July 14, 2025 • 37 mins
Our focus this episode is the cinematic exploration of the film "Miracle," which recounts the remarkable triumph of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team against the formidable Soviet squad. We delve into the nuances of this historical event, examining the intricate dynamics of coaching under Herb Brooks, portrayed by Kurt Russell, and the profound implications of such a victory on national pride and identity. The conversation traverses various themes, including the emotional resonance of the film, the authentic representation of the athletes' struggles, and the fine line between creative license and historical accuracy. As we engage with the complexities of this iconic sports narrative, we reflect on the cultural significance it holds, not only within the realm of sports but also as a metaphor for resilience and perseverance. Ultimately, this episode serves as an invitation to revisit a pivotal moment in sports history through the lens of cinema, enhancing our understanding of both the film and the real events it depicts.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
So, ironically enough, you'rebetter red than dead is a little
different for here, right?
It hits a little bit close to home.
Yeah, don't worry, don't worry.
I'm a man of the people.
I'm not rooting for communism here.
It just happened to work outthat way.
I think being a man of thepeople means you always communism.
I was just saying.
(00:26):
Welcome to the what's EveryPodcast, where we fashion ourselves
cinematic judge and jury.
My name is JJ Carter.
I'm here with my co host, Mat,Matt and Heiner.
I say, I say, I say Better redthan dead.
And Alec Burgess.
Let's get it.
We appreciate you tuning in.
Go and hit that Followsubscribe like bell Notification
buttons help keep up with allof our episodes.
Help support the podcast tohelp do that too.
(00:48):
Tell a friend about us.
Tell a family member about us.
Tell some hockey players about us.
Yeah, we'd appreciate yourfriends with missing teeth about
us also.
Probably hockey players.
That'll work too.
That'll work too.
Ironically enough, I have afunny story to along with telling
people about the podcast.
I'll tell you a little later anyway.
(01:10):
Okay.
I know.
With that, you should also gocheck out our Patreon.
That's where all the.
As Alex says, the magic happens.
You can get in on voting forwhat movies we do, topics we pick
for the month.
And with that, we're in weektwo, week two, four of July movies,
which is our patriotic themed films.
(01:33):
And we're kicking week two offwith a bang with the movie Miracle.
It was released February 6, 2004.
It was written by EricGuggenheim, was directed by Gavin
o'.
Connor.
It stars Kurt Russell,Patricia Clarkson, Nathan West, Noah
Emerick, Sean McCann, KennethWelsh, Eddie Cahill, Patrick O',
Brien Dempsey, Michael Mantanudo.
(01:57):
That guy's a dick for his name.
Kenneth Mitchell, Eric PeterKaiser, Bobby Hansen, and a whole
slew of other fake hockey players.
It's about a story of HerbBrooks, the player turned coach who
led the 1980 U.S. olympichockey team to victory over the seemingly
invincible Soviet squad.
So, ironically enough, you'rebetter Red than dead is a little
different for here, right?
(02:18):
It hits a little bit close to home.
Don't worry, don't worry.
I'm a man of the people.
I'm not rooting for communism here.
It just happened to work outthat way.
I think being a man of thepeople means you.
Always Communism.
I say you.
You're towing a fine line there.
I'm going for utilitarian society.
(02:38):
There you go.
I don't Think that word.
Can't wait to read your manifesto.
Yeah, we're gonna get bannedon tick on freaking YouTube anyway
with all that.
Matson, this was your pick, right?
Am I crazy?
This was Alex pick.
No, I wouldn't.
Oh, this is what you baitedout, like, you gave me every time
you baited out, like, that's right.
(02:59):
This would.
This is the one I was likewhen he said.
I was like, oh, man, like,what a great.
It wasn't on my radar for this theme.
And then they came with, like,what a great movie.
So anyways, the floor is Alex.
Yeah.
This.
As soon as patriotic movieshit, this is the one that I was like,
yep, this is going in there.
It's such a good watch.
(03:20):
I love Kurt Russell as her Brooks.
Just phenomenal.
And I love that it's.
That something that I reallylove and appreciate that we kind
of moving away from and don'tget a lot of is the tough coaching.
The really tough coaching.
And it's the, hey, this is thestandard, and if you're not there,
(03:40):
you're gone.
Versus kind of like, oh, we'llchange the standard to fit what the
needs of.
It's almost like theantithesis to coach lasso, but, you
know, both still accomplishinggreat things.
Right.
So this is the.
I love the.
Because I had coaches likethis where it's toe the line and
(04:02):
you're.
You're in camp.
You're like, oh, yeah,because, you know, your ass is running
and running and running andrunning and running.
And so, I mean, this movie,for me, it really just starts strong
and just keeps going.
That one.
And so it was always going tobe on the list for me.
I love this movie.
Yeah, it's a good one.
It's a good one.
What about you, Matson?
(04:24):
I know you're a big sports guy.
I. I don't know how you feelabout hockey, though.
I don't think we've evertalked about it.
Yeah.
No, it's funny.
So where I grew up inVirginia, the only good thing about
sports around the D.C. areawas the Washington Capitals.
The great eight, Alex Ovechkin.
So, no, I. I like hockey.
It's one of those.
It's definitely one of thosethings for me that when my team's
(04:46):
in it, like, playoff hockey is amazing.
One of my favorite things todo in person.
Seeing a hockey game live is awesome.
Everyone should do it.
It's amazing.
I'm glad that Seattle has theKraken now.
I've been to one game, and Iwant to go to Some more.
So I like hockey and I reallylike playoff hockey, but it's not
something I will watch unlessmy team is in it where now like football,
(05:07):
especially football, and toslightly lesser extent basketball.
I'll watch those just becauseI love the sport and it doesn't matter
who's playing hockey isdifferent if the Caps aren't in it.
Like, it's just hard for me to.
It just doesn't get me going.
But it doesn't mean it's not agreat sport to watch.
And I grew up playing rollerhockey in my cul de sac.
(05:29):
Like we played a lot.
We played so much.
Our.
This is funny.
Our Russian neighbors, as wecalled them because they were Russian
and they moved in and theyhated kids.
They called the cops becausewe played so much.
And the cops came and werelike, they're just playing hockey,
so.
And we weren't wearinghelmets, so they told us to wear
helmets and they left becauselike, yeah, what are they gonna do,
(05:52):
right?
And this was in the 90s, sothankfully everyone was still playing
outside.
And yeah, this is what happened.
So we played a lot.
So I like hockey and I didn'tknow about this story until I saw
this movie.
I don't remember how young I was.
I was young, maybe like pre teen.
I. I can't put a P like athumb on when I actually saw this.
(06:13):
But I mean this movie is asgood as like Remember the Titans.
It just is hockey.
And the nice thing about thismovie besides, unfortunately, like
the speech that the coachgives in the locker room, that didn't
actually happen.
It probably it happened, butnot that speech because they made
it really epic.
(06:33):
It's like all like reallytrue, like, and they didn't, unlike
Remember the Titans werereally hurt.
How untrue that movie is.
Like, they didn't have to makethis like we did it and it was that
epic.
And I think that's one of thethings I really like about this movie
is it's a real movie about areal story and it barely is fabricated.
(06:57):
And that doesn't really happen anymore.
And it's just a kick ass story.
Like the feeling you getthrough this movie that builds up
to the end when you're like,oh shiz.
They're actually gonna take down.
I won't say what I was gonna say.
They're gonna take them down.
It just feels cool.
And every time you watch thismovie, I still get pumped and I get
(07:19):
emotional in the speech andlike the players and the underdog
story, like, it just gets yougoing and it's one of those movies
that if someone's like, yeah,let's watch Miracle, like, hell yeah,
let's go.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's a good one.
I.
So I was fortunate enough whenI was working for Children's Miracle
Network hospitals, they.
We had this big work function,and they actually brought in Mike
(07:42):
Euruzioni.
So I've met Rizzo.
Like, it.
Really nice guy.
It was really cool.
Like, he gave the.
You know, he's a.
He's a public speaker now, basically.
Like, that's just what he does.
I think he wrote a book.
But, yeah, he came and.
And spoke and talked about,you know, that year.
And I was born the year after this.
(08:05):
So, like, it was still verymuch the conversation, you know,
when I was a little kid, Iremember vividly, like, how proud
everybody was, and then theexpectations around the next year
in.
In 84, when we started havingall the pros get into it.
And then.
You know what I mean?
(08:25):
So it's like, it wasinteresting to hear the conversations
around it.
And I remember it.
