Top Box Office Movies

Miracle (2004) Buena Vista Pictures
2 hrs. 10 mins.
Starring: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Eddie Cahill, Patrick Dempsey, Michael Mantenuto, Nathan West, Noah Emmerich
Directed by: Gavin O’Connor

Miracle

Rating:

E-MAIL FRANK OCHIENG

Photo: Buena Vista Pictures

Do you believe in miracles? Well, one nation did just that back in 1980 when the United States Olympic hockey team captured the coveted gold medal and turned on the essence of American pride everywhere. Nobody (okay, maybe some) were expecting the underdog U.S.A. hockey team to taste the sweet smell of victory and realize that an achieving dream can come true if you want it bad enough. One haggard soul stepped forward with the hardened guts of Gen. Patton and led his troops on an icy assignment to reach that elusive goal. Hence, we arrive at the gritty and grand feel-good sporting story that is Coach Herb Brooks and his skating wonders in director Gavin O’Connor’s inspirational Miracle.

Disney Pictures does a mighty decent job with this project in nostalgically looking back at the excitement and relished joy when the dedicated Brooks and his frozen-footed warriors set out for a specific mission in mind. This, of course, was to make believers out of a weary country facing the unknown ‘80s decade with uneventful shadows of economic disillusionment and other political malaise that filled the cynical atmosphere. It’s hard to imagine that this incredible sporting event occurred nearly a quarter of a century ago. Those that were lucky to be around to experience this upset when the intimidating Russian national hockey team succumbed to the scrappy ragtag Americans may recall the euphoria with great detail.

Filmmaker O’Connor helms this personal fable of triumph with a solid heart that pumps vigorously. Screenwriter Eric Guggenheim’s script does an adequate service in its ability to gain insight from the mounting tension surrounding the ultimate hockey hoopla that would eventually sweep an unsuspecting America by storm. We’re in acknowledgement of the Cold War implications that consumed our clouded psyches way back when. And the lingering gas shortage was omnipresent to the point of disbelief. As a well-meaning entertainment, Miracle is a celebration that wants to relive the sudden impact where a plagued country’s curious eyes could focus on something hopeful.

If anything, the film mainly concentrates its stirring efforts on the forceful persona of Coach Brooks. Veteran actor Kurt Russell inhabits Brooks’ skin with a dynamic approach that may recall some Vince Lombardi-esque mannerisms. The animated coach pushes, prods, and preaches at every turn in a mental mode to get his men ready for combat in a heavily viewed claustrophobic rink in Lake Placid, New York. Granted the dialogue is stilted and corny at times. Russell’s plea for his players to embrace the concept of unity and to grasp the big picture at hand does get heavy-handed at various turns. However, we are meant to witness the gutsy harassment as an indication that Brooks was an individual that sacrificed his very spiritual fabric into whipping up a colorful bunch of unrecognizable athletes that had the potential to accomplish compelling things.

Miracle doesn’t just sing the heroic praises of the courageous coach and his philosophy for winning at all costs. We do get a peek at a few of the supporting protagonists off the ice as well. In particular, goalie Jim Craig (Eddie Cahill) is afforded the emotional spotlight treatment as he has to deal with a personal loss while using this angst as a means of strengthening his game. And recent Oscar-nominated actress Patricia Clarkson (Pieces of April) puts some spark and poignancy in the thankless role of Herb Brooks’ supportive wife. Overall, the enthusiasm is evident and we watch as Brooks and his giddy crew sail through the excitable motions as his spunky team prepares to confront the resilient Russians in quest to conquer that elusive Olympic gold.

There’s a tendency for O’Connor to mine the manipulative angles in his storyline that occasionally spoil the subtlety of his upbeat film. For instance, the editing sequences are indeed quite impressive and rapidly ambitious. The way that O’Connor overemphasizes the crushing action sequences involving the athleticism of the Russian skaters is overplayed too much for effect. This is obviously meant to highlight the alleged inferior complexity of the rising American contingency thus exploiting the notion of how sympathetic we should be to really see what our boys were truly up against in terms of the finicky odds. The intermittent overdone theatrics in showing how resourceful the Russians were when opposing the upstart Americans seemed somewhat unnecessary; we know how the USA hockey team worked up the nerve to gain that confidence through sheer tenacity and defy those that thought they would be outclassed by their durable opponents.

Also, there were other elements that seemed as if they were arbitrarily thrown in the mix to manufacture more off-the-ice dramatic fodder in an effort to drum up suspense and pad the movie beyond its affecting “let’s get down to some hockey business” structure. We see the guys at work and at play in the way they fill their leisurely time with partying babes and the sort. The idea is to see these “faceless” hockey players as creatures that needed a release from the pressure of performing in front of a skeptical world stage. The influential soundtrack that’s featured in the frolicking film adds to the exuberance of the patriotic goings-on in the name of fierce competition.

More importantly, Miracle is the quintessential sports saga that follows the conventional rules of an athletic-themed formula. No one can deny the robust energy and pulsating moments that took place on that glorified sheet of ice where both disciplined hockey teams were fearlessly vying for that gold medal of glory. They were armed with a sense of penetrating purpose to be the best and represent their country by being vigilant and victorious. The surreal winter game of hockey that was produced before us on the big screen was simply spectacular in that one could actually admit to participating in this intense activity because it was so convincingly realistic.

With all the slew of cliches aside, Miracle is a contemporary period piece that works on your nerves. Whether you profess to being a hockey fanatic or not, this picture simply reminds you that the challenge is not only found in the actual winning but also in the making. This is a serviceable hat trick that scores some vital goals in its high-spirited gumption.

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Frank Ochieng
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