Miracle (2004)

Director:

Gavin O'Connor

Writer (WGA):

Eric Guggenheim (written by)

Release Date:

6 February 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | History | Sport

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Olympics | 1980s | Coach | Ice Hockey | Russian

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

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
Chris Koch	...	Mark Pavelich
Kris Wilson	...	Phil Verchota
Steve Kovalcik	...	Dave Christian
Sam Skoryna	...	Steve Janaszak
Pete Duffy	...	Bob Suter
Nick Postle	...	Bill Baker
Casey Burnette	...	Ken Morrow
Scott Johnson	...	Steve Christoff
Trevor Alto	...	Neal Broten
Robbie MacGregor	...	Eric Strobel
Joe Hemsworth	...	Mark Wells
Adam Knight	...	Tim Harrer
Sarah-Anne Hepher	...	Kelly Brooks
Evan Smith	...	Danny Brooks
Bill Mondy	...	Lou Nanne
Tom Butler	...	Bob Allen
Don S. Davis	...	Bob Fleming
Michael Kopsa	...	Bruce Norris
Lisa Marie Caruk	...	Disco Girl
Malcolm Stewart	...	Donald Craig
Ellie Harvie	...	Margie
Mark McConchie	...	Olympic Official
Mark Burgess	...	Olympic Official
Fred Keating	...	Party Husband
Andrew Johnston	...	Peter Grace
Susan Astley	...	Receptionist
Kurt Evans	...	Reporter
Igor Morozov	...	Reporter
Peter Kelamis	...	Reporter
Daniel Bacon	...	Reporter
Julius Chapple	...	Reporter
Kwesi Ameyaw	...	Reporter
Philip Maurice Hayes	...	TV Reporter
Tatiana Loutchaninova	...	Doc's Wife
Brent Chapman	...	Equipment Manager
Peter Shinkoda	...	Japanese Athlete
Mariko Kage	...	Japanese Interpreter
L. Harvey Gold	...	Announcer
Beverley Breuer	...	Party Wife
Mike Cleven	...	Norway Rink Manager No. 1
Michael Ronnekleiv	...	Norway Rink Manager No. 2
Bill Finck	...	Try-Outs Organizer
Sarah Hayward	...	Try-Outs Organizer
Wanda Sturtevant	...	Try-Outs Organizer
Alvie Leeper	...	Try-Outs Organizer
Richard Yee	...	Team Photographer
Garry Monahan	...	Colorado Coach
Ty Olsson	...	State Trooper
John Ashbridge	...	American Announcer
Alexander Kalugin	...	Russian Announcer
Ted Friend	...	Thief River Falls Sportscaster
Steve Pascal	...	Cop
Terry Lemky	...	Angry Driver
Bob Morton	...	Lake Placid Head of Security
Ryan Walter	...	Referee
David Short	...	I.O.C. Presenter
Birchana Caldwell	...	Girl on Ice
Al Michaels	...	Himself
Ken Dryden	...	Himself
Jim McKay	...	Himself
Will Lauder	...	Additional USA Player
Jason Marshall	...	Additional USA Player
Chris Shaw	...	Additional USA Player
Rob Vos	...	Additional USA Player
Greg Wilkes	...	Additional USA Player
Zinaid Memisevic	...	Team USSR
Sasha Lakovic	...	Team USSR
Toni Bader	...	Team USSR
Rob Busch	...	Team USSR
Randy Favaro	...	Team USSR
Paul Grech-Ellul	...	Team USSR (as Paul Grech)
Todd Harkins	...	Team USSR
Ryan Johnson	...	Team USSR
Jeff Jubenville	...	Team USSR
Tyler Kuntz	...	Team USSR
Ian Lampshire	...	Team USSR
Mike MacWilliam	...	Team USSR
Angelo Maggio	...	Team USSR
Stephan Marc	...	Team USSR
Brandon Misky	...	Team USSR
Tim Preston	...	Team USSR
Mark Kitts	...	Team USSR
Brent Thurston	...	Team USSR
Graham Walker	...	Team USSR
Dan Walton	...	Team USSR
Roger Watts	...	Team USSR
Casey Bartzen	...	Team Sweden
Troy Dalton	...	Team Sweden
Rick Dietrich	...	Team Sweden
Randy Heath	...	Team Sweden
Jason Jennings	...	Team Sweden
Kevin Potvin	...	Team Sweden
Brian Rasmussen	...	Team Sweden
Ryan Thorpe	...	Team Sweden
Marko Segovic	...	Team Sweden
Dave Stewart	...	Team Sweden
Tom Andersen	...	Team Norway
Chad Grisdale	...	Team Norway
Rob Murray	...	Team Norway
Ryan Thrussell	...	Team Norway
Steve Wilijto	...	Team Norway
Frank Defrenza	...	Team Romania
Dan Fortuna	...	Team Romania
Steve Hanline	...	Team West Germany
Bill Jones	...	Team West Germany
Aaron Mori	...	Team West Germany
Tony Vogel	...	Team West Germany
Milan Dragicevic	...	Team Czechoslovakia
Lada Hampeis	...	Team Czechoslovakia
Clayton McGovern	...	Team Czechoslovakia
Shawn Snesar	...	Team Czechoslovakia
Paul Stark	...	Team Czechoslovakia
Jason Wong	...	Team Czechoslovakia
Chris Rowland	...	Team Finland
Marijan Ivanisec	...	Team Finland
Dave Tomlinson	...	Team Finland
Brad McDonald	...	Team Finland
Joey Neale	...	International Hockey League
Gabe Krhan	...	International Hockey League
Daren Webb	...	International Hockey League
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herb Brooks	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Jerry Brown	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Billy Carter	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jimmy Carter	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rosalynn Carter	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
John Chancellor	...	Himself (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Richard Cummins	...	Press Conference TV Reporter (uncredited)
Betty Ford	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gerald Ford	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Richard Nixon	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Gavin O'Connor

