Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Miracle (2004)


What it's about?

The story of Coach Herb Brooks and the 1980 Unites States hockey Olympic team at its journey leading up to one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

Who is in it?

Kurt Russel - Herb Brooks

Patricia Clarkson - Patty Brooks

Noah Emmerich - Craig Patrick

Favorite Scene


After several training and workout scenes where the players introduced themselves, their hometowns and the colleges and university they played for, coach Herb Brooks decides to teach them a lesson after a sub par effort in an exhibition game. Brooks lines them up, and has them skate drills over, and over, each time blowing the whistle and yelling, "again". Finally, after complete and utter exhaustion, Mike Eruzione screams out, "Mike Eruzione! Winthrop, Massachussetts!" Brooks responds, "Who do you play for?" Eruzione says, "The United States of America"

Favorite Quote

Coach Craig Patrick: "You're missing the best players"
Coach Herb Brooks: "I'm not looking for the best players, Craig, I'm looking for the right players.

Review
Miracle is a rare sports movie that had a clear and distinct plot, with one major focus. Albeit a true story, Miracle does a great job of capturing the development of the 1980 United States team, and the progression of the team's chemistry and hard work. Kurt Russell continues the greatness with his portrayal of Coach Herb Brooks as a maniacal, mad scientist of a hockey coach.

The best part about Miracle is the integrity it maintains by capturing and portraying the story and game between the USA and USSR. Miracle, despite being a Disney movie, leaves out the cheesy music, lines, and "sudden surges" of big plays often seen in sports movies. Instead, it gives a lengthy amount of time to the final game with hard hitting action, great camera angles, and a great feel of intensity and suspense, thus truly recreating the moment in Lake Placid.

Grade: 4/5

Recent Favorites

Quick Ponder: Free and Guarded

Stay free. But keep the gate to  your peace, guarded.

WWE Wrestlemania XL Review: "I absolutely loved this Wrestlemania"

It's easy to get caught up and become a prisoner of the moment. Especially in today's world where the latest moment is ostracized, super-analyzed, and hyperbolized - it's very much the clickbait, social media, microwave society we live in.  Yet, even after acknowledging that (as well as my Tribal Chief, of course), I still come to this feeling that Wrestlemania XL is one of the best Wrestlemania's, ever.  Yes, ever!  I don't need Triple H's metrics and benchmarks to influence me. No, no, no! In terms of hype, storylines, payoffs, match quality, and just overall fun - this entire weekend was amazing.  I'm slightly skewed in my preference as well. This was my son's first Wrestlemania as a pro wrestling fan. Having him at my side cheering on his favorites, getting caught up in the drama, and even crying at the end of the night because his Tribal Chief lost to "that no good Cody" added to the overall appreciation of the event.  So yeah, I have some

NXT Stand and Deliver 2024 Review: 'For super casual NXT fans like me - no complaints here'

It's become officially a tradition that NXT Stand and Deliver makes Wrestlemania weekend feel like the ultimate wrestling weekend - as if it isn't already. There is just something about a major show being held midday on a Saturday, among the hype for the already dual night of Wrestlemania - that just emanates and screams - wrestling fans, don't go anywhere all weekend.   Nonetheless, NXT Stand and Deliver 2024 for this super causal NXT viewer was entertaining. I was well aware (and followed) the story of Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes (more on that in a bit) more so than the other happenings, but that didn't matter. The show offered many reasons to check out Shawn Michaels' project on Tuesday nights.  With that said, here are some quick thoughts on NXT Stand and Deliver 2024:  - Baron Corbin is amazing on the NXT brand. For many reasons, he just never clicked for me on the major brands - and that very likely might not even be his fault. I didn't think Axiom an