Blu-ray Review
Miracle
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor Cast: Kurt Russell, Noah Emmerich, Patricia Clarkson Running Time: 2 hr 16 mins Rating: PG
Plot: The story of how the USA Hockey team beat the Soviet Union in the legendary winter Olympics of 1980.
Who's It For? Fans of the game will be excited and possibly inspired by this true story.
Movie:
As much as the story of Miracle may be about the importance of teamwork, the film focuses on coach Herb Brooks as if there really is an “I” in team. Kurt Russell’s performance is certainly laudable, but in turn much of the players become nameless, particularly because while the faces may be accurate look-alikes, they are certainly not noticeable to us. Some of Miracle's dull moments are saved by the film's overall desire to present the “greatest moment in sports history” with as much authenticity as possible. But Miracle tends to borrow from the sports cliché handbook more than it should, which is discouraging to its dedication of filming hockey and its inspiring moments at its most real. Corny dialogue like “we’re not a team, we’re a family,” seems incredibly inorganic, even if it is legitimate to the moment.
As sports movies from Disney go, this is one is pretty dull skates. The final match (and "miracle moment") are wonderfully recreated, but this hockey movie never even compares to the exciting emotional roller coaster that made up the final act of D2: The Mighty Ducks.
Score: 5/10
EXTRAS
Outtakes - At 4 minutes and 50 seconds, this feature has double the length that what outtakes usually do. Still, it serves the same purpose - providing those of us who weren't on set with an idea of the fun apparently had making the film. The most interesting outtakes involve the big fight scene on the ice, which shows the grand scale of that particular sequence.
The Sound of Miracle - As much as the skating cameramen might impress us, here is the truly miraculous work for the film. This feature goes deep into the often overlooked aspect of sound design, an breaks a hockey match in the film down sound by sound.
The Making of Miracle - A not too praise-y look at the production of the film. An interesting extra that proves the USA hockey players weren't the only ones who benefited from teamwork, as various creators of the project explain the dedicated and meticulous work that went into bringing the excitement of hockey to cinematic life.
First Impressions: Herb Brooks with Kurt Russell and the Filmmakers - Much of the extras on this Blu-Ray are spent with people talking about and for the legendary coach Herb Brooks. Now, the man speaks for himself in an abridged video shot on a regular video camera in a conference room. Though we may have learned a lot about Brooks and his team from other moments on this disc, it is still fascinating to hear the tales and thoughts come from his own mouth.
The other extras:
From Hockey to Hollywood: The Actors' Journey Miracle ESPN Roundtable with Linda Cohn Audio Commentary By Director Gavin O'Connor, Director of Photography Dan Stoloff and Editor John Gilroy
Extras Score: 4/10
OVERALL
Every extra from this Blu-Ray is borrowed from its earlier DVD release. The high-definition aspect of this new release does give the in-game footage a bit more tangibility, but that's about it. Those who already own this movie don't need to invest in this re-release, as they already have the special features to cater to their hockey movie interests.
Unlike the event that this movie is so enamored with, this Blu-Ray is nothing to celebrate.
Final Score: 4/10