic hockey championship. Indeed, everyone is great, including the hockey players who learned to act to portray the famous group of college amateur players that Brooks pulled together to form a tight-knit and well-conditioned squad.

Camera work and re-creation of key plays is amazing -- maybe the best hockey footage ever shot (see the DVD special features). Also touching is the collage of tragic events involving the USA in the 60's and 70's, leading up to the Olympics. By the way: I found the (voiceover) speech we hear from 1980 by Jimmy Carter ("The USA has a crisis of confidence..") as moving as MLK's famous "I have a dream" speech. It sets the stage nicely for the events that follow - we all need a dream from time to time, or maybe a Miracle.

And you don't feel sorry for the Russians, this the last vestige of an arrogant cold-war-produced hockey machine: seasoned veterans laying out college kids with nasty body-checks, or slashes (just in case you thought us Canucks had the patent rights to tough hockey). Good news, though: the USA was up to it, repaying hefty checks in spades.

Finally, there is is some insight into Brooks hockey ideas, years ahead of their time: carefully-rehearsed breakout plays, circle patterns of player movement, and short 40-50 second shifts to keep players fresh.

There is a nice up-to-dater on where the players were in 2006 when the film was made, but the NHL careers were overlooked - several of these guys went on to have stellar careers in professional hockey. The talent level was substantial.

Anyway-- good job all around.

Historically accurate and put in good context

[dk1517-463-296753 · 10/10 · 30 September 2012]

Even if you're not a sports fan you can appreciate this movie for being historically accurate. Compared to other sports movies, this one and "Hoosiers" are the two best ever made.

It begins with scenes from the 70's and they do a great job throughout pointing out the Iran hostage crisis, gasoline shortages and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, yet not to the point where any of those things are overdone.

I wish they would've shown more of the gold medal game against Finland, but the movie was already long enough and it might have taken away from the drama of beating the Soviets.

As for other things, Kurt Russell is excellent as Coach Brooks. My favorite scenes with him are the "Great Moments" speech and when he tells the team of the Russian style of play and how they can play with them by attacking rather than defending.

And I love the fact that they got a small clip of the famous Mean Joe Greene Coke Commercial, which in fact came out at that time, the fall of 1979.

The outcome is predictable, since we all know who won, but in spite of that, this movie has plenty of drama and suspense. Finally, this is also a family friendly movie--no excessive profanity or sexual scenes. Definitely a "10" in my book.

Great movie!

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 7 February 2004]

I stopped myself from chanting USA USA in the theater, because my wife would have left, but I still got emotional and raised my hands up when the US scored. I still miss the Jets leaving the Peg, and still have the game reflexes when I watched the movie with a hockey crowd. I remember watching most of the games when I was eleven. Everyone hated the big Red machine from the Soviet Union, that killed the NHL all stars, and team USA afterward in a pre-Olympic game. Part of the cold war fever taking place and this movie showed the importance of the game back in 1980. I was chanting USA USA while watching the game, live at home and remember Craig with the flag, all the players standing on the podium during the medal ceremony. This must of had a huge influence on Hockey in the USA, and turned a lot of youngsters onto the game! Being a hockey nut I remember watching the US during the 80's and they would lose in the first round at the Canada cups but with the younger players coming up they got better in every tournament, and finally made the cup final in 1992. This event and the infusion of Canadian junior hockey coaches into their college system makes the US, the hockey power it is today. Is is no longer just Canada and the Russians, I figure there will be many Canada, USA olympic gold medal games with maybe a movie about it one day. Great hockey movie the advisors made the goaltending, and puck movement so real. Russell looks and acts like a coach, from the coaching view, not the fan. Brooks later became the coach of the Rangers, it was classy of them showing his picture at the end of the movie. 7 out of 10

Very Realistic Hockey Scenes Help Make This A Winner

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 3 October 2006]

This was a pretty nice movie overall. It had its bad points but they were more subtle. The good stuff was out in front: the realistic hockey scenes and the inspiring true-life story of an amazing underdog sports team pulling off the "miracle." That, of course, was the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team winning the gold medal and along the way becoming the first team in 20 years to defeat the Soviets.

