The dynamic duo of Kurt Russell and Disney has not seen a movie as good as “Miracle” since Russell broke through with classic flicks as “The Strongest Man in the World” and “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.”
The hit comes just in time for Disney, after recently getting the axe as distributor for long-time partner Pixar.
The film gets off to an abrupt start with a montage that sets the stage for a year when Russian mail-order brides were out of the question ? 1980. The Cold War was heating up while the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and took to the international ice with one of the best hockey teams in two decades.
Weaving in newspaper headlines and presidential addresses in a very “Forrest Gump”-ish fashion, the film keeps audiences energized until the end. By the time the Olympics roll around, you want to see the U.S. win, even if you love Mother Russia.
“Miracle” kept a subtle plot, never raising the excitement above its historical climax, yet throwing enough incentives at the viewer to keep the film rolling along nicely. Russell glides through a portrait of the late Coach Herb Brooks with admirable ease. While playing a man with the looks and determination of G.W.B. and the temper of Bobby Knight, Russell gives an inspirational performance easily ranked amongst his most moving roles.
Blasted for not choosing the best American players for the Olympics, Brooks takes his team from somewhere near the middle of the rankings to the best in the world in little under an hour. Most of the training sequences are over-dramatized fades in and out, but the actual games are well worth it.
This movie gives hockey collisions a unique Hollywood attitude. “Miracle” treats hockey like football on ice, which allows it to set up a final “David vs. Goliath” showdown with a scary group of Russians whose last names all end in “-ov.” Yet the continual dramatic musical swells sometimes sidetrack the sports action.
Brooks fights a lack of belief from his colleagues, his friends and even his family, all convinced that a group of college kids cannot possibly bring down the Soviets. Regardless of the fact that all in the theater knew how the movie would end, there were more than a couple nail-biters in the crowd.
Director Gavin O’Connor makes clear from the start that he made a movie about a coach and his team, not the players themselves. While there are 20 team members, the audience gets to know only a few of them directly. It was O’Connor’s focus on Brooks that saved “Miracle” from death-by-too-many-plot elements, an epidemic in many recent films.
The film is cast well, and all the actors know their place. It should be noted that no player really emerges as a major character, giving all the actors better chemistry as a team. All are pale in comparison to Russell, who is both reserved and larger-than-life.
Besides UW’s own Mark Johnson being a living part of the legend, there are more than enough reasons to venture into the cold to see this hockey movie. This film is uplifting like orange tic-tacs and grandma’s hugs. Heck, this film is uplifting like a battle-weary Sylvester Stallone wrapped in Old Glory.
Regardless of how you experience “Miracle,” one thing is for certain ? this movie makes you proud to be an American.
Grade: A/B