I didn't think anything of it,obviously, at the time, but all growing
up, like, So I was probably 9or 10.
Like, that was just the thingwhen it came to the Winter Olympics
was.
Was the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
So it's.
It was.
It was wild.
But meeting Rizza was really cool.
(08:46):
Like, he's really nice guy.
And I laughed and I made thatjoke about telling a hockey player
because I didn't.
We didn't have a podcast backthen because it was the next job
that had me meeting all the.
The fellas to get this thing started.
But the.
It was ironic because we.
There was a couple of guysthat had a podcast for the Children's
Miracle Network that they thenwent to Mike and was like, hey, you
(09:09):
should listen to our podcast,and then you should come on it.
And he actually did.
He was like.
I said he was really cool guy,very nice.
And it was interesting to hear.
Like, to your point, Madsen,like, a lot of this is very true
and follows it very well.
But you're right.
Like, we asked him, like, howwas he?
Did you guys really have thatone night where he skated you into
oblivion before he's like, oh, dude.
(09:30):
He goes, we had nights likethat all the time where it was, like,
constant.
Just sprints and.
But he goes, the one thingthat didn't happen was me spouting
off, I'm Team usa and, like,moving along.
And that's what got us out of it.
He goes, that didn't Happen.
He goes.
It was like they, they throwin some really cool creative licensing,
but he goes.
(09:51):
Other than that, like, hegoes, I.
The cool part was, is Herb wasvery involved, I guess in the movie
making process of this.
And like, they consulted himand made sure that he, you know,
it was pretty true to form.
Unfortunately, he passed awayjust before the movie came out.
But yeah, so very interestinglistening to him talk about scoring
(10:12):
that goal and then like the,you know, the whole just camaraderie
that this team had.
And so it was fun.
I was really, really privileged.
It was really cool to be ableto meet him and hear him talk about
it.
So it, it adds another layerfor me every time I've watched this
movie since then because thisis one of Casey's favorites.
She loves hockey and she lovesthis movie.
(10:34):
So it really kind of was coolto just sit and listen to him talk
about that season and, or thatyear and talk about getting to that
point and how Herb was a dick.
But they, they make him moreof a dick in this movie than he actually
was.
Like, but there was like, hedid bust what's his.
His face's ass at halftimeabout the bruise on his leg.
(10:54):
Like, and like it really, he'slike, yeah, dude.
He would use just theseuncommon, almost brutal ways to motivate
us, but it would piss us offand we'd go out and be nut bags after
because we're just like, thisis some.
And so it was really cool tolisten to and talk about it, but
ye was.
It was fun.
So he was a really cool guy.
So what they want to set thestage for the listeners who have
(11:17):
seen this or haven't,hopefully, if you haven't, make sure
you watch this, like in termsof how good the Soviet Union was.
So leading up to the 1980Olympics, they had won the previous
four gold medals from 64 to 76in that time.
Leading up to that, they were27, one in one.
So 27 wins, one loss, one tie.
(11:37):
And they outscored opponents175 to 44.
And they had not lost anOlympic Games since 1968.
It's just unreal.
And so the other big thingthat was hard about that and what
this movie shows is wecouldn't use like our like NHL All
(11:58):
Stars.
But even if we did, they.
A year before the 1980Olympics, the Soviet national team
defeated an NHL All Stars gamein two games, the Challenge cup,
which was like a 6, 0 game andthen another game as well.
So they just were crushing people.
And that game Leading up tothe Olympics, that Team USA played
(12:21):
them.
They lost.
We lost 10 to 3.
Like, and that was like amonth before.
Like, that's, that's just not.
Like, that's in hockey.
Like, in football terms, Iwould be like, Like, I don't know,
seven to three, something like.
Yeah, you just get obliterated.
Just like, absolutely, like blown.
(12:42):
The wheels blown off.
And so I just wanted to setthat again because that's what also
what makes this so epic,whether it's a movie or just like
a sporting event people watch,is because it truly was a miracle.
Like, we.
I. I don't know if there wasVegas odds for this.
I'm sure we could go back andlook like we would have been a.
A blip.
Like 10,000 to one or whatever.
(13:03):
Like, the highest were like.
Or they probably didn't evenoffer odds because it was so, like,
it was so, like not going to happen.
So I think that's the otherthing that makes this awesome is
because what an epic underdog story.
And I think when you thinkabout America and like, the.
The pride.
We had weed.
We fought our way to be aindependent nation and took down
(13:25):
the big bad British Empire andwe were taking down another big,
bad adversary on the hockey ring.
So go America.
America.
Yeah.
That's funny.
I, you know, to that point, itwas really interesting.
Like I said when we were.
When we met r. Like, he talkedabout if you gave us a hundred times
(13:47):
to play this team again, wewould lose 99 of them.
Like, he goes, just, therewere so many things that came into
play.
The fact that they blew thedoors off of us, you know, a few
weeks before, you know, theydidn't think there was anything to
us after that.
Like, we were this scrappylittle team.
But you beat us 10 to 3, dude.
Most hockey games combineddon't get even get close to 10 goals,
(14:07):
let alone one team.
So it's like we should say they.
They are a little bitdifferent changes.
But back then, like, not close.
I remember when I like one ofmy first hockey games, like, this
shit's boring.
Because it was like one to nothing.
I was like, the only thing Iwatch this shit's for is the fights.
I.
You know what I mean?
Because it's.
Yeah.
And.
But so back then, it was crazy.
(14:29):
And.
And yeah, he was like thatteam fully prepared, not overconfident
and us not just playing out ofour minds.
Good.
And being super motivated inthe crowd there.
We lose 99 out of 100 times tothat team.
He goes, it's not to say wewouldn't make it close.
Much closer than the firsttime because we were way out of our
league the first time.
We didn't even know what wewere getting into.
(14:51):
He goes, but yeah.
And it.
So it's really interesting tolisten and for him to admit like
this was a once in a lifetime thing.
Like this doesn't happen consistently.
This is any.
And it.
You know my.
One of my favorite parts ofthis movie in that game section when
they're.
Because there's like 30minutes of this movie is that game.
So I really love the partwhere they pull Tradiac and he's
(15:14):
like, well fellas, there's thebest hockey.
And what you don't see is ifyou go back and re watch the broadcast,
like all you hear is Al Michaels.
At one point in the movie hesays, which is real audio.
Like they pulled that straightfrom the actual tv.
But the only they played islike he's never.
Not something you see happenvery often, the Tradiac.
No, dude, when it happened,like they lose their minds.
(15:36):
Like they're like what'shappening right now?
Tradiac's on the bench.
Are you sure?
It was like a five minuteconversation about what the.
You know, because this guyjust was like a goal stopping machine
and that's how screwed up thiscoach was.
He didn't know what the hellto do because these little American
pups were scoring and runningthem all over the place.
(15:58):
So it's just a cool.
It's just a cool story.
But you bring another good point.
I liked how they.
Some movies do this where theyhave the.
They can take old footage andblend it and they did such a good
job with going back and forthand using the actual Michael's commentaries.
I mean one of the legendarycomment game callers in the game
(16:18):
and he's one of the reasonsthis is also so iconic because what
he said, I mean that's.
That's one of the all timegreatest calls ever in the history
of a sport.
So I think it's great thatthey figured out a way to weave that
in and what felt veryauthentic and had that.
That build up and as you're.
Because they focus so much onthe game and that's the other thing
(16:39):
I really like some of thesesports movies.
They do a good job untilalmost the very end where I want
them to lean more into thegame and sometimes they don't like.
One of the reasons I've lovedFriday Night Lights is that last
game they lean into it all theway and obviously, it's a true story
that doesn't go the way that you're.
You're hoping.
(17:01):
But this movie, miracle it made.
The tension is palpable.
Like, it's there.
Like, you're feeling even whenwe're up there, like, oh, my gosh.
Like, they're just hittingthem and hitting them and hitting.
They're coming.
They're coming.
Like, are we gonna hold on?
You know how much time is lefton the clock?
You're like, how were theygonna survive?
And the acting is so great, asyou know, that every kid on that.
That it's their shift.
(17:22):
They're just given every ounceof all they've got, and you just
feel it.
You feel like you're on thebench with them.
And I love that.
Yeah.
Alec, who's your favoritecharacter in this?
I mean, I know you saidbesides coach.
Oh, besides.
Yeah, because Kurt Russell.
Look, if you.
If cursor.
Kurt Russell isn't your top orat least near it because he kills
it in this movie.
But who's your favoriteoutside of.
(17:43):
Of Kurt Russell?
