Miracle (2004)

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.

Director:

Gavin O'Connor

Writer:

Eric Guggenheim

Stars:

Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kurt Russell	...	Herb Brooks
Patricia Clarkson	...	Patti Brooks
Noah Emmerich	...	Craig Patrick
Sean McCann	...	Walter Bush
Kenneth Welsh	...	Doc Nagobads
Eddie Cahill	...	Jim Craig
Patrick O'Brien Demsey	...	Mike Eruzione
Michael Mantenuto	...	Jack O'Callahan
Nathan West	...	Rob McClanahan
Kenneth Mitchell	...	Ralph Cox
Eric Peter-Kaiser	...	Mark Johnson
Bobby Hanson	...	Dave Silk
Joseph Cure	...	Mike Ramsey
Billy Schneider	...	Buzz Schneider
Nate Miller	...	John 'Bah' Harrington

Storyline

The inspiring story of the team that transcended its sport and united a nation with a new feeling of hope. Based on the true story of one of the greatest moments in sports history, the tale captures a time and place where differences could be settled by games and a cold war could be put on ice. In 1980, the United States Ice Hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks, took a ragtag squad of college kids up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning from a distraction from world events. With the world watching the team rose to the occasion, prompting broadcaster Al Michaels' now famous question, to the millions viewing at home: Do you believe in miracles? Yes!

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Plot Keywords:

olympics | 1980s | coach | ice hockey | russian | 

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Taglines:

If you believe in yourself, anything can happen.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | History | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and some rough sports action

Details

Official Sites:

Disney

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Csoda a jégen

Filming Locations:

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$19,377,577 (USA) (6 February 2004)

Gross:

$64,371,181 (USA) (30 April 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pop Pop Productions, Determination Productions, Mayhem Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The World Trade center is shown in 1980, a digital recreation of the Twin Towers was used, being the first time they have been created (instead of just filmed) for a movie since the terrorist attacks on the USA of 11 September 2001.

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Goofs

Throughout the movie, various goaltenders - especially Craig and Tretiak - are shown wearing Tuuk-style blades on their skates. Tuuks for goalie skates were not developed until the mid- to late-80s. In the era of kick saves, plastic blade holders were thought to be too risky for goalie skates.

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Quotes

Herb Brooks: Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here, tonight. One game. If we play'em 10 times, they might win 9. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight we skate with them. Tonight we STAY with them... , and we SHUT THEM DOWN because we can! Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players, Every one of ya. You were meant to be here tonight. This is your game. THEIR TIME IS DONE! ...

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Crazy Credits

After all of the credits roll, there is a short video clip of Herb Brooks.

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Connections

Features The Rockford Files (1974)

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Soundtracks

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
Written by Johnny Marks
Performed by Brenda Lee
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

It was winter of 1980, and I remember it well.

'Miracles do happen', the announcer's original broadcast is heard during the scenes recreated for this movie, 'Miracle.' Anyone who remembers what happened during those Winter Olympics in 1980 will know what this movie is about, and how it ends. However, there can be no spoilers, because this is not a movie about a hockey game, or even the sport of hockey. Nor is it about the players. It is solely about the coach, Herb Brooks, who, with his unconventional style and wisdom about the game, took these young hockey players to a level no one thought possible. In the end it didn't really matter whether they won or lost the game against the Russian. What mattered was that each of the 20 players found out what was possible inside himself.

The movie begins with a montage of scenes from the period, the years, leading up to the selection of the Olympic hockey team in the summer of 1979. The cold war. The oil shortage and long gasoline lines. The disgraced President Nixon. The embattled President Carter. The Russians invading Afganistan. Then we see coach Brooks doing it his own way. A year and a half of scouting, one day of try-outs, to pick the 26 players which would eventually be cut to 20 for the competition. The DVD extras show us how much went into making the movie faithful, including a session with Brooks himself, who died in an accident right after filming was wrapped up. A very fine movie of a very inspirational journey.