Writing credits (WGA)
Eric Guggenheim		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Ciardi	....	producer
Gordon Gray	....	producer
Ross Greenburg	....	executive producer
Justis Greene	....	executive producer
Jon Mone	....	associate producer
Greg O'Connor	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Dan Stoloff

Film Editing by
John Gilroy
Daric Loo		(opening segment)

Casting by
Sarah Finn
Randi Hiller

Production Design by
John Willett

Art Direction by
Ross Dempster
Martina Javorova

Set Decoration by
Mary-Lou Storey

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Beth Boxall	....	assistant makeup artist
Megan Davies	....	assistant makeup artist
Kevin Haney	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Monica Huppert	....	makeup artist
Dennis Liddiard	....	makeup artist: Kurt Russell
Sherry Linder-Gygli	....	hair stylist (as Sherry Gygli)
Sandy Monesmith	....	hair stylist
Tamar Ouziel	....	assistant makeup artist
Robert A. Pandini	....	assistant hair stylist (as Robert Pandini)
Bill Terezakis	....	special makeup effects artist
C.J. Wills	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Heather Meehan	....	unit production manager
Charlene Olson	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vic Armstrong	....	second unit director
Josy Capkun	....	second assistant director
Steve Eathorne	....	second assistant director
Mindy Heslin	....	second assistant director
Mindy Heslin	....	second unit director
Ella Kutschera	....	first assistant director: second unit
Bill Mizel	....	first assistant director (reshoots)
Sarah Ostrow	....	third assistant director
Pete Whyte	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Ea Birkett	....	assistant property master
Jason Claridge	....	paint foreman
R.D. 'Luther' Fairbairn	....	property master
Mark Howes	....	set dresser
Herminio Kam	....	paint coordinator
Scott R. Lee	....	set dresser (as Scott Lee)
Charles Leitrants	....	construction coordinator
Tristan Oliver	....	assistant set dresser
Dylan Patti	....	assistant props
Al Rourke	....	construction foreman
Jeremy Stanbridge	....	assistant art director
Shelley Surette	....	set dresser
Anneke Van Oort	....	set designer
Paul Wagner	....	props
Sandy Walker	....	first assistant set decorator
Loree Wershler	....	graphic designer
Loree Wershler	....	illustrator
Jonathan Woods	....	storyboard artist
John G. Anderson	....	construction buyer (uncredited)
Janice Lynn Coats	....	scenic carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Aulicino	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Barris	....	first assistant sound editor
Thom Brennan	....	supervising foley editor
Donald D. Brown	....	boom operator
Eddie Bydalek	....	digital sound mix technician
Howard Carle	....	adr mixer
William Cawley	....	assistant sound editor
Steve Copley	....	foley mixer
Marc Deschaine	....	adr assistant
Aaron J. Green	....	manager of sound services
Phillip A. Hamilton	....	adr recordist
Craig Henighan	....	sound effects editor
Dave Hibbert	....	adr recordist
Elliott Koretz	....	sound designer
Elliott Koretz	....	supervising sound editor
Tom Lalley	....	sound re-recording engineer
Michael McGee	....	production sound mixer
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vashi Nedomansky	....	adr group leader
Steve Nelson	....	sound effects editor
Myron Nettinga	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rob Nokes	....	supervising sound editor
Nancy Nugent	....	dialogue editor (as Nancy Kyong Nugent)
Adam Sharpe	....	adr mixer
John Sievert	....	foley artist
John C. Stuver	....	dialogue editor
Becky Sullivan	....	supervising adr editor
John Joseph Thomas	....	sound editor
Mario A. Vitale	....	assistant sound editor (as Mario Vitale)
Tim Walston	....	sound effects editor
Dave Winston	....	sound effects recordist
David Yonson	....	adr recordist: Toronto
Bruce Maddocks	....	adr technician (uncredited)
Carl D. Ware	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Alex Burdett	....	special effects coordinator
Ray McMillan	....	front projection
Mike Splatt	....	special effects technician
Robert Yeager	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Sandra Almond	....	visual effects producer
