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:

What America needed was a miracle. What it got was a hockey game.

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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 scene where Herb Brooks makes the team skate back and forth on the ice all night, after their 3-3 tie with Norway, was actually done by the real actors over a span of three days - 12 hours a day. The director wanted the moment to be as realistic as possible.

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Goofs

Although U of Minnesota did beat Boston U in the 1976 NCAA playoffs, Rob McClanahan was still in high school that year. He played for The U and Coach Brooks 1977-79. In the movie, O'Callahan tells story that he had been "cheap-shotted" by Mac in '76. Couldn't have happened.

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Quotes

Herb Brooks: Tonight, *we* are the greatest hockey team in the world.

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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

References The Thin Man (1934)

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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

A Miracle for Disney

Don't let the fact that this is a Disney movie deter you from watching a thoroughly enjoyable and adult-level sports movie for two-plus hours. Kurt Russell does an excellent job portraying coach Herb Brooks as a complex and sometimes ruthless and inscrutable leader. Very UN-Disney-like indeed.

I am not a hockey fan - in fact I dislike the game intensely - yet I enjoyed the well-crafted scenes of competitive team play. Knowing the outcome of the BIG GAME did not detract at all from the excitement and suspense surrounding it. Sort of like the suspense Ron Howard achieved in Apollo 13 (where we knew in advance the outcome, but were worried about and later relieved for our astronauts).

A must-see for sports fans and non-fans alike.