Wednesday, May 19, 2004
DVD Review: Miracle
In the 24 years that have passed since the 1980 Olympics, the world has turned upside down. The once-mighty Soviets -- the Evil Empire -- have fallen from superpower to step-child. The Cold War that threatened the existence of mankind on this planet is a distant menory, replaced by a War on Terror many take believe does not threaten them at all.
In short, Miracle faces the daunting task of capturing a feeling that no longer exists.
Think back to some of the more popular films of the past that were set against the Cold War backdrop: Rocky IV, Red Dawn, or War Games. What do they have in common? They all portrayed an "us v. them" mentality that spoke to the audience, no matter how silly the premise.
What typical 1980s American didn't go crazy when Rocky started landing a flurry of rights and lefts on the indestructible Ivan Drago? Who among you would deny choking up a little when American captors spent their last few living moments belting out "America the Beautiful" before a Soviet firing squad.
We live in a cynical age now that has forgotten that era. Those movies seem corny and unrealistic today, and objectively speaking, they always were. But they represented a mindset that was very real at the time.
My one complaint with Miracle is that it hardly even tries to capture that mindset. When the USA upset Russia enroute to the 1980 Ice Hockey Olympic gold medal, the Cold War was still very much in doubt. And even seemingly petty events, like an ice hockey game, held huge political ramifications.
But Miracle doesn't show that. It explores important themes like the cameraderie of the American team, and the drive of coach Herb Brooks. But it fails to truly portray the patriotic fervor that enraptured the nation, because of that team's remarkable Olympic run.
It does take a few stabs. The buildup for the Soviet game is by far the film's highlight. Brooks, who has already told us he is not one for sentimental inspiration, delivers a calm -- yet powerful -- locker room speech that culminates with the spine-tingling entrance of his team into the arena, amidst a chorus of "USA! USA! USA! chants."
But that's it. The game itself comes off as anti-climactic, apart from the most famous hockey soundbite ever, "Do you believe in Miracles?" Yes, Al Michaels, I do. And honestly, I believe in "Miracle."
What it lacks in the political, patriotic sense, it makes up for in the story and the acting of Kurt Russell as Brooks. He rules his team with an iron fist and the film shows how his drive instilled the discipline, confidence and conditioning required for the Americans to pull off the greatest upset in sports history.
Russell stands out, in one of his best performances, against a largely no-name cast of players. I like that. His team wasn't about stars, but rather a group that would play together as a collective group.
As far as the action is concerned, Miracle presents the best depiction of hockey on film that I've ever seen in a movie. The players fly and the hits are intense.
Does it completely atone for the omissions? No. After all, if it were just a hocky game, who would have cared? But I'll be lenient, because hey, we won the gold. And we're still a superpower.
9/10
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In short, Miracle faces the daunting task of capturing a feeling that no longer exists.
Think back to some of the more popular films of the past that were set against the Cold War backdrop: Rocky IV, Red Dawn, or War Games. What do they have in common? They all portrayed an "us v. them" mentality that spoke to the audience, no matter how silly the premise.
What typical 1980s American didn't go crazy when Rocky started landing a flurry of rights and lefts on the indestructible Ivan Drago? Who among you would deny choking up a little when American captors spent their last few living moments belting out "America the Beautiful" before a Soviet firing squad.
We live in a cynical age now that has forgotten that era. Those movies seem corny and unrealistic today, and objectively speaking, they always were. But they represented a mindset that was very real at the time.
My one complaint with Miracle is that it hardly even tries to capture that mindset. When the USA upset Russia enroute to the 1980 Ice Hockey Olympic gold medal, the Cold War was still very much in doubt. And even seemingly petty events, like an ice hockey game, held huge political ramifications.
But Miracle doesn't show that. It explores important themes like the cameraderie of the American team, and the drive of coach Herb Brooks. But it fails to truly portray the patriotic fervor that enraptured the nation, because of that team's remarkable Olympic run.
It does take a few stabs. The buildup for the Soviet game is by far the film's highlight. Brooks, who has already told us he is not one for sentimental inspiration, delivers a calm -- yet powerful -- locker room speech that culminates with the spine-tingling entrance of his team into the arena, amidst a chorus of "USA! USA! USA! chants."
But that's it. The game itself comes off as anti-climactic, apart from the most famous hockey soundbite ever, "Do you believe in Miracles?" Yes, Al Michaels, I do. And honestly, I believe in "Miracle."
What it lacks in the political, patriotic sense, it makes up for in the story and the acting of Kurt Russell as Brooks. He rules his team with an iron fist and the film shows how his drive instilled the discipline, confidence and conditioning required for the Americans to pull off the greatest upset in sports history.
Russell stands out, in one of his best performances, against a largely no-name cast of players. I like that. His team wasn't about stars, but rather a group that would play together as a collective group.
As far as the action is concerned, Miracle presents the best depiction of hockey on film that I've ever seen in a movie. The players fly and the hits are intense.
Does it completely atone for the omissions? No. After all, if it were just a hocky game, who would have cared? But I'll be lenient, because hey, we won the gold. And we're still a superpower.
9/10
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