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# Review ‘Miracle’ has much more than frenzied flag-waving
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/review-miracle-has-much-more-than-frenzied-flag-waving/
- Published: 2004-02-06T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:44:24.000Z
- Author: Dan Dunn
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

Patriotic pride abounds in director Gavin O’Connor’s drama about the U.S. national hockey team’s astonishing victory over a seemingly invincible Soviet squad at the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, but there’s more to “Miracle” than guts, glory and frenzied flag-waving. Sure, O’Connor and his production team play up the can’t-miss elements of this true story about America’s triumphant underdogs, but the thrilling on-ice trailer moments support, rather than overshadow, this intimate profile of the unlikely heroes and their arduous journey toward what many consider to be the most hallowed achievement in modern sports history. The so-called “Miracle On Ice” is an historic event that belongs to all of us, but this film is a nod to the ordinary guys who made it happen.

America was in a bad way in 1979-80, and not just because people like U.S coach Herb Brooks were venturing out in public wearing hideous plaid slacks and blazers. The gold medal glory that inspired the film is set up marvelously by O’Connor’s portrait of a nation mired in an energy crisis, threatened by the Cold War and frightened over the Iranian hostage situation. The sense that the country desperately needed something to rally behind is palpable throughout “Miracle,” and serves to increasingly amp-up our anticipation to goosebump-bursting levels. And even though the outcome is a foregone conclusion, the film manages to bring us to the edges of our seats, fingers crossed, imploring goalie Jim Craig to make another big save, and praying Mike Eruzione notches that eventual game-winner.

Kurt Russell’s spot-on portrayal of hard-nosed hockey lifer Brooks is the stuff career revivals are made of. While other recent screen depictions of notoriously dictatorial coaches have been car-toonish at best — Brian Dennehey as Bobby Knight and Tom Berenger’s Paul “Bear” Bryant come to mind — Russell manages to unearth a genuine humanity beneath Brooks’s obsessive drive. Give an assist to Patricia Clarkson, wonderful as always, as the workaholic coach’s better half Patti. The young cast of hockey players-cum-thespians comprising the 20-player U.S. team are thoroughly convincing both on and off the ice. The breakout stars here are film froshes Michael Mantenuto as Jack O’Callahan and Eddie Cahill (“Glory Days,” “Felicity”) as goalie Jim Craig.

Twenty-four years after broadcaster Al Michaels famously posed the question, this film elicits another emphatic answer from a nation that finds itself in crisis once again: Yes, we still believe in miracles … and it feels good. (Rated PG for language and some rough sports action.)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/020604-10_01.jpg)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 6, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/020604.pdf?ref=smdp.com)