That'd be Jack o'.
Callahan.
Yeah.
Love that, dude.
I.
So I know nothing abouthockey, still.
Really don't.
But I think this movie does agreat job of kind of showing hockey
or the kind of the brainbehind it.
But for me, anyway, like,every time I watch this, I'm continuously
(18:06):
shocked by how almoststrategic it is.
I don't know if that's true inactual hockey, but you get down,
like you guys talking about tothe wire in this game, and he's like,
short shifts.
Let's go.
Like, that's a nightmare.
Every 30 seconds, 40 seconds,you're subbing out a new line.
Like, the logistics behindthat crazy, first of all.
(18:27):
And then he's got the Russiancoach back.
He's like, hey, I got my nextfour moves planned.
Down.
This guy doesn't even knowwhich way the puck's going.
And so you have this almost,you know, while the.
While the game is going on the ice.
You also have this almostchess match between the coaches.
Here's who I'm playing.
Here's who I'm swapping outwhen this, you know, if A happens,
(18:47):
B, C and D happens.
And it's.
It's not the same in the sports.
I grew up playing, like,football, basketball, soccer.
Like, it's very, very much alittle bit of an ISO.
Or, you know, you have yourmatch, you have your zone, or whatever
it may be.
This is way different to whereit's like, hey, you know, I have
1, 2, and 3, right.
(19:08):
And we're playing 2, 3, 1, 3,2, 1.
Trying to confuse or adjust orget the best matchup for each line.
And so it's like, dude, theseguys are, like, as chaotic as it
is already with the periodsystem and hockey and going back
and forth.
And then on top of that, youhave this revolving door of subs
(19:30):
and everything going on.
Like, it's a lot.
And to be able to do that andkind of poke fun at your coach at
the same time.
Like, yeah.
Like.
And the other part is I was.
I was sitting there going, howdo I know when to sub out?
There's no way you are hearinganything in this arena.
Yeah.
(19:50):
At this time during this game.
But it's just the drilling andthe repetition, repetition, repetition,
kind of knowing what'shappening or what's going on.
But it's like, dude, thehockey players are something else.
Hockey's an enigma to me.
Like, I love watching it withCasey because she gets really excited.
And I'm with you, Matt.
I love going to a live hockey game.
(20:11):
Like, even though I don't.
But I've never fully been ableto grasp the game of hockey.
And one of the things that Iget super, like, I'm with you, Matt,
or Alec, like, when they do aline change and you just see that,
like, all of a sudden there's,like, 19 guys on the freaking ice.
I'm like, what the shit is happening?
And they're running off,jumping out of the box and jumping
in the box.
I'm like, this is the onlysport that I know of that, like,
(20:34):
there's no time.
Like, you don't submitactively playing.
I'm like, what happens if theyscreech down here and score on your
ass because your dumb asscouldn't get over the wall?
Like, you know what I mean?
Like, that's stressful to me.
And the other thing is that Icouldn't wrap my head around is it
was shown a couple times,like, you almost give up possession
(20:54):
to some.
Like, you send it down the line.
And I'm just sitting theregoing, now, why the would you do
that?
Yeah, because you guys are so gay.
Like, skating that hard for aminute and 40 seconds, like, that's
hockey.
Players go flat out.
That's why you gotta.
You gotta sub out.
And so it's strategic.
Like, you know, you're gassed.
(21:15):
Get it out.
It's crazy.
Yeah.
Because there's a great shotof it in.
In that game where he sends itall the way down and then all of
these guys start swapping outthe line and you're like, when the
coneheads come in, I'm like,that's crazy.
Like, it just is one of thesethings that I can't wrap my head
around because I'm like, justcall time out.
(21:37):
Stop the clock.
Stop the clock.
That's exactly how most of theworld feels about American football.
They're like, oh, yeah, stopevery five seconds.
Fat boys can't get down thefield, especially rugby players.
They probably just shake their heads.
Yeah.
Well, it's funny because evensoccer or football, like non American
football is like, they stopthe game to sub in.
(22:01):
You know what I mean?
Like, it's like.
And then they add extra time.
But it's.
It's the only sport that Iknow of that actively subs with an
active game.
Like, they don't stop for mostof their subs.
Well, it's because it happens.
It's the.
The sport that you gotta subout like every minute, 30 seconds.
Technically you could make.
(22:22):
They could do that inbasketball, but it's just not as
strenuous.
So hockey is just a much morelike, that's a sport.
Your roster, you're.
You have your starters, youhave your line that plays more, but
you're playing like four lineson every position.
So you, yes, you technicallyhave a bench, but it's very different
than any other sport in that regard.
(22:44):
Sure, you'd have to stop at every.
Hold on, like hang out behindthe goal, your team goes back.
But if you do it depending onwho it is, like if your defenseman
are.
He slaps forward, then you'regoing to get off rotation and have
people play that artist.
And I definitely, clearly, Imean, I don't know if I've watched
more jj, if Casey likeshockey, but I understand it more
(23:06):
the strategy behind why you'dmake those plays.
Yeah, no, you've probablywatched way more hockey than me.
I.
If.
If it's not live and Casey'snot go.
I don't.
It's not my kind of sport, but.
Which is funny because itfeels real good in those arenas because
it's cold.
My favorite.
I was gonna say, like, interms of atmosphere.
(23:28):
Yeah.
Probably the sport that youshould like the most.
Damn.
Yeah.
I will say, like, we'vewatched a lot of, like, we've gone
to a lot of hockey games livebecause we have.
We used to only have onehockey team here in Utah.
Now we have two for the time being.
Semi pro hockey is not the same.
I don't know, dude.
I love to go into.
I've been to.
So we went to a.
(23:50):
You're talking about the, the,the AAA ones.
Yeah, but the, yeah, the Grizzlies.
Man, that was fun.
We sat.
We sat rink side next to oneof the.
Next to the.
The bench.
That was kind of cool watchingthem jump in and out.
I got hit with a puck.
That game, it hurt like hell.
They hit one and it went up inthe air and then it like hit this
(24:12):
like some post down there andfell down, hit me.
I had a bruise like this bigon the middle of my back.
They gave me the puck though.
Casey's got it in her office.
I still at some point want togo to a pro game.
And I'm gonna sit in one ofthe corners on the board so I can
bang on the boards like that.
People are stuck there.
That's cool.
Yeah, I've been to the, I'vebeen to the, the Knights.
We.
We went to a nights game.
(24:33):
It's like a production.
Yeah, it's wild.
Yeah.
I.
This, this movie's great.
And I.
You can go on YouTube andwatch the real broadcast of this
game, which is very interesting.
I recommend it like because it.
One, it's hard to watchbecause it's fuzzy.
It's 1980.
The quality sucks.
(24:54):
But like watching and if youkeep in mind that like you said,
the average age was 21 years old.
These were kids, like thesewere children basically playing grown
ass men who'd been playingtogether for years in a very harsh
environment.
And that was their expectationwas to win.
But watching them play minutefor minute with that Russian team,
(25:16):
it's crazy.
It's a pretty cool game to watch.
Question I have for the groupbecause I feel like we're getting
to the end of this one, issince this is a truce, I've always
wondered as a writer, is iteasier to write a movie like this
or is it easier to write anoriginal scripts?
(25:36):
I'm just curious what the crew thinks.
I think it's harder to write amovie like this.
Tell us.
You have less freedom.
I don't know about.
I don't know if where you'regoing with it, Alec, but that's my
thought.
Is I was kind of going thatway because you, you're taking a
gamble, right?
Because there's lots of truestories where you're.
(25:57):
You're stuck in what you cansay, you know, without having to.
Without going thatunbelievable type of a thing.
And so you're writing this andhaving the source material already
made.
You'd be like oh, it'd be socool if we added this and you can't
(26:19):
or maybe you do, but then yourun the risk of 20 years later.
Matson Heiner on the what'sOur Brita podcast talk about how
your movie is shit and disappointed.
Disappointed about how itcomes out.
But so I, I think it's harderbecause you don't have that ability
(26:39):
to, to really let the creativego at that point.
It's almost like, ah, wellthis is what happened that put that
in and you know, every littlecreative license that you're trying
to stick in there is probablygetting shot down.
Yeah, well, and I think evenin this one, especially like in some
of them, like a Disney moviewho tends to make these movies, that's
(27:00):
even harder because I'm sorry,but Herb Brooks did not was not that
PG when he was ripping ass andwhen he was giving motivational speeches.
And so you gotta like becareful with that kind of thing too.