Andy Barrios	....	Inferno artist: Asylum
Alan Edward Bell	....	visual effects artist
Cassia Buss	....	visual effects coordinator: GVFX
Doug Campbell	....	visual effects supervisor
Andrew Cochrane	....	texture artist
Jason Crosby	....	digital artist: Digital Dimension
Mitchell S. Drain	....	visual effects supervisor
Andy Foster	....	visual effects producer: Asylum
Benoit Girard	....	visual effects supervisor: Digital Dimensiion
Jeff Gordon	....	system support engineer
Todd Groves	....	digital effects artist
Joe Ken	....	Inferno artist: Asylum
Michael Lori	....	3D tracking
Alex MacDonald	....	cablecam operator
Dave McGhie	....	digital compositor
Nathan McGuinness	....	senior visual effects supervisor: Asylum
Jerome Morin	....	visual effects producer
Steve Muangman	....	Inferno artist
Kosta Saric	....	visual effects editor: Asylum Visual Effects
Gunther Schatz	....	digital visual effects artist
Marion Spates	....	digital effects artist: Digital Dimension
Leandro Visconti	....	compositor: Digital Dimension

Stunts
Jim Dunn	....	stunt coordinator
Lars Grant	....	stunt double
Bill Ranford	....	stunt double
Clay Virtue	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Adams	....	first assistant camera
Kevin Black	....	key grip
Tom Chen	....	video assistant
Mark Cohen	....	assistant camera
Mark Cohen	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Rod Haney	....	rigging grip
Tim Heller	....	second unit gaffer/lighting technician
Kieran Humphries	....	first assistant camera
Philip Linzey	....	director of photography: second unit
Bill Molnar	....	best boy grip
Paul T. Murakami	....	daily grip
Robert L. O'Hara	....	a dolly grip
Guy Paterson	....	best boy electric
Aki Shigematsu	....	second assistant camera: "c" camera
Graham Tucker	....	camera trainee
Carrie Wilson	....	second assistant camera
David Kohler	....	lamp operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mary L. Agnes	....	casting associate
Beth Bowling	....	casting: New York
Heike Brandstatter	....	casting associate: Canada
Courtney Gross	....	casting associate
Celeste Leger	....	casting assistant
Coreen Mayrs	....	casting: Canada
Mandy Milicevic	....	extras casting assistant
Kim Miscia	....	casting: New York
Lisa Ratke	....	extras casting
Edward D. Rea	....	casting assistant: Canada
Nadia Lubbe Simon	....	casting associate: New York (as Nadia Lubbe)
Dorothy Szymanska	....	casting: Vancouver
Amy Greene Vines	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anthea Mallinson	....	costume breakdown/dyer
Heather Rupert	....	costume breakdown/dyer
Lee Sollenberger	....	hockey costumer
Nancy Duggan	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Alan Edward Bell	....	additional editor
Mike Bellamy	....	digital colorist
Thom Kyle	....	assistant editor
Kevin Lefler	....	editorial assistant
Donald Likovich	....	assistant editor
Daric Loo	....	editor: opening segment
Aaron Marshall	....	first assistant editor
Julia Nessling-Douglas	....	digital intermediate project manager
Lorie Olson	....	assistant editor
Martin Ostrom	....	assistant editor
Kim Roseborough	....	assistant editor
Claudio Sepulveda	....	telecine transfer: Toybox
Jeff Smithwick	....	color timer
Jim Towne	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
James Burt	....	music editor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Marc Gebauer	....	scoring technician
Stephen Krause	....	music scoring mixer
Ken Kugler	....	orchestrator
Jason La Rocca	....	assistant score mixer
Jason Lloyd	....	scoring assistant
Frank Macchia	....	orchestrator
Marina Manukian	....	musician
David Marquette	....	score recordist
Cindy O'Connor	....	music programmer
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist
Brian Ross	....	music supervisor
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Curtis Roush	....	supervising music editor
Jay Selvester	....	scoring assistant
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Booker White	....	music preparation
Melissa Orquiza	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Lawrence Albright	....	driver
David Holm	....	transportation captain
Scott Irvine	....	transportation coordinator
Herb Langill	....	hair/make-up driver

