Miracle is about a coach, Herb Brooks, who embarks on a mission to assemble the perfect hockey team to beat the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. The team goes through some initial growing pains, but soon comes together to attempt the seemingly impossible task of beating the best hockey team in the world. Based on a true story.
Commitment: Herb Brooks addresses the team right after the team has been chosen and says, “take a good look gentleman, because they [the ones who did not make the team] are the ones getting off easy. The final roster will have 20 names on it so more of you are going home." (15m)
Leadership: Mike Eruzione shows his leadership when he tells Herb Brooks that he plays for the USA after they had been made to skate after an exhibition game in Europe. Herb Brooks had been asking this question throughout the movie and the players kept giving their college names instead of saying they played for the USA. (45m)
Motivation: Herb Brooks uses a variety of motivational tactics throughout the movie. He tells goaltender Jim Craig that he is thinking of benching him after the exhibition loss to the Soviet Union. (1h 16m) During an intermission, Herb uses a player's bruised leg as a way to fire the team up when they are losing by calling him a quitter and to be a hockey player. Herb knows this will fire the rest of the team up because of how close they are to one another. (1h, 24m) And finally, he gives his famous speech, starting with, "Great moments...are born from great opportunity." (1h 37m)
Social Forces: Opening scenes show the Cold War problems, inflation, and around the Christmas party scene Jimmy Carter gives his famous speech discussing how there was a “question of confidence in America.” (65m) It shows where the country was at this time and how the hockey game versus the Soviet Union meant everything.
Teamwork: Mike Eruzione and a few other players talk to Herb about bringing in an all-star college player three months before the Olympic Games and tell him that they are a “family” so Herb should send the all-star home even though he is an incredible talent. (61m)
Underdogs: Team USA are the underdogs in the Olympics, but primarily when they face the Soviet Union in the semi-final game, where they beat them.
