STAFF MEDIA PICK: Miracle Film Review
February 2025 | By Courtney Bastian
I’ve never considered myself a cinephile. As a child, the theater wasn’t a place of wonder—it was a source of anxiety. Sitting in the dark, disconnected from the outside world, I found myself more preoccupied with how much time had passed than with what was unfolding on screen. That unease has lingered into adulthood, shaping my moviegoing habits—or lack thereof. To this day, I haven’t seen Barbie or any Marvel movie, and here’s the kicker: as the director of the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, I’ve never watched Disney’s Miracle.
Yes, I can almost hear the collective gasp. “How did you get the job?” they ask. “Isn’t watching Miracle basically a prerequisite?” The assumption that my role demands a reverent familiarity with the film is understandable—yet here I am, uninitiated. But with the 45th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice fast approaching, I decided it was finally time to fill this glaring gap in my cultural and professional repertoire.
The museum’s collections manager, Julia, sets a high bar for fandom. A native of Michigan, Julia discovered Miracle as a child, and her passion for the film shaped her career. A Google search for internships in 2019 led her to the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, where her love for museums and the Miracle on Ice converged. Hearing her story, I couldn’t help but feel my expectations rise. After all, if a single film can inspire someone to chart their professional path, it must hold a unique kind of magic. And so, I approach Miracle not just as a film but as a cultural artifact that countless others have embraced. Will it live up to its reputation, or will my years of avoidance shape my viewing experience? Either way, I’m ready to find out if this cinematic portrayal of history can inspire in me even a fraction of the passion it ignited in my colleague.
The film, directed by Gavin O’Connor, wastes no time diving into the heart of the story with a fast-paced narrative that kept me (mostly) engaged from start to finish. The brisk pacing pleasantly surprised me, transitioning between intense training sessions, team-building struggles, and climactic games. Kurt Russell delivers a commanding performance as Coach Herb Brooks, and the film captures the camaraderie and underdog spirit of the players. The reenactment of the Miracle game was emotionally powerful and (as expected) the highlight of the film.
I enjoyed Miracle more than I anticipated and can understand the hype. Beyond its role as entertainment, the film serves as a bridge to the past, a cultural artifact that continues to ignite pride and nostalgia in audiences everywhere. For me, it deepened my appreciation for the legacy we preserve at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, showing how a single moment—or movie—can inspire generations.