Other crew
Stacy Adamski	....	assistant: Gavin O'Connor
Emanuele Ancorini	....	skating coach
Doreen Beaulac	....	first assistant accountant
Thomas Bianco	....	production accountant
Deborah D. Bose	....	location manager
Darcy Boulton	....	athletic trainer
Herb Brooks	....	consultant
Brian Bruskrud	....	post accounting
Andrew Buziak	....	payroll accountant
Terence Chase	....	security
Eunice Choi	....	production assistant
Sean Cummings	....	production assistant
Rob Doak	....	video coordinator
Geoffrey Dodd	....	assistant hockey coordinator
Mike Doiron	....	trainee assistant location manager
Mark Robert Ellis	....	hockey coordinator
Ray Felipe	....	script researcher
Sean Finnan	....	production assistant
Corinna Gagnon	....	security
Ed Georgica	....	equipment manager
Edward Georgica	....	equipment manager
Alexander Glua	....	production assistant
Michelle Harris	....	production assistant
Brandon Hart	....	photo double
Keith Johnson	....	athletic trainer
Keith Johnson	....	hockey trainer
Patricia Johnson	....	publicist
Faria Khan	....	production assistant
Leslie Knoll	....	accounting clerk
Marian Koprada	....	key production assistant
Susan Lambie	....	script supervisor
Ted Lorenz	....	athletic trainer
Grant Lutz	....	production assistant
Mike MacCuish	....	post-production accountant
Terry Mackay	....	location manager
Aimee McDaniel	....	production assistant
Robert Milicevic	....	security
W. Robert Millar	....	assistant location manager
Robert Miller	....	assistant hockey coordinator
Brittney Nance	....	assistant: Mark Ciardi and Gorgon Gray (as Brittnay Nance)
Christopher V. Nelson	....	technical advisor
Kathleen Nurit	....	production coordinator
Mark Nykolaichuk	....	equipment manager
Louisa Phung	....	production assistant
Yaroslav Poverlo	....	voice: Assistant Russian Coach
John Rollins	....	production assistant
Deborah Ross	....	title designer
Karen Sanderson	....	assistant location manager
Courtney Schorr	....	assistant: Mark Ciardi and Gorgon Gray
Darren Shmyr	....	extras craft service
Carmen Siegers	....	assistant: Justis Greene
Tammy Tamkin	....	production assistant
Mac Torluccio	....	assistant to production executive
Jeff Wonnenberg	....	production assistant
Cal Wrenn	....	assistant hockey coordinator
Tim Ballou	....	script clearance manager (uncredited)
Dennis Eric Lehman	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Herb Brooks	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Pop Pop Productions
• Determination Productions
• Mayhem Pictures
• Sports Studio (as Sportsrobe)
• Walt Disney Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2008) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2005) (Brazil) (DVD) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (France)
• Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Asylum VFX (visual effects)
• Gajdecki Visual Effects (GVFX) (additional visual effects)
• De La Mare Engineering (digital opticals)
• Buena Vista Imaging (digital and optical effects)
• Pacific Title and Art Studio (digital opticals)

