Blu-ray Review: Miracle

Release Date: June 16th, 2009
Running Time: 136 minutes

The Film

I have never gravitated towards sports films of the inspirational variety, but reviewing DVDs and Blu-ray discs has exposed me to some legitimately outstanding movies. Due to the violent nature and unique aspect of being on ice, hockey has always been one of the more entertaining team sports in my opinion, but outside of The Mighty Ducks I hadn’t really seen any hockey-themed movies. Miracle is a hell of a story presented on a gorgeous Blu-ray disc, making for one of the best hockey film experiences out there.

The film documents the story of the 1980 US Olympic Men’s hockey team as led by Coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell). Brooks is hired based on his proposed strategy on how to beat the hailed Soviet team and begins to whittle down hopefuls to construct a team. He’s not always conventional, but trust is placed in his skills. The team, however, does not immediately gel. Egos and old rivalries threaten to cause rifts in the team, but Brooks drills the message into the players’ minds that they are part of a team—the United States Olympic hockey team. Through grueling drills he breaks through all the personal issues and helps the team work together to the best of their ability. His training is relentless until every team member realizes the privilege and responsibility of being on an Olympic team–there is no room for egos.

When the team has a chance to play the Soviets in an exhibition they are utterly blown away, but Brooks keeps pushing his team on. In the beginning of the Olympics they struggle but manage to get the job down and proceed to the medal round. This sets up a showdown with the Soviets where the Americans are the obvious underdogs. It will take all of their practice and teamwork to prove to the world that they have what it takes to succeed against all odds.

Miracle is not a schlocky, sappy story like most sports films. Sure it has the trademark speeches, but they feel genuine and inspiring rather than scripted. The film itself unravels more like a documentary than a film, not focusing on any one player but on the status of the team itself. Every player is a cog in a machine. Just like the message that Brooks drills so hard into his players, this is a film about the United States Olympic hockey team, not about a star player. From a technical standpoint the film features a strong, focused script, top-notch direction, and a blistering pace in the hockey sequences. Hockey fans, sports fans, or people who enjoy underdog stories are all encouraged to check out this incredible tale.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 2.40:1, 1080p High Definition transfer that preserves the gritty, realistic intentions of the director. Colors are stylistically muted but remain consistent without bleeding. Detail can waver a bit due to the handheld camera work, but it accentuates the documentary feel and looks excellent considering the hectic action scenes. Fine textures in the non-action moments have the high quality you would expect from HD, while the inky blacks preserve shadow detail well. With no problems with artifacts or video noise, Miracle has a quality video transfer.

The audio is offered in an English DTS HD 5.1 Master lossless audio track as well as French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/French/Spanish subtitles. The hockey scenes are out of control. Every sound effect has pristine detail, from the skates on the ice to the slaps of the sticks hitting the puck—all of the effects are perfectly placed across the soundstage. Likewise, the crowd booms around you, placing you in the center of the action. Ambience is well done in the non-action scenes as well. Dialogue is clean and balanced, making for one of the best sports mixes I have heard on the format.

The Extras

Commentary is offered with Director Gavin O’Connor, Editor John Gilroy, and Cinematographer Dan Stoloff. It is a comprehensive discussion covering pre-production scouting, the specifics of filming the hockey sequences, and more. It can be somewhat dry, but serious fans of the film will find a lot to enjoy here.

“The Making of Miracle” is a standard 18-minute promotional featurette with cast/crew interviews discussing the plot and characters, as well as some minor production information about shooting the hockey sequences.

“From Hockey to Hollywood” is a 28-minute piece on the casting process and finding both unknowns and real hockey players to bring authenticity to the film.

The “ESPN Roundtable” is a 41-minute segment with host Linda Cohen, Kurt Russell, and players Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, and Buzz Schneider. The entertaining discussion gives the most information about the real life players and their experiences while also offering comparisons and comments about the film. I consider this required watching for fans of the film to get a better appreciation about the scope of the story and the achievement of the players.

“First Impressions” (21 minutes) is another historically relevant featurette that features discussion between Coach Herb Brooks and the filmmakers. Combined with the “ESPN Roundtable,” the disc does an excellent job covering the real events portrayed in the film.

“The Sound of Miracles is an 11-minute piece on the sound design. If you were wondering why the sound mix sounds so awesome, then check this out. It explores the various sound elements and also breaks down a scene in order to show how everything comes together.

Finally, a 5-minute Outtake reel is offered.

Final Thoughts

Miracle is yet another stand-out Blu-ray disc from Disney and a very enjoyable film in its own right. Fans upgrading their DVD to Blu-ray will have nothing to complain about outside of exclusive Blu-ray special features, which isn’t a big deal considering the selection of content offered is still very comprehensive.