Review of Miracle (2004) by Podcasting's Brock ! — 09 Apr 2013
If you know your Olympics history, you know how this one ends. But don't come to this movie looking for a definitive historical tale of how the U.S. Olympic hockey team impossibly beat the U.S.S.R. in the most politically charged Olympic Games in recent memory. Come to this movie to be entertained.
MIRACLE tells the story straight but not with a lot of new insight or depth. The plot beats that all sports movies about putting the team together share are omnipresent, and in the first hour the dialogue is fairly rote even for this genre. But darn it, once practices stop and they start playing the hockey games, the movie takes off like a shot and just works. It does not dawdle with burdonsome character development or too many individual character moments. It just tells the story of their journey beating the best hockey team in the world on the national stage.
The hockey game sequences are so thrilling that full props have to go to the filmmakers. Because again, we know they win but there I am, sitting on the edge of my seat smilng when they score a goal, liking when the kids check the opposition into the boards, rooting for the clock to run down. It is well edited, well paced, music swelling - the best hockey game sequences I can remember seeing in a movie.
Kurt Russell once again does an admirable job. He continues to surpass my expectations with every film I see him in. He adds meaning and likability to the typical scenes where they put the team together, provide his backstory, and put across his philosophy of how to fashion the team. Not an easy role for any actor as we have seen these movies before, and Russell does his job so well that when the games do begin we are invested in the outcome just like his team is.
Even though it manages to alternate from being a tad heavy handed and too lightweight at times, MIRACLE miraculously works to provide an entertaining movie about one of the greatest sports moments ever. Strap on your skates and see for yourself.
Recommend.
This review of Miracle (2004) was written by Podcasting's Brock ! on 09 Apr 2013.
Miracle has generally received very positive reviews.
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