And then you have to writespeeches that probably weren't as,
you know, awe inspiring aslike some of them feel in these move
these types of movies.
But yeah, the freedom justisn't there.
(27:22):
Whereas an original you can,it's not working.
Let's change it instead ofgoing this then what happened isn't
going to be entertaining.
I think this movie is muchmore successful at it because of
the nature of this story in general.
But like, remember the Titans?
I think I told you one of myold bosses lived in like he played
(27:42):
on that team, not that team,but he went to that high school and
a few years later played forthe same coaches.
Like, and he's like, I knewthose guys.
Like my dad knew that watchthat team play.
And he goes, it wasn't that excite.
Like that story's not thatcool in reality.
It's really cool in reality,but it's not as cool as the movie.
Like, it's not this just all wow.
(28:05):
But like this one is that point.
But you still have to be likevery careful about.
You have to have these momentsthat you're like, okay, Herb Brooks
just told him to get and stoparound and quit being little or whatever
it is that he said.
And you got to water that downand then you got to make some speech
that was probably like the,are you guys doing, let's go out
and be, you know, Russia.
(28:27):
This is crazy.
Turned it into this.
Like, look guys, it lookscalm, cool, collected.
You guys are amazing.
Like there's got to be somelevel of, of making it movie worthy.
So yeah, I'm with I'm withAlec, I think.
Can't just say F Russia thewhole time.
Well, could you also imaginetrying to write this with her Brooks,
like, staring over yourshoulder as a consultant?
(28:49):
That's not the way that happened.
I know her, but we got a PG movie.
Yeah, you're.
You're not pg, my friend.
I guess we can put it in those contexts.
Like, your creative license iskind of.
It's capped.
I could see that.
But at the same time, comingup with something completely original.
(29:12):
Not something that isoriginal, but like, similar to another
type of movie, but like, islike a Christopher Nolan type movie.
I feel like that's super hardto do as well.
Really.
Like, like in the right waythat's gonna captivate an audience.
So they.
They both have their pros and cons.
But I think overall it soundseasier when you have something that's
(29:33):
kind of laid out where youhave like a logical timeline.
You just have to piece it together.
But it.
That doesn't mean it makes fora good movie.
So it can be challenging.
So I think that'd be a funinterview to ask a writer that's
done both and like, see whatthey would actually say.
Because I'd be.
I'd be really curious.
But that's something I justwanted to ask the group.
(29:53):
So I was interested ineverybody's viewpoint.
I'm actually surprised wedon't have more movies that are just
blatant ripoffs where theytake the story and just transplant.
It into something different.
You mean like Harry Potterthat came off of Star Wars?
No, more like there's a hockeymovie that's miracle, except it's
(30:14):
the Norwegians are playing.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I mean, every time I see theHarry Potter.
Yeah.
Mighty Ducks.
Yeah.
Basically miracle with 12 yearolds, right?
Yeah, that's fair.
Harry Potter is basically Starwars with wands.
Yep.
Oh, it's not basically.
(30:35):
It is absolutely the same movie.
But anyway, that's a wholedifferent topic with that.
Let's rate this some Alec.
Kick us off, buddy.
My movie.
It's been a while since I'vegot to go first.
You guys know all the picks?
Five easy.
I will watch this movieanytime, anywhere.
Sit down.
It's one of the few I'll say,like, based on true story movies
(30:59):
that I really enjoy.
It's hard to.
I mean, it feeds into my nature.
Kurt Russell in this and byextension Herb Brooks is my spirit
animal.
So, like, I love lines likeyou're trying to win on talent alone.
The problem is you don't haveenough Talent.
Yeah.
I think that gives me.
I'm like, oh, yeah.
So that's right up my alley.
(31:19):
I'll sit down and watch this one.
Basically we're watching Alecas coach and.
Oh, yeah, no, exactly.
Yeah.
The whole concept of you willbe the most in shape team is exactly
my coaching philosophy.
We just need kicking andscreaming too.
With Alec as the coach andjust like coaching like 10 year olds
and just all of them have togo into therapy and like, they lose
(31:41):
their confidence.
We see them 20 years later andthey're all trauma bonded.
Yeah, they're just like, thisguy ruined my life now.
Looks like he just wasn't good enough.
They weren't good enough.
He wouldn't care.
Like, whatever.
They're babies.
Alec bursts into their therapy session.
You can't even cry right.
Like go the line.
(32:03):
Oh, that's great.
All right, Matson, what about you?
Five easy.
Watch the same thing anytime, anywhere.
One of the.
I mean, the only movie I likemaybe more than this is based off
a true story.
Just because it's football,not hockey.
Friday Night Lights.
But this, I mean, this movie's incredible.
(32:25):
Like, this incredible movie.
And like I said, I think whatmakes it just that much more is it
makes really happen.
It's basically true to form.
And they even weave in actualfootage and commentary.
So you feel like for thepeople that watch it live, they probably.
They might just gettransported back to where they were
watching it and that's awesome.
It's a great movie.
(32:46):
I love it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm gonna give it a five.
It's great.
I relate.
Not to Alec is how I would bea coach, because I don't think I
would be that coach.
But that's the type of coachthat got the best out of me when
I was playing sports was theone that was brutally honest, didn't
fluff, didn't try to tell meI'm better than I was, but pushed
(33:08):
me and made me feel pissed meoff enough that I'm like, I'll show
you.
Like, that's when I played mybest sports, was when I was pissed.
And typically it was the coachthat got me there.
If they were a good coach andthey knew that about me.
So not saying it's foreverybody, but I always relate to.
I watch her Brooks, and I'mlike, oh, yeah, I'd have played my
ass.
Off for this same type ofcoach I need for me and actually
(33:32):
happened where I didn't havethat coach.
And then I got that coach again.
And I wasted like two years ofHigh school, needing that coach again.
And then I went back to form.
It was great.
Yeah.
Yeah.
My dad was that coach for me,and it pissed me off worse because
he was really nice andfriendly with all the rest of the
team, but he was an absolutedick to me, but he knew that's what
(33:53):
I needed, and so I played myass off.
So I respect that.
I also love my favorite.
My favorite character is JimCraig in this.
Just.
I like him.
Yeah.
36 saves in that game.
Dude.
That's against Russia.
Like, it's batshit crazy.
Like the.
The showcase this dude put on.
(34:13):
Because without him exactly like.
And I.
Look, the guy that was backingup was really good, but we'd have
got crushed without Craig in there.
And all season.
All that whole Olympic seasonwould have been ugly without him
because he averaged, like,almost double, like, high double
(34:33):
digits for hockey in savesalmost every game, if I remember
right.
But 36 saves in againstRussia, silly.
So, yeah, five for me.
Great movie.
I watch it anytime.
Casey loves it.
We own it.
Like, I watch it.
I have.
I think you would be a players coach.
Yeah, I. Yeah, I would.
(34:55):
You'd be one of those guys,they come to you to open up and feel
good and connect with, andthen you'd be able to motivate them
because they trusted you.
I feel like that's what you'd be.
Yeah.
I'd probably be the nice guythat they really liked, and then
all that would allow me thento be a dick when I needed to be
because they knew it wascoming from a good place versus,
you know, a herb who's a dick.
(35:18):
And then they go, oh, wait, heis a nice guy.
I'm a whistle kind of coach.
And then there's Alec, who's adick, and then just really a dick.
Yeah.
Yeah.
If you're too busy being madat me, you can't be mad at each other.
It's a great strategy.
Yeah.
I do love a lot.
(35:39):
He's like, I'm not here to beyour friend.
If you want to talk about someshit, it's.
I love it.
All right, well, there it is.
Alec, tell everybody wherethey can find us.
Happy to.
So thank you for tuning intoweek two of our Patriotic Movie Month
special.
Shout out to our patrons, Richand CB for selecting our topic and
(36:01):
selecting the movies that gointo the topic on Patreon.
I'll keep saying it until, youknow it no longer needs to be said,
but Patreon is a place to getinvolved with the podcast.
You can go on there.
You can vote.
Absolutely free to go and jointhe voting and pick the movies that
we are doing each month.
If you're looking to getinvolved in the content, go there.
(36:24):
Go on Patreon.
If you do want to join andbecome a paid member, there are some
perks that come along with it,including I think we're up to over
500 extra blips, episodes,clips, behind the scenes content,
stuff for you guys to enjoy,laugh your ass off.
Including all the behind thescenes stuff where we're absolutely
making fun of each other.
Speaking of which, we are inthe current bragging, right?
(36:47):
So my movie, my pick.
