In 1980, the United States was suffering from a bit of an image problem. Gas shortages were a problem in much of the nation, the cold war was getting ugly and when U.S. embassy aides were held captive in Iran, relations between the Unites States and the then Soviet Union were not improving.

1980 also marked the year the Winter Olympic Games were to be held in upstate New York. The Soviet team boasted over a decade long stranglehold on the hockey competition and most of the world seemed content to contend for second place; most of the world that is except for Herb Brooks. Herb was a player on the U.S. Olympic hockey team in the 60s and was even cut from the team who last defeated the Soviet’s, and since then has been all but obsessed with playing a part in seeing them defeated again. He knew individual talent could not beat an established, well-oiled unit like the Russians so he went out to comprise a fluid, like-minded group of hard working young men to attempt to defeat the Russians, not only with talent, but also with teamwork.

I am no hockey fan, I have great respect for the sport but only watch hockey highlights on Sportscenter to see the fights, and still I loved this movie. Kurt Russell puts on an amazing acting display as he portrays a man so tunnel-driven, so focused that even though you know what the end result is, you still find yourself questioning his crazy tactics. The actors who portrayed the players on the American team are, to me, so much alike that none of them really stood out and I think that was brilliant also. The team concept cares nothing of the individuals, so the fact that every player had either a Boston or Minnesota accent or all had similar builds and haircuts conveyed that perfectly.

This picture feels a little like the first "Rocky" movie where you root for the underdog. It also captures both nations’ us vs. them attitude that surrounded this sporting event. Die-hard hockey fans, "true-blue" American patriots, and those with an appreciation for a good movie, I believe, are all ready for a "Miracle."