Miracle (2004)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Do you believe in miracles?"</i> Miracle tells the true story of Herb Brooks (Russell), the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Russian squad. <center><font size=+2… More
  <i>"Do you believe in miracles?"</i> Miracle tells the true story of Herb Brooks (Russell), the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Russian squad. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> With a professional and intense performance by Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks, Miracle, the story of the U.S. Olympic hockey team's miraculous win over the vaunted Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, is by far one of the best true-life sports movies ever made. Russell definitively captures the intensity of Brooks, who in real life just missed the cut on the 1960 Olympic hockey team at Squaw Valley (where the Soviets last lost) and has now been given the task of fielding what the U.S. Olympic Committee wants--the best team of hockey players. But Russell is after something more--like the right team of hockey players, the right combination that will ensure not only competitiveness but also give a winning edge to the squad once the Olympics start. Though he resorts to cajoling, temper outbursts that would nearly rival anything Bobby Knight ever did, and extremely strenuous skating exercises, the team gradually grows to respect him and, in one of the great moments in sports history, Brooks' team defeats the vaunted Soviets 4-3 in the Olympic semifinals, setting themselves up for the subsequent gold medal win against Finland. Aside from Patricia Clarkson (as Brooks' wife) and Noah Emmerich (as Brooks' assistant coach), the main cast of Miracle consists of real-life hockey players, not actors. This adds a great measure of realism to the proceedings, as do the television news flashbacks to a turbulent post-Vietnam America and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan only two months before Lake Placid. The real-life Herb Brooks, sadly, didn't get to see this film; he passed away shortly after principal photography was completed, and Miracle is thus dedicated to him. He would no doubt have been as proud of what this film accomplished on the big screen as what he and his Olympic squad did on the ice all those years ago.

• Alexander D

  
  OK+

• Kase V

  
  'Miracle' is no new foray into the genre of sports films, but it is genuinely entertaining, and Russell gives an acceptable performance. The movie borders on cliche material, but it happens to skate by, barely. If you're a sports fan, you'll respect the effort. The… More
  'Miracle' is no new foray into the genre of sports films, but it is genuinely entertaining, and Russell gives an acceptable performance. The movie borders on cliche material, but it happens to skate by, barely. If you're a sports fan, you'll respect the effort. The nostalgia is fierce, yet the tone feels current. If you don't expect much from your average sports flick, then you're in for a treat. A treat that consists of one of the biggest upsets in sports history

• Jeff "

  
  Thought we know the outcome of the Miracle On Ice game, this is still a powerful sports film with fairly tense action packed hockey scenes. Miracle is a superb sports drama that is set during the 1980 Winter Olympic games when Team USA beat the invincible Russian team for the first… More
  Thought we know the outcome of the Miracle On Ice game, this is still a powerful sports film with fairly tense action packed hockey scenes. Miracle is a superb sports drama that is set during the 1980 Winter Olympic games when Team USA beat the invincible Russian team for the first time in over a decade. Miracle is a superb film though predictable, it is very well done. Kurt Russell gives a powerful performance as Team USA coach Herb Brooks. Miracle is a good sports film that delivers. The film recreates the atmosphere of the 1980 Winter Games very well, and the need for a miracle to win against Russia. Though predictable this film is a solid sports film with a good cast. Miracle is a terrific recreation the famous game that won the US its Gold medal against the Russians. Miracle does follow the traditional sports film formula, and does make it cliche, but I thought the film was done so well and was entertaining enough to not hold it against the film. The cast do a great job here and the filmmakers craft an interesting and good film despite all the cliches. What really does separate this film is that it focuses on an extremely important event in sports history. Miracle is a well acted film with the right amount of drama and sports action. This film is a must for hockey fans and those who enjoy a good sports film. Miracle delivers on screen.

• KJ P

  
  Fantastic story of motivation and pride! Miracle shows the audience what it is like to try as hard and as long as you can until you succeed! Brilliant!

