After a tumultuous decade, there is a "crisis of confidence" in America. University of Minnesota head coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) is hired to coach the US hockey team for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. They are heavy underdogs. The Soviets even beat the NHL All Stars. The US team consists of amateurs who haven't got a job in the pros. Brooks intends to pick team players rather than individual stars. His assistant coach Craig Patrick (Noah Emmerich) is unconvinced. His marriage to Patti (Patricia Clarkson) suffers. He pushes his boys to the limit in training. With gas shortages and the new Iranian hostage crisis, there are few bright spots for America but this US team of underdogs will perform a miracle.This is a movie of great moments. There is nothing quite as compelling as the forced skate after tying the Norwegians. Kurt Russell is solid anchoring this movie. Maybe there's a limitation with the truth but this movie needs greater conflict. Somebody needs to be the villain who keeps threatening to take the team away from Herb. Also the players don't get enough attention. One player could be highlighted to fill out more drama. The players end up being all jumbo together. It would be nice to highlight one specific relationship of a player with Herb.

It's a feel good sports movie based around the true story of Coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) who had the unenviable task of leading the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team in the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. Where the all conquering Russian squad were waiting.We follow Brooks as he assembles a youthful squad then pushes them to the limits, mentally and physically, all while facing pressures in his home life as he gives his all on the ice rinks. If you know your sports history then there's obviously no surprise factor here, but there's good insight into squad dynamics, of coaching and toughness involved in the many facets of high level sport. Russell leads his young cast admirably, while the action scenes during the matches have a kinetic energy that's most impressive. 7/10

This was a great movie starring Kurt Russell as the great American ice hockey coach Herb Brooks. During the movie, we see the challenges he has to face in taking college kids from different parts of the United States and forging them into a cohesive unit. We see eventually the barriers between the Massachusetts players and Midwestern players come down.Brooks is not content with a bronze medal in the Olympic tournament. Through strict discipline and no acceptance of quitting, he pushes his team to the limit. His strong-armed coaching even has his assistant Craig Patrick shaking his head as well as the U.S. Olympic hockey federation who clearly believe Brooks is in over his head.The most enjoyable part of the movie besides the hockey action is Kurt Russell giving a speech to his players at the later part of the film. It is clearly one of the best movie speeches you will ever hear. It has special meaning as he tries to rally a group of college kids against the world's best hockey team (who are professionals) to victory at a time when the United States' place in the world was shaky.

Miracle is an inspirational sports film that touches on the what is mostly likely the best moment in American sports history. Thanks to a marvelous, powerful performance by Kurt Russell, the story goes from a clichéd mess to a very powerful, heartfelt story. This is your typical sports film with the main team as an underdog going against all odds to be number one. But unlike many sports film, this is actually a true story.Gavin O'Connor's film takes place during the Cold War and it spotlights on the 1980 Olympics. The film has the underdog, fresh-faced American hockey team versus the intimidating, experienced Soviet team. The film mostly talks about Herb Brooks and how he got his team into shape to face off against the Soviets.The acting is really good. Kurt Russell really adds new blood to the story and his role as Herb Brooks is most likely why this film is so moving. The other actors did solid too. Honestly, I see no reason why Patricia Clarkson should have been in this movie. All she does is play the role of the complaining wife. I liked how no-name people were cast as the players and they were really good.Overall, this is a truly inspirational sports film full of choking-up moments. I liked how they incorporated some history in the film so that the younger viewers would learn some important history. It's very predictable as it should be, because this was more than just a game. It's a symbol of American pride during these troubled times. This is how a sports movie should be made. I rate this film 9/10.