I get one point this month.
It's like the first time in four.
Months you got it rough.
I'm not salty at all.
It's perfectly fine.
Like trash.
Okay, okay.
With that I'll turn it back toThe Maharaja of Mash, the colossus
of clout.
(37:08):
A J.J. that's right.
Current high point owner too.
And with that, as always, weappreciate you tuning in.
We'll catch you on the next one.
Baby.
Cinematic.
So, ironically enough, you'rebetter red than dead is a little
different for here, right?
It hits a little bit close to home.
Yeah, don't worry, don't worry.
I'm a man of the people.
I'm not rooting for communism here.
It just happened to work outthat way.
I think being a man of thepeople means you always communism.
I was just saying.
(00:26):
Welcome to the what's EveryPodcast, where we fashion ourselves
cinematic judge and jury.
My name is JJ Carter.
I'm here with my co host, Mat,Matt and Heiner.
I say, I say, I say Better redthan dead.
And Alec Burgess.
Let's get it.
We appreciate you tuning in.
Go and hit that Followsubscribe like bell Notification
buttons help keep up with allof our episodes.
Help support the podcast tohelp do that too.
(00:48):
Tell a friend about us.
Tell a family member about us.
Tell some hockey players about us.
Yeah, we'd appreciate yourfriends with missing teeth about
us also.
Probably hockey players.
That'll work too.
That'll work too.
Ironically enough, I have afunny story to along with telling
people about the podcast.
I'll tell you a little later anyway.
(01:10):
Okay.
I know.
With that, you should also gocheck out our Patreon.
That's where all the.
As Alex says, the magic happens.
You can get in on voting forwhat movies we do, topics we pick
for the month.
And with that, we're in weektwo, week two, four of July movies,
which is our patriotic themed films.
(01:33):
And we're kicking week two offwith a bang with the movie Miracle.
It was released February 6, 2004.
It was written by EricGuggenheim, was directed by Gavin
o'.
Connor.
It stars Kurt Russell,Patricia Clarkson, Nathan West, Noah
Emerick, Sean McCann, KennethWelsh, Eddie Cahill, Patrick O',
Brien Dempsey, Michael Mantanudo.
(01:57):
That guy's a dick for his name.
Kenneth Mitchell, Eric PeterKaiser, Bobby Hansen, and a whole
slew of other fake hockey players.
It's about a story of HerbBrooks, the player turned coach who
led the 1980 U.S. olympichockey team to victory over the seemingly
invincible Soviet squad.
So, ironically enough, you'rebetter Red than dead is a little
different for here, right?
(02:18):
It hits a little bit close to home.
Don't worry, don't worry.
I'm a man of the people.
I'm not rooting for communism here.
It just happened to work outthat way.
I think being a man of thepeople means you.
Always Communism.
I say you.
You're towing a fine line there.
I'm going for utilitarian society.
(02:38):
There you go.
I don't Think that word.
Can't wait to read your manifesto.
Yeah, we're gonna get bannedon tick on freaking YouTube anyway
with all that.
Matson, this was your pick, right?
Am I crazy?
This was Alex pick.
No, I wouldn't.
Oh, this is what you baitedout, like, you gave me every time
you baited out, like, that's right.
(02:59):
This would.
This is the one I was likewhen he said.
I was like, oh, man, like,what a great.
It wasn't on my radar for this theme.
And then they came with, like,what a great movie.
So anyways, the floor is Alex.
Yeah.
This.
As soon as patriotic movieshit, this is the one that I was like,
yep, this is going in there.
It's such a good watch.
(03:20):
I love Kurt Russell as her Brooks.
Just phenomenal.
And I love that it's.
That something that I reallylove and appreciate that we kind
of moving away from and don'tget a lot of is the tough coaching.
The really tough coaching.
And it's the, hey, this is thestandard, and if you're not there,
(03:40):
you're gone.
Versus kind of like, oh, we'llchange the standard to fit what the
needs of.
It's almost like theantithesis to coach lasso, but, you
know, both still accomplishinggreat things.
Right.
So this is the.
I love the.
Because I had coaches likethis where it's toe the line and
(04:02):
you're.
You're in camp.
You're like, oh, yeah,because, you know, your ass is running
and running and running andrunning and running.
And so, I mean, this movie,for me, it really just starts strong
and just keeps going.
That one.
And so it was always going tobe on the list for me.
I love this movie.
Yeah, it's a good one.
It's a good one.
What about you, Matson?
(04:24):
I know you're a big sports guy.
I. I don't know how you feelabout hockey, though.
I don't think we've evertalked about it.
Yeah.
No, it's funny.
So where I grew up inVirginia, the only good thing about
sports around the D.C. areawas the Washington Capitals.
The great eight, Alex Ovechkin.
So, no, I. I like hockey.
It's one of those.
It's definitely one of thosethings for me that when my team's
(04:46):
in it, like, playoff hockey is amazing.
One of my favorite things todo in person.
Seeing a hockey game live is awesome.
Everyone should do it.
It's amazing.
I'm glad that Seattle has theKraken now.
I've been to one game, and Iwant to go to Some more.
So I like hockey and I reallylike playoff hockey, but it's not
something I will watch unlessmy team is in it where now like football,
(05:07):
especially football, and toslightly lesser extent basketball.
I'll watch those just becauseI love the sport and it doesn't matter
who's playing hockey isdifferent if the Caps aren't in it.
Like, it's just hard for me to.
It just doesn't get me going.
But it doesn't mean it's not agreat sport to watch.
And I grew up playing rollerhockey in my cul de sac.
(05:29):
Like we played a lot.
We played so much.
Our.
This is funny.
Our Russian neighbors, as wecalled them because they were Russian
and they moved in and theyhated kids.
They called the cops becausewe played so much.
And the cops came and werelike, they're just playing hockey,
so.
And we weren't wearinghelmets, so they told us to wear
helmets and they left becauselike, yeah, what are they gonna do,
(05:52):
right?
And this was in the 90s, sothankfully everyone was still playing
outside.
And yeah, this is what happened.
So we played a lot.
So I like hockey and I didn'tknow about this story until I saw
this movie.
I don't remember how young I was.
I was young, maybe like pre teen.
I. I can't put a P like athumb on when I actually saw this.
(06:13):
But I mean this movie is asgood as like Remember the Titans.
It just is hockey.
And the nice thing about thismovie besides, unfortunately, like
the speech that the coachgives in the locker room, that didn't
actually happen.
It probably it happened, butnot that speech because they made
it really epic.
(06:33):
It's like all like reallytrue, like, and they didn't, unlike
Remember the Titans werereally hurt.
How untrue that movie is.
Like, they didn't have to makethis like we did it and it was that
epic.
And I think that's one of thethings I really like about this movie
is it's a real movie about areal story and it barely is fabricated.
(06:57):
And that doesn't really happen anymore.
And it's just a kick ass story.
Like the feeling you getthrough this movie that builds up
to the end when you're like,oh shiz.
They're actually gonna take down.
I won't say what I was gonna say.
They're gonna take them down.
It just feels cool.
And every time you watch thismovie, I still get pumped and I get
(07:19):
emotional in the speech andlike the players and the underdog
story, like, it just gets yougoing and it's one of those movies
that if someone's like, yeah,let's watch Miracle, like, hell yeah,
let's go.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's a good one.
I.
So I was fortunate enough whenI was working for Children's Miracle
Network hospitals, they.
We had this big work function,and they actually brought in Mike
(07:42):
Euruzioni.
So I've met Rizzo.
Like, it.
Really nice guy.
It was really cool.
Like, he gave the.
You know, he's a.
He's a public speaker now, basically.
Like, that's just what he does.
I think he wrote a book.
But, yeah, he came and.
And spoke and talked about,you know, that year.
And I was born the year after this.
(08:05):
So, like, it was still verymuch the conversation, you know,
when I was a little kid, Iremember vividly, like, how proud
everybody was, and then theexpectations around the next year
in.
In 84, when we started havingall the pros get into it.
And then.
You know what I mean?
(08:25):
So it's like, it wasinteresting to hear the conversations
around it.
And I remember it.
I didn't think anything of it,obviously, at the time, but all growing
up, like, So I was probably 9or 10.
Like, that was just the thingwhen it came to the Winter Olympics
was.
Was the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
So it's.
It was.
It was wild.
But meeting Rizza was really cool.
(08:46):
Like, he's really nice guy.
And I laughed and I made thatjoke about telling a hockey player
because I didn't.
We didn't have a podcast backthen because it was the next job
that had me meeting all the.
