Miracle is set in America, starting in the summer of 1980. The country was coming out of tough previous years and moral was low. The majority of the story took place in Minnesota where 26 players fought for a spot to compete in the Olympics. The team members also played games in other countries, which could have been dangerous at the time due to the instability between country alliances. Actual speeches and broadcasts from the era were added in order to precisely depict the historical events of the time. All of these elements, when put into the movie, built up the reality of this year in American history and contributed to the excellence of the film by including events that viewers, who are old enough, can remember and relate to when watching.

The team of film-makers for Miracle was determined to portray the members of this USA team as precisely as possible and their efforts paid off. Not only did Kurt Russell resemble Herb Brooks, but he depicted the headstrong, persistent coach beautifully. This role makes it difficult for the viewer to remember anything else Russell has been in due to its uniqueness. Each of the actors had a strong likeness to the characters they were representing whether it be the fiery, passionate Jack O'Callahan, played by Michael Mantenuto, or the strong, caring Mike Eruzione, played by Patrick O'Brien Demsey. Each of the actors showed uncanny similarities when compared to their characters. The effort of the film-makers to obtain hockey players who can act as well as play adds to the authenticity and success of the film.

This moment in American history - winning the Olympic medal for the USA hockey team in 1980 - was paramount. Against all odds, this group of young players persevered and fought to achieve a miracle. The incredible acting and skillful cinematography made this movie. New filming techniques never before accomplished allowed spectators to view hockey like never before. Film-makers were set on creating a way to bring the action to the audience in an up-close, fast-pace approach. They constructed devices that allowed them to skate along with the actors for the effect. Because of the accomplishment of this new technique, Miracle surpasses other hockey movies such as Slap Shot and The Mighty Ducks by a mile. It is a new breed of sports-movie that puts viewers right in the game.

In addition to fabulous filming techniques, the soundtrack to Miracle was magnificent. A steady theme song was developed and depending on the scene, whether it was gloomy and miserable or glorious and blissful, the different sections of the song were incorporated and matched perfectly. In addition to the main theme, there were a couple of rock pieces from the era added for effect. The national anthem and the Olympic Fanfare were also integrated before the Olympic Games, which further promoted a sense of pride, unity, and nationalism in the film. The orchestral pieces and fanfares of the soundtrack contributed to the majesty and splendor of Miracle, creating a building climax during the movie.

My only complaint is that this film is rather unsurprising even though the story behind it is not. This event in sports history truly was an unforeseen phenomenon but in this motion picture, from the very beginning, like almost all other sports films, it is apparent that the end result is going to be victory. Other than this criticism, overall, the film Miracle is a fantastic portrayal of “one of the greatest moments in sports history”. I recommend this film to any sports or history fan who believes in miracles.