Classic Retelling of an Actual Event !!! A Brilliant Film !!!

Rating: 10/10 (5 August 2005)

"Do You Believe in Miracles ?' is an immortalized phrase describing the winning over the Soviet Professional Hockey Team by a group of Unknowns on the 1980 USA's Hockey Team !! Well that phrase can now be applied to this movie directed by Gavin O'Conner !!!
The plot of the film shows events prior to the 1980 Olympics, and the growth of the individuals involved !!! Herb Brooks(Kurt Russell) must put together a competitive hockey team to represent USA in the 1980 Olympics. He has 7 months to select , condition and mold a competitive team, and all he has to work with are are a bunch of prima donas with some talent from the college hockey ranks, more interested in themselves and the skirts in the stands. Brooks realizing his team has no focus and little chemistry,and little chance of winning, runs the line drills, where the players skate back to the other blue line and back, red line and back, and then the far blue line and back at full speed, until they are exhausted !!! The word "Again" takes on a whole new dimension !!! The players soon get the message and start to focus on playing at an Olympic level !!!
Brooks has several trials, personal growth and complex internal arguments,as he has to reduce the 26 man roster to 20 players. Brooks, the victim of the final roster cut, from the 1960 Olympic Hockey team, is all too aware of the pain of the final "Cut."
The USA's Hockey Team slowly emerges to become one of quality, but lose some of their confidence after playing the Soviet Professional Team in an Exhibition at Madison Square Garden , shortly before the Olympics start at Lake Placid.
That being said the rest is History !!!
The Team of Director O'Conner, Editor John Gilroy, and Cinematographer Dan Stoloff take you onto the ICE and INTO the GAME !
The last 30 minutes of non-stop action and furious skating are the BEST I've EVER seen !!! As good as the GAME itself !!!
Kurt Russell delivers an Academy Award worthy performance as Herb Brooks !!! Russell has always been underrated for his body of work, but this separates the men from the boys !!!
So if you need a "Miracle " in your life, start with this one, as good as a life changing film as you will ever see !!!
Rated a 10 !!!