The fellas to get this thing started.
But the.
It was ironic because we.
There was a couple of guysthat had a podcast for the Children's
Miracle Network that they thenwent to Mike and was like, hey, you
(09:09):
should listen to our podcast,and then you should come on it.
And he actually did.
He was like.
I said he was really cool guy,very nice.
And it was interesting to hear.
Like, to your point, Madsen,like, a lot of this is very true
and follows it very well.
But you're right.
Like, we asked him, like, howwas he?
Did you guys really have thatone night where he skated you into
oblivion before he's like, oh, dude.
(09:30):
He goes, we had nights likethat all the time where it was, like,
constant.
Just sprints and.
But he goes, the one thingthat didn't happen was me spouting
off, I'm Team usa and, like,moving along.
And that's what got us out of it.
He goes, that didn't Happen.
He goes.
It was like they, they throwin some really cool creative licensing,
but he goes.
(09:51):
Other than that, like, hegoes, I.
The cool part was, is Herb wasvery involved, I guess in the movie
making process of this.
And like, they consulted himand made sure that he, you know,
it was pretty true to form.
Unfortunately, he passed awayjust before the movie came out.
But yeah, so very interestinglistening to him talk about scoring
(10:12):
that goal and then like the,you know, the whole just camaraderie
that this team had.
And so it was fun.
I was really, really privileged.
It was really cool to be ableto meet him and hear him talk about
it.
So it, it adds another layerfor me every time I've watched this
movie since then because thisis one of Casey's favorites.
She loves hockey and she lovesthis movie.
(10:34):
So it really kind of was coolto just sit and listen to him talk
about that season and, or thatyear and talk about getting to that
point and how Herb was a dick.
But they, they make him moreof a dick in this movie than he actually
was.
Like, but there was like, hedid bust what's his.
His face's ass at halftimeabout the bruise on his leg.
(10:54):
Like, and like it really, he'slike, yeah, dude.
He would use just theseuncommon, almost brutal ways to motivate
us, but it would piss us offand we'd go out and be nut bags after
because we're just like, thisis some.
And so it was really cool tolisten to and talk about it, but
ye was.
It was fun.
So he was a really cool guy.
So what they want to set thestage for the listeners who have
(11:17):
seen this or haven't,hopefully, if you haven't, make sure
you watch this, like in termsof how good the Soviet Union was.
So leading up to the 1980Olympics, they had won the previous
four gold medals from 64 to 76in that time.
Leading up to that, they were27, one in one.
So 27 wins, one loss, one tie.
(11:37):
And they outscored opponents175 to 44.
And they had not lost anOlympic Games since 1968.
It's just unreal.
And so the other big thingthat was hard about that and what
this movie shows is wecouldn't use like our like NHL All
(11:58):
Stars.
But even if we did, they.
A year before the 1980Olympics, the Soviet national team
defeated an NHL All Stars gamein two games, the Challenge cup,
which was like a 6, 0 game andthen another game as well.
So they just were crushing people.
And that game Leading up tothe Olympics, that Team USA played
(12:21):
them.
They lost.
We lost 10 to 3.
Like, and that was like amonth before.
Like, that's, that's just not.
Like, that's in hockey.
Like, in football terms, Iwould be like, Like, I don't know,
seven to three, something like.
Yeah, you just get obliterated.
Just like, absolutely, like blown.
(12:42):
The wheels blown off.
And so I just wanted to setthat again because that's what also
what makes this so epic,whether it's a movie or just like
a sporting event people watch,is because it truly was a miracle.
Like, we.
I. I don't know if there wasVegas odds for this.
I'm sure we could go back andlook like we would have been a.
A blip.
Like 10,000 to one or whatever.
(13:03):
Like, the highest were like.
Or they probably didn't evenoffer odds because it was so, like,
it was so, like not going to happen.
So I think that's the otherthing that makes this awesome is
because what an epic underdog story.
And I think when you thinkabout America and like, the.
The pride.
We had weed.
We fought our way to be aindependent nation and took down
(13:25):
the big bad British Empire andwe were taking down another big,
bad adversary on the hockey ring.
So go America.
America.
Yeah.
That's funny.
I, you know, to that point, itwas really interesting.
Like I said when we were.
When we met r. Like, he talkedabout if you gave us a hundred times
(13:47):
to play this team again, wewould lose 99 of them.
Like, he goes, just, therewere so many things that came into
play.
The fact that they blew thedoors off of us, you know, a few
weeks before, you know, theydidn't think there was anything to
us after that.
Like, we were this scrappylittle team.
But you beat us 10 to 3, dude.
Most hockey games combineddon't get even get close to 10 goals,
(14:07):
let alone one team.
So it's like we should say they.
They are a little bitdifferent changes.
But back then, like, not close.
I remember when I like one ofmy first hockey games, like, this
shit's boring.
Because it was like one to nothing.
I was like, the only thing Iwatch this shit's for is the fights.
I.
You know what I mean?
Because it's.
Yeah.
And.
But so back then, it was crazy.
(14:29):
And.
And yeah, he was like thatteam fully prepared, not overconfident
and us not just playing out ofour minds.
Good.
And being super motivated inthe crowd there.
We lose 99 out of 100 times tothat team.
He goes, it's not to say wewouldn't make it close.
Much closer than the firsttime because we were way out of our
league the first time.
We didn't even know what wewere getting into.
(14:51):
He goes, but yeah.
And it.
So it's really interesting tolisten and for him to admit like
this was a once in a lifetime thing.
Like this doesn't happen consistently.
This is any.
And it.
You know my.
One of my favorite parts ofthis movie in that game section when
they're.
Because there's like 30minutes of this movie is that game.
So I really love the partwhere they pull Tradiac and he's
(15:14):
like, well fellas, there's thebest hockey.
And what you don't see is ifyou go back and re watch the broadcast,
like all you hear is Al Michaels.
At one point in the movie hesays, which is real audio.
Like they pulled that straightfrom the actual tv.
But the only they played islike he's never.
Not something you see happenvery often, the Tradiac.
No, dude, when it happened,like they lose their minds.
(15:36):
Like they're like what'shappening right now?
Tradiac's on the bench.
Are you sure?
It was like a five minuteconversation about what the.
You know, because this guyjust was like a goal stopping machine
and that's how screwed up thiscoach was.
He didn't know what the hellto do because these little American
pups were scoring and runningthem all over the place.
(15:58):
So it's just a cool.
It's just a cool story.
But you bring another good point.
I liked how they.
Some movies do this where theyhave the.
They can take old footage andblend it and they did such a good
job with going back and forthand using the actual Michael's commentaries.
I mean one of the legendarycomment game callers in the game
(16:18):
and he's one of the reasonsthis is also so iconic because what
he said, I mean that's.
That's one of the all timegreatest calls ever in the history
of a sport.
So I think it's great thatthey figured out a way to weave that
in and what felt veryauthentic and had that.
That build up and as you're.
Because they focus so much onthe game and that's the other thing
(16:39):
I really like some of thesesports movies.
They do a good job untilalmost the very end where I want
them to lean more into thegame and sometimes they don't like.
One of the reasons I've lovedFriday Night Lights is that last
game they lean into it all theway and obviously, it's a true story
that doesn't go the way that you're.
You're hoping.
(17:01):
But this movie, miracle it made.
The tension is palpable.
Like, it's there.
Like, you're feeling even whenwe're up there, like, oh, my gosh.
Like, they're just hittingthem and hitting them and hitting.
They're coming.
They're coming.
Like, are we gonna hold on?
You know how much time is lefton the clock?
You're like, how were theygonna survive?
And the acting is so great, asyou know, that every kid on that.
That it's their shift.
(17:22):
They're just given every ounceof all they've got, and you just
feel it.
You feel like you're on thebench with them.
And I love that.
Yeah.
Alec, who's your favoritecharacter in this?
I mean, I know you saidbesides coach.
Oh, besides.
Yeah, because Kurt Russell.
Look, if you.
If cursor.
Kurt Russell isn't your top orat least near it because he kills
it in this movie.
But who's your favoriteoutside of.
(17:43):
Of Kurt Russell?
That'd be Jack o'.
Callahan.
Yeah.
Love that, dude.
I.
So I know nothing abouthockey, still.
Really don't.
But I think this movie does agreat job of kind of showing hockey
or the kind of the brainbehind it.
But for me, anyway, like,every time I watch this, I'm continuously
(18:06):
shocked by how almoststrategic it is.
