Miracle
Miracle is a sport's film. I like most sport's films, perhaps I should qualify that by saying I like most American sports films. which is odd as aside from basketball and World Wrestling Entertainment I am not a fan of American sports. In the main they are all pretty much of a muchness player/coach/team overcomes great difficulties and from having no chance whatsoever wins (or comes so close to winning it makes no difference).
Sports films are mostly feelgood movies and there is nothing wrong with that.
Miracle is all about Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) an ice hockey coach who takes on the job of taking the USA team to the 1980 Winter Olympics and attempt to win the gold medal from the Russians.
Herb had been in the 1960 squad but had been cut from the team just before they went to play in the Olympic finals.
As with all coaches in these sort of films he has a plan, It is a plan that no one else understands or believes in. Firstly he want university players rather than professionals. He also wants them to play a hybrid of the North American style and the European style. Add to that he wants them to be super conditioned because he believes that one of the reasons the Russians have been so dominant is that are stronger in the last period than their opponents.
He also believes that the other reason they are so successful is that they play for the team and not for themselves.
With his team picked he goes to work on them. He gets them to introduce themselves by giving their name and who they play for, they always mention their university team.
His methods are seen as harsh. People doubt him.
His wife (Patricia Clarkson) doubts him.
(Doubt is a staple of these sorts of movie).
The team goes off to play Norway. The players seem more keen on discussing the Nordic beauties in the crowd than watching what is happening on the ice - well they are teenagers hormones running wild - why would they concentrate on a hockey game? They lose. Herb doesn't take kindly to this. He has them stay on the ice and practice and practice and practice some more. The players are wilting, some look like they are ready to give in. The team doctor says this enough. Herb ignores him and has them do more. The assistant coach (Noah Emmerich) says this is enough. Herb ignores him. It is only when one of the players shouts out his name and says he plays for the USA that the impromptu session is called a halt to.
From there on it is pretty much standard fare.
The team bond. He has to cut the last player to make the squad 20. He has to deal with injuries.
In the backgroud we have glimpses of the political climate of the time. The film touches on how the simple game of ice hockey was taking on a much bigger significance to the wider American population but it is never allowed to dominate the film. Herb himself seems oblivious to it and has to be reminded that right now this is more than just a hockey game.
The important game is them beating the Russians - winning the gold is almost treated as an afterthought by the film makers.
There are solid performances throughout the movie. It stands or falls on the work of Kurt Russell and the quality of the ice hockey action: both are good.
A very enjoyable film. There is nothing new here, it is all done very well.
IMDB gives it 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes gives it 80% from critics and 51% of the audience say they want to see it.
Michael Rich, Eric Guggenheim
Released: 2004
Lengh: 135 Minutes
or rent it from here
Sports films are mostly feelgood movies and there is nothing wrong with that.
Miracle is all about Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) an ice hockey coach who takes on the job of taking the USA team to the 1980 Winter Olympics and attempt to win the gold medal from the Russians.
Herb had been in the 1960 squad but had been cut from the team just before they went to play in the Olympic finals.
As with all coaches in these sort of films he has a plan, It is a plan that no one else understands or believes in. Firstly he want university players rather than professionals. He also wants them to play a hybrid of the North American style and the European style. Add to that he wants them to be super conditioned because he believes that one of the reasons the Russians have been so dominant is that are stronger in the last period than their opponents.
He also believes that the other reason they are so successful is that they play for the team and not for themselves.
With his team picked he goes to work on them. He gets them to introduce themselves by giving their name and who they play for, they always mention their university team.
His methods are seen as harsh. People doubt him.
His wife (Patricia Clarkson) doubts him.
(Doubt is a staple of these sorts of movie).
The team goes off to play Norway. The players seem more keen on discussing the Nordic beauties in the crowd than watching what is happening on the ice - well they are teenagers hormones running wild - why would they concentrate on a hockey game? They lose. Herb doesn't take kindly to this. He has them stay on the ice and practice and practice and practice some more. The players are wilting, some look like they are ready to give in. The team doctor says this enough. Herb ignores him and has them do more. The assistant coach (Noah Emmerich) says this is enough. Herb ignores him. It is only when one of the players shouts out his name and says he plays for the USA that the impromptu session is called a halt to.
From there on it is pretty much standard fare.
The team bond. He has to cut the last player to make the squad 20. He has to deal with injuries.
In the backgroud we have glimpses of the political climate of the time. The film touches on how the simple game of ice hockey was taking on a much bigger significance to the wider American population but it is never allowed to dominate the film. Herb himself seems oblivious to it and has to be reminded that right now this is more than just a hockey game.
The important game is them beating the Russians - winning the gold is almost treated as an afterthought by the film makers.
There are solid performances throughout the movie. It stands or falls on the work of Kurt Russell and the quality of the ice hockey action: both are good.
A very enjoyable film. There is nothing new here, it is all done very well.
IMDB gives it 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes gives it 80% from critics and 51% of the audience say they want to see it.
Michael Rich, Eric Guggenheim
Released: 2004
Lengh: 135 Minutes
or rent it from here
posted by pat at 3:50 PM
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