Spoiler: The US team wins. ;-)
I liked it fine. I had a few nit-picks that didn't ruin it for me, but I never forgot I was watching a movie, either. Here's what made the difference to me:
Victor has a DVD of a documentary about the 1980 team. He was watching it a few weeks ago and I happened to walk through the room during the part about the Soviet game. I stopped and watched. As Al Michaels said "Do you believe in miracles?" I teared up...
I liked the movie, but my eyes stayed completely dry.
After we got home, I checked the DVD because I wanted to look for some nitpicky details (like the width of the goalies' leg pads, and the rink...in the movie it looked like an NHL rink, not international; there wasn't enough ice behind the net...utter nitpicks, as I said). When Al Michaels said "Do you believe in miracles?" I teared up. It is an involuntary response to the real thing, I guess.
I've seen a few reviews of Miracle that find the political aspect forced. I think some of the dialogue may have been forced, but the context certainly wasn't. I have to wonder if those reviewers have actual memories of the games, or if they are like my friend.
Maybe you had to be there.
Posted by Nic at February 6, 2004 05:50 PM | TrackBack