I don't know if that's true inactual hockey, but you get down,
like you guys talking about tothe wire in this game, and he's like,
short shifts.
Let's go.
Like, that's a nightmare.
Every 30 seconds, 40 seconds,you're subbing out a new line.
Like, the logistics behindthat crazy, first of all.
(18:27):
And then he's got the Russiancoach back.
He's like, hey, I got my nextfour moves planned.
Down.
This guy doesn't even knowwhich way the puck's going.
And so you have this almost,you know, while the.
While the game is going on the ice.
You also have this almostchess match between the coaches.
Here's who I'm playing.
Here's who I'm swapping outwhen this, you know, if A happens,
(18:47):
B, C and D happens.
And it's.
It's not the same in the sports.
I grew up playing, like,football, basketball, soccer.
Like, it's very, very much alittle bit of an ISO.
Or, you know, you have yourmatch, you have your zone, or whatever
it may be.
This is way different to whereit's like, hey, you know, I have
1, 2, and 3, right.
(19:08):
And we're playing 2, 3, 1, 3,2, 1.
Trying to confuse or adjust orget the best matchup for each line.
And so it's like, dude, theseguys are, like, as chaotic as it
is already with the periodsystem and hockey and going back
and forth.
And then on top of that, youhave this revolving door of subs
(19:30):
and everything going on.
Like, it's a lot.
And to be able to do that andkind of poke fun at your coach at
the same time.
Like, yeah.
Like.
And the other part is I was.
I was sitting there going, howdo I know when to sub out?
There's no way you are hearinganything in this arena.
Yeah.
(19:50):
At this time during this game.
But it's just the drilling andthe repetition, repetition, repetition,
kind of knowing what'shappening or what's going on.
But it's like, dude, thehockey players are something else.
Hockey's an enigma to me.
Like, I love watching it withCasey because she gets really excited.
And I'm with you, Matt.
I love going to a live hockey game.
(20:11):
Like, even though I don't.
But I've never fully been ableto grasp the game of hockey.
And one of the things that Iget super, like, I'm with you, Matt,
or Alec, like, when they do aline change and you just see that,
like, all of a sudden there's,like, 19 guys on the freaking ice.
I'm like, what the shit is happening?
And they're running off,jumping out of the box and jumping
in the box.
I'm like, this is the onlysport that I know of that, like,
(20:34):
there's no time.
Like, you don't submitactively playing.
I'm like, what happens if theyscreech down here and score on your
ass because your dumb asscouldn't get over the wall?
Like, you know what I mean?
Like, that's stressful to me.
And the other thing is that Icouldn't wrap my head around is it
was shown a couple times,like, you almost give up possession
(20:54):
to some.
Like, you send it down the line.
And I'm just sitting theregoing, now, why the would you do
that?
Yeah, because you guys are so gay.
Like, skating that hard for aminute and 40 seconds, like, that's
hockey.
Players go flat out.
That's why you gotta.
You gotta sub out.
And so it's strategic.
Like, you know, you're gassed.
(21:15):
Get it out.
It's crazy.
Yeah.
Because there's a great shotof it in.
In that game where he sends itall the way down and then all of
these guys start swapping outthe line and you're like, when the
coneheads come in, I'm like,that's crazy.
Like, it just is one of thesethings that I can't wrap my head
around because I'm like, justcall time out.
(21:37):
Stop the clock.
Stop the clock.
That's exactly how most of theworld feels about American football.
They're like, oh, yeah, stopevery five seconds.
Fat boys can't get down thefield, especially rugby players.
They probably just shake their heads.
Yeah.
Well, it's funny because evensoccer or football, like non American
football is like, they stopthe game to sub in.
(22:01):
You know what I mean?
Like, it's like.
And then they add extra time.
But it's.
It's the only sport that Iknow of that actively subs with an
active game.
Like, they don't stop for mostof their subs.
Well, it's because it happens.
It's the.
The sport that you gotta subout like every minute, 30 seconds.
Technically you could make.
(22:22):
They could do that inbasketball, but it's just not as
strenuous.
So hockey is just a much morelike, that's a sport.
Your roster, you're.
You have your starters, youhave your line that plays more, but
you're playing like four lineson every position.
So you, yes, you technicallyhave a bench, but it's very different
than any other sport in that regard.
(22:44):
Sure, you'd have to stop at every.
Hold on, like hang out behindthe goal, your team goes back.
But if you do it depending onwho it is, like if your defenseman
are.
He slaps forward, then you'regoing to get off rotation and have
people play that artist.
And I definitely, clearly, Imean, I don't know if I've watched
more jj, if Casey likeshockey, but I understand it more
(23:06):
the strategy behind why you'dmake those plays.
Yeah, no, you've probablywatched way more hockey than me.
I.
If.
If it's not live and Casey'snot go.
I don't.
It's not my kind of sport, but.
Which is funny because itfeels real good in those arenas because
it's cold.
My favorite.
I was gonna say, like, interms of atmosphere.
(23:28):
Yeah.
Probably the sport that youshould like the most.
Damn.
Yeah.
I will say, like, we'vewatched a lot of, like, we've gone
to a lot of hockey games livebecause we have.
We used to only have onehockey team here in Utah.
Now we have two for the time being.
Semi pro hockey is not the same.
I don't know, dude.
I love to go into.
I've been to.
So we went to a.
(23:50):
You're talking about the, the,the AAA ones.
Yeah, but the, yeah, the Grizzlies.
Man, that was fun.
We sat.
We sat rink side next to oneof the.
Next to the.
The bench.
That was kind of cool watchingthem jump in and out.
I got hit with a puck.
That game, it hurt like hell.
They hit one and it went up inthe air and then it like hit this
(24:12):
like some post down there andfell down, hit me.
I had a bruise like this bigon the middle of my back.
They gave me the puck though.
Casey's got it in her office.
I still at some point want togo to a pro game.
And I'm gonna sit in one ofthe corners on the board so I can
bang on the boards like that.
People are stuck there.
That's cool.
Yeah, I've been to the, I'vebeen to the, the Knights.
We.
We went to a nights game.
(24:33):
It's like a production.
Yeah, it's wild.
Yeah.
I.
This, this movie's great.
And I.
You can go on YouTube andwatch the real broadcast of this
game, which is very interesting.
I recommend it like because it.
One, it's hard to watchbecause it's fuzzy.
It's 1980.
The quality sucks.
(24:54):
But like watching and if youkeep in mind that like you said,
the average age was 21 years old.
These were kids, like thesewere children basically playing grown
ass men who'd been playingtogether for years in a very harsh
environment.
And that was their expectationwas to win.
But watching them play minutefor minute with that Russian team,
(25:16):
it's crazy.
It's a pretty cool game to watch.
Question I have for the groupbecause I feel like we're getting
to the end of this one, issince this is a truce, I've always
wondered as a writer, is iteasier to write a movie like this
or is it easier to write anoriginal scripts?
(25:36):
I'm just curious what the crew thinks.
I think it's harder to write amovie like this.
Tell us.
You have less freedom.
I don't know about.
I don't know if where you'regoing with it, Alec, but that's my
thought.
Is I was kind of going thatway because you, you're taking a
gamble, right?
Because there's lots of truestories where you're.
(25:57):
You're stuck in what you cansay, you know, without having to.
Without going thatunbelievable type of a thing.
And so you're writing this andhaving the source material already
made.
You'd be like oh, it'd be socool if we added this and you can't
(26:19):
or maybe you do, but then yourun the risk of 20 years later.
Matson Heiner on the what'sOur Brita podcast talk about how
your movie is shit and disappointed.
Disappointed about how itcomes out.
But so I, I think it's harderbecause you don't have that ability
(26:39):
to, to really let the creativego at that point.
It's almost like, ah, wellthis is what happened that put that
in and you know, every littlecreative license that you're trying
to stick in there is probablygetting shot down.
Yeah, well, and I think evenin this one, especially like in some
of them, like a Disney moviewho tends to make these movies, that's
(27:00):
even harder because I'm sorry,but Herb Brooks did not was not that
PG when he was ripping ass andwhen he was giving motivational speeches.
And so you gotta like becareful with that kind of thing too.
And then you have to writespeeches that probably weren't as,
you know, awe inspiring aslike some of them feel in these move
these types of movies.
But yeah, the freedom justisn't there.
(27:22):
Whereas an original you can,it's not working.
Let's change it instead ofgoing this then what happened isn't
going to be entertaining.
I think this movie is muchmore successful at it because of
the nature of this story in general.
But like, remember the Titans?
