Miracle

Back during a simpler time, before car bombs and CNN, it was just us against the Russians. In hockey. Utilizing the blueprint for the underdog story, Miracle follows the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team of nobodies as they stomp the Russians on their way to the gold medal. And it works because it’s true. The DVD is loaded with even more feel-good moments, starting with the making-of featurette, which includes footage of the team’s practice sessions and a sit-down with Al Michaels (who brayed the now famous “Do you believe in miracles!?”). An ESPN roundtable with Linda Cohn, Kurt Russell (who plays coach Herb Brooks), and three team members revisits the game and movie, while “First Impressions” delivers a candid look at the late Brooks in production meetings, spinning hilarious tales of making cuts, getting cut, and team-mandated haircuts. A feature detailing the on-ice camera techniques used to capture the realistic skating action and outtakes of simulated practice fights run up the score. But the most compelling feature, “From Hockey to Hollywood,” charts the transformation of a bunch of rough-hewn Northeastern puckheads into actors. Guess it’s not so hard after all, is it, Lipton?