The story also is about Herb Brooks, the coach of the team. Everything in here centers around him. Kurt Russell does a nice job playing him, although I don't understand the Polish accent Russell used. Why would Brooks have a Polish accent?

Over the years, sports movies - as in other genres - are becoming more and more realistic. This was about as good as it gets in that regard. A number of the actors are players, meaning they know how to skate. A documentary with the DVD shows the great lengths they went to in filming this in order make the action look realistic. It's not fake; these guys know how to play the game and the camera-work, along with the sound, is outstanding.

For a fairly long film (135 minutes) this film moves by fast and the drama is there but not super-intense since everyone knows the final result. The story is basically, as mentioned, about Brooks and the way he molded a group of kids together to play so well as a team. Many of his ideas would not have been implemented had others had a say, but Brooks proved them all wrong.

The only part of the film that was totally unnecessary was the typical Liberal slant that Hollywood just has to put in our faces every chance it gets. Here, they do it by quick cheap shots against Republican Presidents while airing an inspirational speech by Democrat Jimmy Carter. They have just stuck with the hockey angle, which the filmmakers here did extremely well. Still, it's a very good sports movie that even non- hockey fans should enjoy.

An Enjoyable Film Even If You Don't Like Hockey

[christian123 · 6/10 · 3 April 2005]

In 1980, Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell), a former Olympics hockey player cut from the winning 1960 U.S. team, put together a ragtag band of college hockey players, taking them to the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid to face the seemingly invincible Russian hockey team, winners of four successive gold medals. Miracle tells the true story of how they worked together to defy the odds working against them. Everyone likes a good upset especially when they can cheer on the winning team. Miracle gives you that story and its a nice film to watch with your family. I don't watch hockey because I don't really like it and its just not very appealing to me. But there's things that non-hockey fans can enjoy from this film. I liked the determination from the team and the inspiration the coach gave to them. Kurt Russell does an awesome job as Herb Brooks, probably his best performance in a long time. Patricia Clarkson does a good job playing his wife and all the players on the team aren't bad either. The one actor that was bad was Noah Emmerich, he just showed little to no emotion and didn't really put in a good effort. This wouldn't had been a problem if he had a small role but he was the assistant coach. Miracle is directed by Gavin O'Connor and he does a good job. The hockey itself wasn't actually that bad as some scenes of the game were pretty cool. The focus is on mainly on Russell and while you learn some stuff about the players it would had been nice if they had shifted some of the attention on them as well. The screenplay may be filled with clichés but the film does it right even if it feels like you have seen it before because you probably have. The film is 135 minutes long and for me it started dragging a little and getting kind of boring. The movie is also predictable so the ending game as well as the entire movie isn't really suspenseful. The focus is more on beating Russia then actually winning the medal. When they do play in the final game and win the medal, they only show them scoring the winning shot. After that Kurt Russell starts talking saying how they won the last game by coming up from behind. While we know the outcome to the whole thing it still would had been nice if they had added a few more scenes. Its also better then The Mighty Ducks but that's not a hard thing to do. Rating 7/10 a treat for hockey fans and a film that a normal movie-goer can enjoy.

This years Academy award winning best actor...

[glentom1 · 6/10 · 8 February 2004]

Its incredible to note that the one truly negative review so far of this movie is by one who described it as a movie about the "U.S. Olympic soccer team." No, not a typo, the reviewer actually used the word soccer 3 times! And even more pathetic was how the reviewer concluded by saying the movie would have been better had it been about something else! Its pretty pathetic to not like a movie when you obviously have not seen it, its even worse to actually do a review about it.

Oh well, on to my review...

The movie MIRACLE will be enjoyed by millions, even if they know nothing about hockey, which is very fitting as millions enjoyed the 1980 gold medal performance of the USA Hockey Team, many of them non-hockey fans as well. It brilliantly captures the moment of the miracle, after beautifully detailing the events that led up to the decisive win over the Russians.