• Dean M

  
  This David-and-Goliath-on-ice story is an inspirational, rough and tumble, profanity-free testament to ingenuity that touches on the conflicts between work ethics and domestic responsibility.

• Jens S

  
  The story of the USAmerican success in the 1980 Olympic ice hockey tournament, told with nice details and accurately copied images of the time. The movie makes a point in explaining why the team's success had such importance to the nation at that time. It rarely takes the… More
  The story of the USAmerican success in the 1980 Olympic ice hockey tournament, told with nice details and accurately copied images of the time. The movie makes a point in explaining why the team's success had such importance to the nation at that time. It rarely takes the patriotism too far concentrates on the sports aspects. The last 20 minutes are covering the classic match against the undefeated Russians and is as exciting as a thriller, even though everyone knows what happened. One of the most likable and entertaining sports movies.

• Curtis L

  
  okay. for a sports movie. which are all the same

• Jason S

  
  Sport movie.

• Tom E

  
  In Memory of Herbie Brooks who died in a car accident just before this movie was released

• Andy S

  
  The acting of almost everyone besides Kurt Russell is kinda underwhelming through most of the film. However, the film does convince you that success against overwhelming odds is indeed possible. Unfortunately, it succeeds more as that than as an actual movie.

• Mike N

  
  Failure...it's not something we should look at as a bad thing, but as a given reality that presents us with an opportunity. We must see this failure for what it is before we can build upon it. Success is not permanent...and failure is not final. "Grant us the serenity… More
  Failure...it's not something we should look at as a bad thing, but as a given reality that presents us with an opportunity. We must see this failure for what it is before we can build upon it. Success is not permanent...and failure is not final. "Grant us the serenity to accept what we cannot change, The courage to change what we can, And the wisdom to tell the difference." It's not just alcoholics and drug addicts and the like that need recovery; we all do. And that recovery always starts from within. [u]We[/u] begin this healing, making peace with those who we've harmed, and those who have harmed us. And with that, I present...Bert, eating a baby. [img]http://i2.ebayimg.qa.ebay.com/03/i/00/45/82/b1_10.GIF[/img] HOOOEEE! Look at him go!

• Matt F

  
  Wanted to like this more than I did. The movie is needlessly cheesy and overdoes it with the "USA-USA-USA" nostalgia. Sure, it was a great historical moment in sports, but when every scene ends on a forced patriotic note, the film becomes repetitive. Still, despite its… More
  Wanted to like this more than I did. The movie is needlessly cheesy and overdoes it with the "USA-USA-USA" nostalgia. Sure, it was a great historical moment in sports, but when every scene ends on a forced patriotic note, the film becomes repetitive. Still, despite its shortcomings, I'll give it a mild recommendation for a strong performance by Kurt Russell in the lead and it's well-photographed action sequences of the hockey games themselves.

• Drew O

  
  A great film about the miracle on ice. Sports movie are rarely as good as this.

• Christopher O

  
  A film I have been meaning to see but never got to it. A stirring well written and acted portrayal of the Miracle 1980 USA Olympic team as they stunned the world by beating the Russian team. Kurt Russell is a underated actor and he shines brightly as Herb Brooks, a well crafted turn… More
  A film I have been meaning to see but never got to it. A stirring well written and acted portrayal of the Miracle 1980 USA Olympic team as they stunned the world by beating the Russian team. Kurt Russell is a underated actor and he shines brightly as Herb Brooks, a well crafted turn as the legendary coach and Russell sells his performance as much with his facial expressions as he does with the scripted lines. I'm sure the film may not be completely true to how it happened but it works as a feel good sports film. The photgraphy is also to be commended as well.

• Joseph E

  
  Inspirational!

• Andrew F

  
  It's an okay sports story. It is very inspirational.

• Erin C

  
  Good movie. Very exciting! I felt like I was watching a real game. I wish I had been around to see the real deal.

• Haley A

  
  Kurt Russel shines.

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