Review of Miracle (2004) by Roger T — 17 Jun 2009

Sports movies are starting to faded away out of the public limelight. The Americans keep shoveling their true American sports stories which all star The Rock, and all have no effect in the United Kingdom because of its strong patriotism. The only exceptions to this rule, or probably more accurately ? curse has been Friday Night Lights and this truly inspiring true story from director Gavin O?Connor.

As the title suggests, this is the ?miracle? that occurred at the 1980 Winter Olympics when a young squad of ice hockey players came together for their home nation (no surprises here ? the USA) to take on the world. The story obviously starts with the team in dyer straights struggling to claim a tie against Norway, but some patriotic screaming soon got them back on track. I guess technically I?m not spilling any beans because of its true story plot that everything works out in the end and they win the gold medal. The film though avoids becoming another teen flick by making its main focus Herb Brooks. It is in every sense his film.

This isn?t exactly a mean feat. Kurt Russell?s incarnation of Herb Brooks is a big u-turn from his usual roles into this wise seasoned man. Not that Russell?s efforts are not effective as he captures Brooks? facial expressions and body language with pin point accuracy. Because of the films storyline focus on Brooks the other characters just become part of the background; some of them are never given names. In some cases it is for the best, especially when it comes to Patricia Clarkson?s character who is painfully typecast once again as the moaning stay-at-home housewife. Her part in the film is for the most part meaningless, but she is used to show the more personal side to Kurt Russell?s lead.

If ever you wanted a true story adaptation that looks the part you definitely have one here. The young director Gavin O?Connor copied the style of ever single hockey game with pin point accuracy to the real events. The only difference to the view compared to that of the 80s is that it is more cinematic. It is difficult to take something like this with a team of 20 year-olds on screen and not make it into the cliché ridden teen movie; instead it cunningly avoids it and focuses on the more film worthy Herb Brooks. The coach himself did act as a consultant for the film until his tragic death in a car accident during production, which is commemorated in the end credits. The story makes sure that the growth of the players into champions is not a sudden thing, as it leaves no stone unturned when discovering how Herb Brooks coached the side. In essence, the formula of the Miracle.

There is only one thing wrong with this masterpiece, and it is really through no fault of its own. The literal screams of patriotism and the occasional ?screw the Soviets!? rant was probably the only way it definitely secures an audience in its home nation and because of it in any other nation the screams will fall on deaf ears. Once the film gets going though these flaws become a distant memory in this probably the best sports film of the year, and it would be a pretty big contender for best sports film ever.