I went to the UW at the same time that Mark Johnson did, which makes the movie (as well as the actual miracle) even more compelling to me. The only people I could imagine not liking this movie are those that either hate sports, or those that watch the movie and come away thinking it was about a soccer match (hehe):)

The only thing worse than Chicago winning an Oscar would be if Kurt Russell didn't win an Oscar for best actor! He truly dominates the movie, which was a heartwarming tribute to Herb Brooks who died virtually during the filming of this movie. The supporting cast did their roles perfectly, as did the makers of this film, who delivered one of the most accurate portrayals of one of the most exciting sporting events of the 20th century.

Go see this movie...if you leave not liking it, then check your pulse to see if you are still alive. Or if you come away thinking it was a movie about soccer, then lightning truly can strike twice in the same place!

If you like USA and hockey, you will like this. If not, this is not a movie for you!

[mack_89 · 5/10 · 8 October 2016]

Hi there!

This is a patriotic hockey film. So if you like USA and hockey, there is a big chance, that you will like this movie.

If not, then this is not a movie for you. The acting and the story is OK i guess, but if you don't like people shouting USA the whole time, a angry hockey trainer thats shouting and hockey players simply playing hockey and train, there is no way, you will like this movie.

Im not such a huge fan of hockey or the USA. I just like good films, with good actors, good stories, good music and so on.

Therefore i will give this movie a 5/10!

Over and out!

what I thought

[redcrvette · 31 January 2004]

I am the child of two St. Paul east- siders. My father has loved hockey for as long as he can remember. My mom, well, she just likes sports in general. Hockey ruled my life from the very first moments. First my father's practices and games, then my little brother, later on there were boyfriends, friends, high school, and college. Now there is Gophers and Wild. I imagine that hockey will continue to define my life for a very long time.

That said, for Minnesota kids there are legends told to them from the beginning. How Paul Bunyan shaped our lakes and rivers, and lived "Up North", and there is Herb Brooks. Legends that define Minnesota heritage.

Herb Brooks was a man who shaped the way hockey is viewed in Minnesota. A stand out at St. Paul Johnson High School, and at the U. He went to coach his beloved Gophers and work with his idol John Mariucci. Now the ice at Mariucci Arena (not 2 miles from where I sit now) bears tribute to Herby. His coaching techniques are still used and abused throughout the state.

Kurt Russell paid apt tribute to our late leader, and I am positive he would be impressed. I was fortunate enough to get sneak-preview tickets to see Miracle, and I can honestly say I don't remember when I had such a good time at the movies. I don't think I stopped smiling once. Russell's accent was good throughout the movie, but on just a few lines I could have SWORN that he was a Minnesotan. He elongated his vowels very well.

Eddie Cahill did a superb job as Jim Clark. I wondered how exactly he would play someone so torn between immense sadness and undeniable pride. I was even more impressed with his hockey skills. I hope that this helps the very yummy Mr. Cahill move from TV-boyfriend dujor (friends, Sex and the City) to a great movie actor. As it is the only thing that disappointed me was that he was running around the Cities last summer, and I had no idea.

If you are still reading this it goes without saying that I think you should see this movie. Sure you know how it ends, you've probably seen the game at least once on ESPN Classic even if you are old enough to remember it in the first place. The portrayal of our country at such a dark time in the world's history is historically great. Apt tribute is paid to Afghanistan (even if we are repeating the USSR's mistakes now), the Ayatollah, the oil embargo, and the general distrust in government. The Miracle on Ice was a very bright spot in a very dark time, and Miracle does a wonderful job showing just that. To those who say, who outside the US cares? I say hockey fans care. Sports fans care. This is not just a hockey movie (though it is a great one); it is a movie about hard work and perseverance. Isn't that what America really stands for?

So, Bravo Disney. I think Herby would have been pleased. I know that I am.

Mesmerizing Movie!

[Sabrz · 10/10 · 7 May 2009]

Miracle is one of the better sports movies that I have seen. The movie portrays the United States team's unlikely Gold Medal victory at the 1980 Winter Olympics. It does one hell of a job at capturing one of the greatest moments in sports history.

There are many elements that make the movie great. The actors really get into it and make you believe they are the players. Kurt Russell turns in an astounding performance as Team USA's coach Herb Brooks.

The critical event in the movie however is the time period and events surrounding everything. The Miracle On Ice occurred during the Cold War and not long after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Morale was deteriorating at home and the country was in desperate need of a morale booster. That came in the form of a hockey game.

