Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Miracle Blu-ray Movie Review

A first-rate sports film receives a fitting Blu-ray release...

In a lazier day, when sleep surpassed eight hours and movies didn't consume my late nights, I was unabashedly enamored with hockey. My friends, like many shortsighted American sports fans, seemed to enjoy banishing hockey to the same perennial cultural wasteland as tennis and soccer, but I couldn't get enough. Alas, the years have dwindled on and I've had to make some tough choices about how to spend what precious little TV time I'm alloted. One of the first victims of my twenty-four hour limitations? Sniffle... don't make me say it out loud. So it was that when a colleague recently asked if I was watching the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, I broke down and returned to the fold. After all, with Battlestar off the air, Lost on its summer vacation, and few meaty shows to dive into, I actually had some time on my hands. Yes, it was game seven of a hotly contested series and, no, I've never been a huge fan of the Detroit Red Wings or the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it was a fantastic homecoming. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a good comeback story (Pittsburgh surged back from the three-game dead to snatch the prize), or maybe my warm-n-fuzzies were inevitable after revisiting a phenomenally powerful hockey film like Miracle this morning. Either way, I have a feeling I'll be back for more next season.

Russell conveys such startling control that he completely dominates the screen at every turn...

But I digress. Miracle, director Gavin O'Connor's faithful and unflinching account of the 1980 USA hockey team's pursuit of Olympic gold, is one of the best, if not the best sports films to have come out of Hollywood in the last ten years. Kurt Russell steps into the shoes of coach Herb Brooks, an ice-veteran and master strategist whose theories on defeating the nigh-unbeatable Russian squad nets him the honor of coaching the men's Winter Olympics hockey team. Initially, Brooks' unyielding commitment to excellence alienates his players -- goaltender Jim Craig (Eddie Cahill), offenceman Rob McClanahan (Nathan West), right wing Mike Eruzione (Patrick O'Brien Demsey), blueliner Jack O'Callahan (Michael Mantenuto), left wing Dave Silk (Bobby Hanson), centre Mark Johnson (Eric Peter-Kaiser), and defenceman Mike Ramsey (Joseph Cure), among others -- but when his methods begin to produce results and, more importantly, victories, their scorn slowly gives way to a newfound respect for his diligence and drive.

Cynics beware: furrowed brows and crossed arms will be unclenched and at ease by the time Miracle's credits roll. While any brief synopsis (including my own) might leave you with the impression that Miracle is an overtly sentimental reservoir of all-too-familiar genre clichés, I can assure you... it's not. Presented with the unflinching authenticity of an engrossing documentary, O'Connor's film rises above the conventions of its overcrowded genre and achieves startling heights. Its stunning multi-character study is more than a rousing drama, it's a genuinely inspirational tale of perseverance and determination. Whether you're drawn in by Eric Guggenheim's masterfully constructed screenplay, won over by the entire cast's altogether convincing performances, or reassured by O'Connor's decisive directorial hand, Brooks' story will get under your skin and work its magic.

More importantly, Russel doesn't play the famed coach as a perfect man, or even one who rises above his own flaws, but as an everyman devoted to the depths, rather than the mechanics, of his sport. Russell's revealing scenes with Patricia Clarkson (briefly but deftly portraying Herb's wife, Patty) are moving and effective; his measured coaching made me want to slap on a pair of skates myself; and his locker-room antics brought the hair on my arms and neck to attention. Its his heart and soul, laid bare, that allows the film to speak to anyone regardless of how familiar they are with hockey or the history of the US/Russian Olympic rivalry. O'Connor and Russell are never distracted by superficial plights or shallow motivations, instead delivering a visceral examination of will, inner-fortitude, and the tenacity of the human spirit.

The first time I saw Miracle, I was taken aback by the sheer impact of the experience. I suppose I was expecting something more along the lines of Remember the Titans or For Love of the Game, but I found something more akin to Rocky and Hoosiers. Having watched it now nearly a dozen times over the last five years, I can tell you it only gets better with each viewing. More than a solid genre pic, more than a compelling biopic, more than an impressive sports flick, Miracle transcends its bat-swinging, ball-flinging brethren and proves itself to be a great film. Whether you've followed hockey for years or refused to watch a single game, O'Connor's masterwork is worth your time.

