MIRACLE
(PG) - February 6

PLOT IN A NUTSHELL:

REVIEW: Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell), a college hockey coach that wanted a chance to lead the U.S. hockey team in the XIII winter Olympics. Herb had almost made it to the Olympics as a player, but was cut by his coach one week before the games. After assembling his team, Coach Brooks attempts to teach his young college players a new way to play hockey. If they were to compete with the Soviet team (that had not lost an Olympic game since 1960) they would need to beat them at their own game...improvisation and intimidation.

I actually remember this game, as my mother often made me watch sporting events I had little interest in. That being said, one couldn't help but be inspired by this group of youngsters that pulled off the impossible. This movie captures the emotions and the events of the time without being overly sentimental. Kurt Russell gives a genuine, yet controlled performance as the driven hockey coach that wouldn't allow his players to play beneath their potential.

BOTTOMLINE: An inspirational movie that will keep your attention.

COLD MOUNTAIN
(R) - January 2

PLOT IN A NUTSHELL:

REVIEW: A Confederate soldier (Jude Law) critically wounded at the siege of Petersberg, deserts and begins an epic journey to reach his love on Cold Mountain, North Carolina. Years earlier, a preacher (Donald Sutherland) and his daughter Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman) moved to Cold Mountain from Charlestown. A tentative relationship slowly builds between Inman and Ada, but before they can truly act on their feelings, war is declared. Eventually, Ada is left to fend for herself and if not for the arrival of the independent Ruby Thewes (Renée Zellweger) Ada would have likely perished. After surviving many perils, will Inman finally reach Ada?

Director Anthony Minghella probably will get an Oscar nod or two for his Civil War love story. Cold Mountain tries to be an epic and succeeds on several levels... but not all. The pacing of this movie is slow and deliberate at times, probably emphasizing the distance between the would lovers. But Renée Zellweger steals every scene she is in as the brash and straight forward Ruby Thewes.

BOTTOMLINE: A slow moving film that shines at times, but isn't that memorable.