The Soviet Union had been the dominant hockey power for years winning gold medals in 64, 68, 72, and 76. The US is a team made up of young college kids molded into an effective unit by coach Herb Brooks. The US would end up playing the Soviets as a huge underdog. It is a story of the little team that could versus the superpower. David versus Goliath basically. The events taking place made this more then a hockey game. This was a competition between 2 countries with heightened tensions. Even before the puck drops you can feel the intensity in the air.

Overall you don't have to like hockey or know an ice skate from a roller skate to appreciate this movie. It is an unlikely underdog story surrounded by international turmoil. The movie is inspiring and the best fact is it really happened. Miracle is a must see.

Good movie, wrong title

[lovintennis · 6/10 · 8 August 2017]

The title doesn't match the story because it's not miraculous given that Herb Brooks knew exactly what he was doing from having figured the Soviets out through extensive obsessive studying. That's why he insisted at the beginning that he was the man for the job; it's not like he winged it or just stuck with the same scheme the Americans had been using all along and somehow it merely finally happened.

Another feel good, lessons learned film from Disney

[gregsrants · 7/10 · 8 February 2004]

As a Canadian, I sat back with much anticipation north of the border for reviews of the new Disney film Miracle, chronicling the rise and eventual glory of the 1980 USA Hockey Team at the XIII Olympics. I knew as Canadians we would not take kindly to watching again the euphoria of a country winning at our national game. I knew that there would be the usual flag waving that American's like to put in their sports films and I knew this would put off even the most unbiased and objective of Canadian film reviewers. I knew that given all the above, it would be hard to find a positive review of the film even if it succeeded where most sports films fail. Unfortunately, I was right.

Miracle is the story of Herb Brooks, a coach with roots in the minor leagues that is chosen to lead a group of unknown hockey players against the powerhouse of the Russian team that had not lost in international competition in 20 years. Herb (Kurt Russell) adopts a new approach of taking the game to the opposition rather than simply defending against them. In efforts to accomplish this monumental feat, Herb raises eyebrows by taking on a group of hard workers rather than statistical players. `I'm not looking for the best players Jim, I'm looking for the right ones' he exclaims to his assistant coach Craig Patrick.

The results are at first, disasterous, but once the team begins to build character and believe in their coaches vision, the victories begin to amass and their road to the Olympic podium begins.

Anyone over the age of 35 will remember the Miracle on Ice. Russia had just invaded Afghanistan and there was much tension between the two world powers. The Olympics were expected to be boycotted by Russia due to President Jimmy Carters harsh words towards the Russian offensive, but cooler heads prevailed and athlete's were not punished for their governments politics.

Russia came into the Olympics the odds on favorite. They had not lost in international competition in years and had recently beaten the best the NHL had to offer just weeks before. The U.S. on the other hand did not even rank on the Olympic hockey radar. The previous Olympics saw the squad being trounced by scores of incredible discrepancy. But history was to be made in Lake Placid and American hockey was on the map.

Hockey movies have not done incredibly well at the box office. Sure, the Mighty Ducks was a small success spanning a few sequels, but if you were to pick the best hockey movie of all time, outside of Slap Shot there is not much to choose from (Youngblood, Mystery Alaska). However, director Gavin O'Connor does a good job of telling the story of the coach rather than the team, and this seems to work under the strong acting performance by Russell.

The movie does have faults. At over two hours, the film seemed longer than it should have been and the editing of the on-ice action seemed as if it was shot by different directors, one having a flare for following the play and other wanting to show the skates and low angle shots.

However, for anyone that remembers the series, all the elements and events were duplicated. Who can forget the goal with no seconds remaining at the end of the first period or the fact that Tretieck, the best goalie to maybe ever play the game, was benched by Russia for the remaining 40 minutes?

Miracle is a feel-good, bring your family to, kinda movie. It shows you what hard work and believing in yourself is all about, and really, how many movies can honestly credit themselves with that?