Miracle Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Miracle arrives on Blu-ray with a rough but rewarding 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that proficiently captures O'Connor's every gritty intention. Colors are muted but stable, skintones reserved but natural, shadows aggressive but elemental, and contrast stark but comfortable. Likewise, detail waxes and wanes with every camera move, but the varying softness and coarseness of each scene actually suits the documentary-like atmosphere of the film, enhancing the director's on-the-fly, handheld aesthetic. That's not to say the picture is dull or lifeless: fine textures are often rendered with crisp care, and foreground edges are well defined (without the help of any significant artificial sharpening). As usual, Disney's technical efforts are remarkable. I didn't catch any substantial artifacting, banding, crush, or source noise, and any and post-production techniques have either been judiciously applied or avoided altogether. In fact, I only have two nitpicks -- delineation suffers a bit too much at times, and wavering creeps into a few rinkside shots -- both of which are fairly negligible. All things considered, the Blu-ray edition of Miracle looks amazing and readily trounces its standard DVD counterpart. Fans will be ecstatic to see how well the film has made the leap to high definition.

Miracle Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Disney's sinewy DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is even more arresting. Whether sending a clattering puck skittering across the soundfield or filling your home theater with the deafening roar of an impassioned Olympic crowd, the mix carefully utilizing every speaker to create an immersive experience worthy of high praise. Ambience is a regular player in each scene, interior acoustics are accurate and astute, and reliable LFE support infuses every voice and effect with weight and dimension. Even when Miracle presents the subdued sonics of the Brooks' homestead or the quiet confines of a conference room, the film's soundscape remains effective. It helps that dialogue, whispered one moment and barked the next, is impeccable in all but a handful of scenes. A few locker-room exchanges are overwhelmed by crashing tables and arguing hotheads, but I doubt O'Connor would have it any other way. In the end, I'm pleased to report that Disney's lossless output continues to impress. Miracle's DTS-HD MA track not only rounds out an excellent AV presentation, it stands head and shoulders above the majority of sports-genre audio mixes on the market.

Miracle Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Miracle skates onto Blu-ray with the same extensive supplemental package that graces the 2004 Special Edition DVD. While the video content is presented in standard definition, the behind-the-scenes tour is a thorough one that offers far more material than most genre releases on the market.

• Filmmakers Commentary: Director Gavin O'Connor, editor John Gilroy, and cinematographer Dan Stoloff discuss casting, rehearsals, aesthetic choices, and the challenges of shooting a hockey game. It would have been nice to have a second track featuring some of the real players portrayed in the film, but this production commentary nevertheless delivers an informative and engaging chat.
• From Hockey to Hollywood (SD, 28 minutes): This documentary focuses on the unknown actors and hockey players O'Connor tapped to fill key roles in the film. Personally, I enjoyed the fact that Russell was pushed to the background to give some of his supporting cast members a chance to shine.
• The Making of Miracle (SD, 18 minutes): An expectedly congratulatory EPK that still manages to inject some valuable information into the package. Specifically, it delves into the filmmakers' attempts to stack the deck when it came to creating each hockey sequence.
• ESPN Roundtable (SD, 41 minutes): Host Linda Cohen interviews actor Kurt Russell, the Olympic team's real-life forward Mike Eruzione, goaltender Jim Craig, and left wing Buzz Schneider. They talk about coach Herb Brooks, their experiences, and the film itself. It's a promotional special to be sure, but, for the most part, it stays on target.
• First Impressions (SD, 21 minutes): This fantastic sit-down between coach Brooks and the filmmakers is a must see featurette. The audio/video quality of the piece is problematic, but it's a great addition to the package.
• The Sound of Miracle (SD, 11 minutes): A surprisingly engrossing featurette that looks at the film's sound design, the complexities of ice recordings, and the need for authentic effects and atmosphere.
• Outtakes (SD, 5 minutes): Cute but fleeting. For completists only.

Miracle Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's a shame Miracle is often overlooked by those unwilling to give hockey a chance: love or hate the sport all you want, it doesn't change the fact that Gavin O'Connor has delivered a spectacular film sure to stand the test of time. Disney's Blu-ray edition is admirable as well. Its striking video transfer, potent DTS-HD Master Audio track, and generous collection of special features will finally give fans an excuse to chuck out their well-worn DVD copies of the film. Some exclusive content would have been nice, sure, but Disney's latest Miracle release gets a hearty recommendation from me.