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script clearance
• Banana Hill Studios  score mixed at
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Cablecam International  special camera systems
• Command Post Toybox  video dailies
• Deborah Ross Film Design  main and end title design
• Electric Picture Solutions  avid equipment rental
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack published by
• Hornet  animation
• Kinetic Imageworks  post-production facilities
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  score recording (as The Newman Scoring Stage)
• Pacific Title and Art Studio  digital opticals
• Paramount Pictures Production Services  production equipment
• Pinewood Sound  sound transfer and editing facility
• ReelSports Solutions  sports coordination
• Sound Dogs  sound effects library
• Sound Dogs  sound post-production
• SoundStorm  sound editing (as SoundStorm.com)
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility (as Soundtrack Boston)
• Sportsrobe  costumes
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate (as Technicolor Digital Intermediate)
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  opticals (as Technicolor Digital Intermediate)
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  score recording (as Todd Scoring Stage)
• Todd-AO Studios  sound re-recording
• Walt Disney Music Library, The  music preparation
• Wet Dog Studios  score mixed at
• William F. White International  camera equipment provided by (as William F. White International)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and some rough sports action

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-7 | Singapore:PG | USA:PG | UK:PG | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Pop Pop Productions

Trivia:

The turquoise projector Coach Brooks uses at home to study film in his den is a Bell & Howell 16mm FILMOSOUND Specialist model 552, which was manufactured from 1962-1971.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In a few of the press conference scenes, photographers can be seen using the Nikon 8008 camera. This camera was not available at the time.

Quotes:

Herb Brooks:Red line, back. Blue line, back. Far blue line, back. Far red line, back. And you have 45 seconds to do it. Get used to this drill. You'll be doing it *a lot*. Why? Because the legs feed the wolf, gentlemen. I can't promise you we'll be the best team at Lake Placid next February. But we will be the best conditioned. That I can promise you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Up in the Air/Everybody's Fine/Brothers (#1.38)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Time and Time Again

what I thought

I am the child of two St. Paul east- siders. My father has loved hockey for as long as he can remember. My mom, well, she just likes sports in general. Hockey ruled my life from the very first moments. First my father's practices and games, then my little brother, later on there were boyfriends, friends, high school, and college. Now there is Gophers and Wild. I imagine that hockey will continue to define my life for a very long time.

That said, for Minnesota kids there are legends told to them from the beginning. How Paul Bunyan shaped our lakes and rivers, and lived "Up North", and there is Herb Brooks. Legends that define Minnesota heritage.

Herb Brooks was a man who shaped the way hockey is viewed in Minnesota. A stand out at St. Paul Johnson High School, and at the U. He went to coach his beloved Gophers and work with his idol John Mariucci. Now the ice at Mariucci Arena (not 2 miles from where I sit now) bears tribute to Herby. His coaching techniques are still used and abused throughout the state.

Kurt Russell paid apt tribute to our late leader, and I am positive he would be impressed. I was fortunate enough to get sneak-preview tickets to see Miracle, and I can honestly say I don't remember when I had such a good time at the movies. I don't think I stopped smiling once. Russell's accent was good throughout the movie, but on just a few lines I could have SWORN that he was a Minnesotan. He elongated his vowels very well.

Eddie Cahill did a superb job as Jim Clark. I wondered how exactly he would play someone so torn between immense sadness and undeniable pride. I was even more impressed with his hockey skills. I hope that this helps the very yummy Mr. Cahill move from TV-boyfriend dujor (friends, Sex and the City) to a great movie actor. As it is the only thing that disappointed me was that he was running around the Cities last summer, and I had no idea.

If you are still reading this it goes without saying that I think you should see this movie. Sure you know how it ends, you've probably seen the game at least once on ESPN Classic even if you are old enough to remember it in the first place. The portrayal of our country at such a dark time in the world's history is historically great. Apt tribute is paid to Afghanistan (even if we are repeating the USSR's mistakes now), the Ayatollah, the oil embargo, and the general distrust in government. The Miracle on Ice was a very bright spot in a very dark time, and Miracle does a wonderful job showing just that. To those who say, who outside the US cares? I say hockey fans care. Sports fans care. This is not just a hockey movie (though it is a great one); it is a movie about hard work and perseverance. Isn't that what America really stands for?

So, Bravo Disney. I think Herby would have been pleased. I know that I am.