Killer sports movie

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 25 March 2015]

Not the kind of hockey movie I was expecting, especially a Disney one. "Miracle" is a laboring trek to the first game, full of self-doubt and brooding (personified by Kurt Russell, who owns this movie, hands down). The geopolitics hang heavy over all of this, but at least it doesn't devolve into jingoism. But once we get into the Olympic games, it's an energized movie indeed. the payoff isn't USA beating the Soviets (we know the history), it's in the team finally coming together. Really electrifies that final game. Even still, you'd have to be dead inside not to smile when Eruzione pulls the team ahead 4-3. And just try not to get misty during Russell's end narration. A sentimental hay-maker, that one.

8/10

Wonderful story

[Calicodreamin · 7/10 · 11 July 2019]

A typical sports movie about a ragtag group of young athletes taking on the best of the world and coming out on top to the whopping cheers of the arena... and it was amazing! You can't help but get chills. One of the everlasting Olympic stories, the miracle on ice, is told in a really fantastic way. You can't help but love this movie for all that it represents.

My only criticism is that it's a bit long. But we'll worth it.

No Miracles Happened Here

[katydid4819 · 6/10 · 6 November 2004]

There are too many good stories to bring to the big screen. Therefore, a hierarchy exists in the script room. Films with the underdog coming from behind to overcome enormous odds just aren't enough anymore. Miracle made the jump to production not because it's about this but because of its sub story about the effect the underdog's victory had. 'Do you believe in miracles?'

The story is about one coach trying to bring the USA Olympic team to glory against the unbeatable Soviets. His team is comprised of twenty-some athletes fresh from either Boston of Minnesota, hence a rivalry. Their average age is twenty-one while their opponets have been playing together for ten years. Of course we all know what happens because, like all other sports stories, this one comes with the tagline 'Based on a True Story'. But that, albeit important, is not really what matters. The main focus is here is how they do it.

The team has a drill. They skate from the red line to the blue line back to the red. Simple, right? After tying a game, the coach (Kurt Russell) brings his team back out onto the ice as the audience is leaving and makes them run this drill again and again and again and again and again and again… It's the most well done scene in the whole movie. It has you sympathizing with all the people on the screen. You understand Russell's anger and need to win but still can't believe he'd make them skate the drill again. Again and again. In the pit of your stomach you feel as if you may vomit yourself. The scene is set in partial darkness and scored subtly.

Too much time is spent trying to develop a side story about Russell's past career as an Olympian and how he feels he was robbed of a medal. This causes him to throw himself into his work and neglect his family. There are two or three arguments he has with his wife that start one way and then morph into wannabe 'money scenes' that might as well have tears streaming from the wife's eyes and a drunk, angered Russell. Instead, they try to get that same feeling across with their dialogue but that falters. However, everything comes across as silly and contrived.

Miracle is a Disney movie and it shows. It is clean family fun that is also uplifting and, from a distance, a good time. It gets across all the major points of the 'based on a true story' genre, including the side story built around the coach. The players are inter-changeable and yet you feel as if you know them. The movie gets you cheering and that was probably all it ever aspired to do. ***/*****

I don't like hockey, but this was a good movie

[MLDinTN · 29 November 2004]

I was too young to have known anything about this game when it was played in real life, but it was definitely more than a game. It concerned world politics and the cold war. The movie did a good job showing how seemingly impossible it seemed for the young American team to beat the best team in the world who had been playing together for 10 years. And Kurt Russell did a good job as the tough coach who was hard on the players to get the most out of them. I also liked the way the hockey games were filmed. I think hockey is the most boring sport and I don't know any of the rules, but the way it was filmed let the least knowlegdable person follow what was going on.

FINAL VERDICT: If you like sports movies, then don't miss this one.

Love

[nikmtuck · 9/10 · 19 April 2022]

I don't go out of my way to watch hockey but I know quite a few people who remember watching this game and how amazing it was at the time. It is a throwback to when a lot of us remember having some pride in our country and occasionally when I start to forget that we are lucky to live here I like to watch this. Also I knew quite a few former military who knew the actor that played OC before he committed suicide and all who did sang his praises. Regardless if you love sports movies this is a great watch and the action on the ice is wonderful. We know how it ends but it is but it is nice to see that they all worked very hard and it was one of the last times that non professional athletes were exclusively used in the Olympics.

