Miracle

Reviewed by EWAN McDONALD

(Herald rating * * *)

Kiwi sports fans may have some trouble identifying with the American passion for their 1980 Olympic gold-medal winning ice hockey team.

Haven't they got enough gold medals without getting carried away over one more? And aren't they just about the only people who play the game anyway?

Strangely, on both counts, no. The US victory over the Russians at Lake Placid has become a talisman, because of its timing (during the Cold War), because the Russians were vastly superior at the Olympics, and because of the iconic, obsessive coach, Herb Brooks.

Brooks (Kurt Russell) was driven by a desire to overcome his 1960 Olympic disappointment. The actor and director Gavin O'Connor chose to make this a drama of the human spirit rather than a sporting flick and — if you can stomach the inevitable jingoism — they largely succeed.

DVD, video rental 29 September