I think I told you one of myold bosses lived in like he played
(27:42):
on that team, not that team,but he went to that high school and
a few years later played forthe same coaches.
Like, and he's like, I knewthose guys.
Like my dad knew that watchthat team play.
And he goes, it wasn't that excite.
Like that story's not thatcool in reality.
It's really cool in reality,but it's not as cool as the movie.
Like, it's not this just all wow.
(28:05):
But like this one is that point.
But you still have to be likevery careful about.
You have to have these momentsthat you're like, okay, Herb Brooks
just told him to get and stoparound and quit being little or whatever
it is that he said.
And you got to water that downand then you got to make some speech
that was probably like the,are you guys doing, let's go out
and be, you know, Russia.
(28:27):
This is crazy.
Turned it into this.
Like, look guys, it lookscalm, cool, collected.
You guys are amazing.
Like there's got to be somelevel of, of making it movie worthy.
So yeah, I'm with I'm withAlec, I think.
Can't just say F Russia thewhole time.
Well, could you also imaginetrying to write this with her Brooks,
like, staring over yourshoulder as a consultant?
(28:49):
That's not the way that happened.
I know her, but we got a PG movie.
Yeah, you're.
You're not pg, my friend.
I guess we can put it in those contexts.
Like, your creative license iskind of.
It's capped.
I could see that.
But at the same time, comingup with something completely original.
(29:12):
Not something that isoriginal, but like, similar to another
type of movie, but like, islike a Christopher Nolan type movie.
I feel like that's super hardto do as well.
Really.
Like, like in the right waythat's gonna captivate an audience.
So they.
They both have their pros and cons.
But I think overall it soundseasier when you have something that's
(29:33):
kind of laid out where youhave like a logical timeline.
You just have to piece it together.
But it.
That doesn't mean it makes fora good movie.
So it can be challenging.
So I think that'd be a funinterview to ask a writer that's
done both and like, see whatthey would actually say.
Because I'd be.
I'd be really curious.
But that's something I justwanted to ask the group.
(29:53):
So I was interested ineverybody's viewpoint.
I'm actually surprised wedon't have more movies that are just
blatant ripoffs where theytake the story and just transplant.
It into something different.
You mean like Harry Potterthat came off of Star Wars?
No, more like there's a hockeymovie that's miracle, except it's
(30:14):
the Norwegians are playing.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I mean, every time I see theHarry Potter.
Yeah.
Mighty Ducks.
Yeah.
Basically miracle with 12 yearolds, right?
Yeah, that's fair.
Harry Potter is basically Starwars with wands.
Yep.
Oh, it's not basically.
(30:35):
It is absolutely the same movie.
But anyway, that's a wholedifferent topic with that.
Let's rate this some Alec.
Kick us off, buddy.
My movie.
It's been a while since I'vegot to go first.
You guys know all the picks?
Five easy.
I will watch this movieanytime, anywhere.
Sit down.
It's one of the few I'll say,like, based on true story movies
(30:59):
that I really enjoy.
It's hard to.
I mean, it feeds into my nature.
Kurt Russell in this and byextension Herb Brooks is my spirit
animal.
So, like, I love lines likeyou're trying to win on talent alone.
The problem is you don't haveenough Talent.
Yeah.
I think that gives me.
I'm like, oh, yeah.
So that's right up my alley.
(31:19):
I'll sit down and watch this one.
Basically we're watching Alecas coach and.
Oh, yeah, no, exactly.
Yeah.
The whole concept of you willbe the most in shape team is exactly
my coaching philosophy.
We just need kicking andscreaming too.
With Alec as the coach andjust like coaching like 10 year olds
and just all of them have togo into therapy and like, they lose
(31:41):
their confidence.
We see them 20 years later andthey're all trauma bonded.
Yeah, they're just like, thisguy ruined my life now.
Looks like he just wasn't good enough.
They weren't good enough.
He wouldn't care.
Like, whatever.
They're babies.
Alec bursts into their therapy session.
You can't even cry right.
Like go the line.
(32:03):
Oh, that's great.
All right, Matson, what about you?
Five easy.
Watch the same thing anytime, anywhere.
One of the.
I mean, the only movie I likemaybe more than this is based off
a true story.
Just because it's football,not hockey.
Friday Night Lights.
But this, I mean, this movie's incredible.
(32:25):
Like, this incredible movie.
And like I said, I think whatmakes it just that much more is it
makes really happen.
It's basically true to form.
And they even weave in actualfootage and commentary.
So you feel like for thepeople that watch it live, they probably.
They might just gettransported back to where they were
watching it and that's awesome.
It's a great movie.
(32:46):
I love it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm gonna give it a five.
It's great.
I relate.
Not to Alec is how I would bea coach, because I don't think I
would be that coach.
But that's the type of coachthat got the best out of me when
I was playing sports was theone that was brutally honest, didn't
fluff, didn't try to tell meI'm better than I was, but pushed
(33:08):
me and made me feel pissed meoff enough that I'm like, I'll show
you.
Like, that's when I played mybest sports, was when I was pissed.
And typically it was the coachthat got me there.
If they were a good coach andthey knew that about me.
So not saying it's foreverybody, but I always relate to.
I watch her Brooks, and I'mlike, oh, yeah, I'd have played my
ass.
Off for this same type ofcoach I need for me and actually
(33:32):
happened where I didn't havethat coach.
And then I got that coach again.
And I wasted like two years ofHigh school, needing that coach again.
And then I went back to form.
It was great.
Yeah.
Yeah.
My dad was that coach for me,and it pissed me off worse because
he was really nice andfriendly with all the rest of the
team, but he was an absolutedick to me, but he knew that's what
(33:53):
I needed, and so I played myass off.
So I respect that.
I also love my favorite.
My favorite character is JimCraig in this.
Just.
I like him.
Yeah.
36 saves in that game.
Dude.
That's against Russia.
Like, it's batshit crazy.
Like the.
The showcase this dude put on.
(34:13):
Because without him exactly like.
And I.
Look, the guy that was backingup was really good, but we'd have
got crushed without Craig in there.
And all season.
All that whole Olympic seasonwould have been ugly without him
because he averaged, like,almost double, like, high double
(34:33):
digits for hockey in savesalmost every game, if I remember
right.
But 36 saves in againstRussia, silly.
So, yeah, five for me.
Great movie.
I watch it anytime.
Casey loves it.
We own it.
Like, I watch it.
I have.
I think you would be a players coach.
Yeah, I. Yeah, I would.
(34:55):
You'd be one of those guys,they come to you to open up and feel
good and connect with, andthen you'd be able to motivate them
because they trusted you.
I feel like that's what you'd be.
Yeah.
I'd probably be the nice guythat they really liked, and then
all that would allow me thento be a dick when I needed to be
because they knew it wascoming from a good place versus,
you know, a herb who's a dick.
(35:18):
And then they go, oh, wait, heis a nice guy.
I'm a whistle kind of coach.
And then there's Alec, who's adick, and then just really a dick.
Yeah.
Yeah.
If you're too busy being madat me, you can't be mad at each other.
It's a great strategy.
Yeah.
I do love a lot.
(35:39):
He's like, I'm not here to beyour friend.
If you want to talk about someshit, it's.
I love it.
All right, well, there it is.
Alec, tell everybody wherethey can find us.
Happy to.
So thank you for tuning intoweek two of our Patriotic Movie Month
special.
Shout out to our patrons, Richand CB for selecting our topic and
(36:01):
selecting the movies that gointo the topic on Patreon.
I'll keep saying it until, youknow it no longer needs to be said,
but Patreon is a place to getinvolved with the podcast.
You can go on there.
You can vote.
Absolutely free to go and jointhe voting and pick the movies that
we are doing each month.
If you're looking to getinvolved in the content, go there.
(36:24):
Go on Patreon.
If you do want to join andbecome a paid member, there are some
perks that come along with it,including I think we're up to over
500 extra blips, episodes,clips, behind the scenes content,
stuff for you guys to enjoy,laugh your ass off.
Including all the behind thescenes stuff where we're absolutely
making fun of each other.
Speaking of which, we are inthe current bragging, right?
(36:47):
So my movie, my pick.
I get one point this month.
It's like the first time in four.
Months you got it rough.
I'm not salty at all.
It's perfectly fine.
Like trash.
Okay, okay.
With that I'll turn it back toThe Maharaja of Mash, the colossus
of clout.
(37:08):
A J.J. that's right.
Current high point owner too.
And with that, as always, weappreciate you tuning in.
We'll catch you on the next one.
Baby.
Cinematic.
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