Sports, Yummy

[view_and_review · 8/10 · 3 March 2021]

I flippin love sports movies. I think one of the few things that Hollywood does right is sports action sequences. I could watch a full two hours of sports action sequences.

"Miracle," which is based upon the 1980 USA hockey team which beat the USSR in a game dubbed "the miracle on ice," is now my favorite hockey movie. There wasn't much competition as I'm not a fan of the "Mighty Ducks" franchise, and "Slap Shot" just didn't do it for me. Coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) was so intense and so singularly focused on one goal (no pun intended) it was stunning. Kurt Russell crushed the role as coach Herb.

What I appreciated most was Hollywood portraying the game against Russia as it actually happened. Every sports movie usually comes down to the last second or last out to go ahead for the win. In "Miracle" the USA team scored the go ahead goal with ten minutes left in the third period and never again relinquished the lead. This is very antithetical for Hollywood, but they went with historical accuracy and were still able to make it suspenseful. A one goal lead with ten minutes to go against the best team in the world is never safe. Watching as the time slowly bled off the clock while Russia relentlessly attacked was still exciting.

I am a novice when it comes to hockey, though I do know the difference between a blue line and a clothesline (to quote Al Michaels). I may not watch hockey at all, but put a good sports story in front of me and I'll watch it even if it's curling. "Miracle," with its phenomenal story and Russell's awesome acting, was enough for anyone to watch and enjoy.

It's a Miracle I wasn't enthralled

[arlened324 · 6/10 · 7 February 2004]

I won't always use full sentences. A phrase, or word is as good as a mile.

Expected to embrace this film with my entire being. Forget entire.

Kurt Russell gave a fine performance as Herb Brooks, coach of the U.S. Olympic soccer team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics. The 20+ soccer players were interchangeable with semi-memorable personal stories. And this is where MIRACLE failed me. Unlike SEA BISCUIT, where 3 human lives and 1 animal life, combined to form the "perfect storm" that was the story of Sea Biscuit, in MIRACLE the chemistry that makes good stories extraordinary was missing. Hooray USA. Hooray soccer team. Hooray Herb Brooks. But I was only touched intellectually, not viscerally. And, since I'm no script doctor, I offer no further opinion in that area.

Give me stories about people, real or fictional, that I can care about, cry with, be frightened of, or admire beyond description.

MIRACLE failed, for me, by not even arousing deep feelings for Herb Brooks who had such a desperate need to win that Olympic game because he had been sent home, 20 years before, being unable to play on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in 1960. Here was a human story barely touched upon and which, with a little milking, might have possibly saved MIRACLE, a wasted opportunity - quite sadly so.

I believe in Miracles

[questl-18592 · 9/10 · 2 December 2021]

Oh this one gets me right in the feels. As a lifetime hockey fan, watching this is just such a treat and I can't help but feel it's one of the best sports movies ever. You get Kurt Russel in here as Coach Herb and, once again, Russel crushes it and creates this wonderful portrayal of a man that is so cold and direct on the surface but you know he's doing it all for the betterment of his players. The cast in general is really solid, so few people that I recognize from anything else and yet they're all solid in their respective roles.

There are a few moments of over-the-top sentimentality, times when it feels manufactured. Like when they're doing drills at the end of a game until someone says he plays for Team America and it's meant to be this big emotional movement but it felt so telegraphed and heavy handed. All of that gets wiped away though when you hear the broadcasters at the end, watching that USA v Russia game and the original "Do you believe in miracles!" plays and I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it and that is the sign of a well landed note.

And now I wanna watch it again. Stupid movie being awesome.

Nice, but nothing special (**1/2)

[Ronin47 · 6/10 · 6 March 2004]

Way too long, hurt by some very corny dialogue and a little too much flag-waving, this story of the U.S. hockey team's victory against the formidable Russian team at the 1980 Olympics is still pretty well done.

It's pretty slow going most of the time, but is worth checking out for the excellent final game sequence, which has been shot in an intense way that places you directly in the middle of the action, making it suspenseful even though the outcome is obvious.

Kurt Russell is very good as the coach, though his character flirts with being unsympathetic at times. The team is played by a large group of unknown actors who all do good work, but only Eddie Cahill stands out as Jim Craig, a troubled player.

Not a great movie, but it was alright.