Miracle (2004)

Miracle tells the true story of Herb Brooks (Kurt 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, Nathan West

2 wins & 4 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 | ice hockey | hockey movie | hockey | 

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Taglines:

Believe.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and some rough sports action

Details

Official Sites:

Disney

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Csoda a jégen

Filming Locations:

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,377,577, 8 February 2004, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$64,378,093, 6 May 2004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$64,445,708

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:

2.40 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the real-life ABC network broadcast of the game between the U.S. and Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics, ABC ran two commercials for a made-for-television film called Elvis (1979), that was to be broadcast on the Monday following the end of the Olympics. Kurt Russell starred as Elvis Presley in the film, and is shown in the commercials, in addition to playing Herb Brooks, in the main movie.

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Goofs

The actual referee in the game against the Soviets was Karl-Gustav Kaisla from Finland. In the movie, the referee is clearly North American.

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Quotes

Rob McClanahan: [from across the room] Hey Rizzo! What's going on?
Mike Eruzione: Mac!
[turns to O.C]
Mike Eruzione: Easy big guy.
Jack O'Callahan: [referring to Eruzione and Silk] I don't know how the two of you can sit in the same room with that clown.
Mike Eruzione: Let it go. It's over. Let it go.
Cox: What's going on here?
Dave Silk: O.C's got a little unfinished business over there.
Jack O'Callahan: Not for long I don't.
Mike Eruzione: Hey what did I tell you man?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

During the closing credits of the film, each actor is shown on screen with the name of the player he portrayed along with a "where are they now" update.

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Connections

Referenced in Torchwood: Random Shoes (2006)

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Soundtracks

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G-1 - Movement Allegro
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (as Royal Philharmonic)
Courtesy of Extreme Music

User Reviews

I don't like hockey, but this was a good movie

I was too young to have known anything about this game when it was played in real life, but it was definitely more than a game. It concerned world politics and the cold war. The movie did a good job showing how seemingly impossible it seemed for the young American team to beat the best team in the world who had been playing together for 10 years. And Kurt Russell did a good job as the tough coach who was hard on the players to get the most out of them. I also liked the way the hockey games were filmed. I think hockey is the most boring sport and I don't know any of the rules, but the way it was filmed let the least knowlegdable person follow what was going on.

FINAL VERDICT: If you like sports movies, then don't miss this one.