Big Miracle (2012)

In small-town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his ex-girlfriend - a Greenpeace volunteer - on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

Director:

Ken Kwapis

Writers:

Jack Amiel (screenplay), Michael Begler (screenplay)

Stars:

Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, John Pingayak

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Pingayak	...	Malik
Ahmaogak Sweeney	...	Nathan
John Chase	...	Roy
Ishmael Angalook Hope	...	Bud
Othniel 'Anaqulutuq' Oomittuk Jr.	...	Inupiat Whaler
John Krasinski	...	Adam Carlson
Andrew Daly	...	Don Davis
Thomas R. Daly	...	Frank
Maliaq Kairaiuak	...	Dana
Jeffrey Evan	...	Arnold
Drew Barrymore	...	Rachel Kramer
Ted Danson	...	J.W. McGraw
Randy Eledge	...	Oil Man
Thom Van Dorp	...	Don Carr
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Pat Lafayette

Storyline

October, 1988. Adam Carlson, a reporter for a local Anchorage television station, is currently in Barrow doing a series of pieces on the "local cultural color" of northern Alaska. While out on the sea ice filming a less than promising piece, he spots off in the distance what ends up being three California gray whales - a mother, father and son - who are literally imprisoned by ice which has surrounded them in the earlier than usual onset of winter. They are looking worse for wear as they have been ramming the ice surface to maintain a hole in the ice to be able to breathe and thus survive. The professional and cultural assessment he receives is that the whales, in their current situation, cannot survive for more than a few days, with the ice fives miles in distance to the open ocean with a vertical ice shelf that has developed midway. Adam's piece on the whales not only gets played on his station, but is picked up by news services throughout the States, including the national ...

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Plot Keywords:

whale | alaska | save the whale | based on true story | ice | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Whales

Filming Locations:

Alaska SeaLife Center - 301 Railway Ave, Seward, Alaska, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,760,205, 5 February 2012, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$20,113,965, 30 March 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Anonymous Content, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character Governor Haskell was named Steve Cowper in real life. Kelly Meyers was really Bonnie Mersinger.

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Goofs

When the Green Peace activist dives under the ice in a wetsuit, she has red thermal gloves on. While submerged and using her knife to cut away the net on the baby whale's fluke, her bare hands are visible. When she surfaces, the red gloves are back on again.

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Quotes

Jill Jerard: [Doing a news report on the ice] Cut! God, my feet are numb. These boots are useless.
Jill Jerard: [motions to Nathan]
Jill Jerard: Hey kid, you still got that cardboard?
Nathan: I sold it to the other guy. But I can still get more! It's forty now, though.
Jill Jerard: Forty dollars?
Nathan: Shipping and handling.
Jill Jerard: ...Shipping and handling?
Nathan: [smirks] It's not my first rodeo, either.

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the credits, when the Working Title logo appears, we hear the songs of the whales.

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Connections

Features The Gong Show (1976)

User Reviews

Great Family Film with Strong Environmental Message

Nine-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Anthony Aranda loved this film. Watch his video review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrCf8veaoyU or read below what he had to say: "This is one of the best movies I have ever seen that is based on a true story. This movie is really awesome because there were so many people that came together to save three whales. It was really heart-breaking because a lot of people put their own lives in danger to save the lives of the whales. This movie is all about Adam and Nathan who are out and see three whales that are trapped under the ice and can't find their way to the ocean. There is a small hole that the whales keep using to breathe so first they try digging that whole to make it bigger. Adam's friend Rachel comes to help save the whales and do everything she can. She asks the governor for help but he says no so she tells the news about what he said. The governor then decides to help. They have to work fast because the hole keeps freezing and getting smaller and the ice leading to the ocean keeps freezing over making the distance even longer. Some of the main characters in the movie are Adam, Rachel, and Nathan. My favorite character is Nathan because he is such a funny character at first and then he really starts to care about the whales. He also starts to spend a lot of time with his grandfather because his grandfather likes to spend a lot of time around the ocean and helps animals in need. My favorite part in the movie is when everyone started to dig the holes to help the whales breathe and get back to the ocean. I really like this part because it really shows how everyone cares about saving the whales and how much people love the whales. A part that was really funny was when the Governor had to help save the whales because Rachel told the news that he wouldn't help. It was funny to see him shaking the hand of a guy dressed up as a whale. I would recommend this movie for all ages because it is a really good movie. There are not any violent parts in this movie. This movie is a really great family movie. Go out and see this movie in theaters on February 3rd." Review by Anthony Aranda, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.