You don't have to know or like ice hockey to appreciate "Miracle" - you'll relish the experience anyhow

Rating: 8/10 (8 February 2004)

I'm not a sports fan per se. "Miracle" is my first ice hockey experience and the film certainly made me enthused about it, appreciating the sport with much respect for what the players have to go through to reach where they are. Such talent, tenacity, creativity and team spirit, along with personal sacrifices, giving their all in pursuit of a dream - "an unknown" as Kurt Russell's Coach Herb Brooks put it - their commitment is admirable.

This is a memorable film directed by Gavin O'Connor ("Tumbleweeds" 1999). He optimizes every inch of the film: the beginning credit roll employed a montage and deft use of typography giving us a setting of the times (almost felt like watching snippets of "The Fog of War"). Quickly and right to the point, we see Kurt Russell's Coach Brooks telling the NHL decision makers that mindset and training tactics had to be changed in order to win against the leading Soviet hockey team. And for the next 2 hours and 10 mins, the theme is unswervingly demonstrated. The film is full of heart-tugging drama and exciting action (not explosives or chases) - it's the making of an ice hockey team transformed in front of our eyes, with suspenseful moments even though it's based on a true story, and it's definitely touching and uplifting. How can it not be - it culminates into the historical event of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team playing opposite the 'undefeatable' Soviet team.
Kurt Russell, a rather underrated actor, gave us an impressive performance in w-d Ron Shelton's "Dark Blue" 2003. Here, he's taken on the role of an intelligent, tough as nails ice hockey coach, Herb Brooks, in his story of choosing 26 young men for austere training and leading 20 of them representing the privileged (dream) team into 'battles' against the world's talented hockey teams in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York.

The pace is tight, even at the closing credits roll, director O'Connor seized the chance to give us follow up info on how the team athletes are now doing. But there are wonderful pausing moments between Kurt Russell and the ever talented Patricia Clarkson ("Pieces of April" 2003, "High Art" 1998) in a 'regular' role as Brooks' wife Patti - brief the scenes may be, she very much hold her own. (Don't miss her fascinating performance with Peter Dinklage and Bobby Cannavale as the interesting threesome in w-d Tom McCarthy's excellent debut film "The Station Agent.") Noah Emmerich delivered a quiet performance as Craig Patrick, the assistant coach. (He was in the melodrama "Beyond Borders" 2003, along side Clive Owen and Angelina Jolie). Music by Mark Isham ("The Cooler" 2003, IMAX film "Galapagos: The Enchanted Voyage" 1999, "Point Break" 1991) complemented the emotional build ups.
This film reminds me of another worthy team building film based on true events, also distributed by Disney: director Boaz Yakin's "Remember the Titans" 2000, with Denzel Washington portraying Coach Boone leading a diverse high school team in unsettling times of the early 70's. Another stellar young energized cast with an equally brilliant performance from Will Patton as Coach Yoast. Experience it if you haven't.