On M List of Movie Reviews

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Miracle (2004)

Rate: 3
Viewed: 4/07

4/07: The "Miracle on Ice" is no doubt the greatest American sporting accomplishment in history.

Do I believe in miracles after seeing Miracle? Yeeeeeeee.....no. Forget about everything that captures the essence which made films like Rocky, Lean on Me, and The Miracle Worker emotionally powerful. Miracle is nothing as compared to them. That's probably why Herb Brooks passed away, so he wouldn't have to witness how much of a piss stain the film is.

I have no idea who the players or what their names are. I heard Jim Craig's name too many times in the final forty-five minutes, yet I didn't know which actor was playing him. That's the biggest issue: no character development.

Besides the empty scenes, what I hate the most is the constant use of extreme close-ups. I just want the camera to be like five feet away from everybody, so I can breathe easily. But no, it has to be right up against the screen the entire time. Kurt Russell, who's a terrific star, isn't bad, but he's ultimately let down by the weak supporting cast and Gavin O'Connor's poor direction.

All in all, you're better off watching the documentary Do You Believe in Miracles? The Story of the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team.

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