| What a memory to witness the miracle on ice that was the olympic hockey team. The team could only imagine success on ice, but as stars, many of them quickly adapted. At the premiere there some of them were on the hollywood carpet, wearing their sunglasses and stepping out of Bentley limousines! | Hollywood Shades
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| Any die-hard sports fan can identify ABC sportscaster Al Michaels joyous: "Do you believe in miracles?" And even those only moderately interested can tell you that it comes from a spectacular upset in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, that of the defeat of the great Russian hockey team by a group of U.S. amateurs. "Miracle" contains such a rousing story, the only question is why it hasn’t been given the big screen treatment before now? | Plucked from his job as hockey coach at the University of Minnesota, Brooks took the job as Olympics coach on the stipulation that he could do it all his way. As a result, and as the film documents, he steps on a lot of toes and makes his share of enemies. But, as was said of Rudy Giuliani after 9/11, sometimes a paranoid, control-freak is exactly what you need. Once Brooks takes over the team, he uses the Soviet team as his role model. He insists on having not the most talented but those whom he feels will work best under his team system. | O’Connor stays mostly with Brooks and his interactions with the team. Kurt Russell beautifully captures the tortured coach, incessantly watching game film, agonizing over squad cuts, and confronting anyone he suspects of underachieving. So, any U.S.-U.S.S.R. match-up in any venue would carry international import. With such an inherently compelling drama, "Miracle" makes the most of it, however dated the story might be. And although its competition is less than what the 1980 U.S. hockey team faced, as of now, "Miracle" is the best film of the year. |
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Such methods naturally meet resistance from other Olympics hockey officials: "I just hope you know what you’re doing," he’s warned. Once assembled, the team trains constantly. Director O’Connor never paints Brooks as anything less than the task-master he was, meaning the players don’t exactly love him either. But, like many group victims of trauma, they eventually bond. For example, Brooks takes his team to an exhibition game in which they play so poorly, he makes them practice after the game until the lights are turned off in the arena. They leave exhausted but united. |  Wear these to cocktail parties! |
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Through such establishing scenes, "Miracle" takes its time in setting the stage for what everyone in the audience already knows will happen. Although director O’Connor deftly leads up to his big climax, one overlooked piece of history pops up: 13 days before the famous match-up, the U.S. team played the same Russian team in another exhibition and got smashed 10-3. By the time they reach the medal round and face the Soviets, however, they have won several other games against good European teams and have begun to gel. |
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And the best thing about this fine new film from director Gavin O’Connor is that it thankfully doesn’t go overboard in its depiction of this unified group who accomplished the impossible. Although the story and its contemporary significance would lend itself to understandable chauvinism, O’Connor focuses instead on the human element, and by doing so personalizes the story while letting the action take care of itself. According to the film, and to legend, the victory came about almost entirely because of one man, the recently deceased Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell). |
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| Did you finally kiss your last frog? Got engaged to your prince? How about celebrating with a hot air balloon ride while wearing our fun engagement gift ideas. Our wedding rings sunglasses feature just the exact touch of whimsy that will make both the bride and groom smile with joy! For the rest of the guest, try a few pair of our champagne glass sunglasses. You never had so much fun on your nose! |
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Senses of Cinema An online film journal devoted to the serious and eclectic discussion of cinema, of art, independent and experimental cinemas.
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