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Haven't seen the movie, but knowing Americans as I do, I'm sure the movie went something like this:
The other Olympic teams were made up of professional players who were at the top of their game, and among the elite. Those teams, particularily the Soviets were run by a large individual who busted his players day in and day out with tough drills and running in luxurious conditions. Also, they had the best facilities, and used illegal eqiupment such as sticks that allowed the puck to be shot out like a cannon, or skates with rockets attached to them, and Goalie equipment that was twice regulation size. However, because the Olympics were corrupt, the Soviets were allowed to use the questionable equipment.
On the American side, Herb Brooks was trying to get the big corporate exces and the US Athletic Commission to give money to develop a hockey program. The execs with their Southern drawl all said "We dont play that funny ice game here in-Merica, why dont you go back to Canada boy". However, Herb was a fighter, so with no money he devised a game plan. He went into the deep forest and cut down a large tree, and carved out 12 crude hockey sticks, and set up a rustic ice rink in the middle of a nearby lake. He then went to a local steel mill and got 12 guys to play hockey. This was all 10 days before the first game of the Olympic tourny.
A few scenes of comic relief are shown, with the players learning how to skate on a frozen river and shoot the puck, which was actually a frozen piece of a tire that Herb cut out. With only 2 days to go the players have some serious issues, and still dont have unifroms or the ability to stop without falling over.
Fast forward to the day before the Olympics, and a local church group has got together and sewn together uniforms for the team to wear with money they raised at a bake sale at the church. But bad news hits the team, it seems their star player was having a drink at the local pub when the Soviet team ganged up on him (the guys on the Sioviet team were all 6'6 280lbs) and tore all the ligaments in his shoulder, the doctor diagnosis is that the star player will never play hockey ever again.
Olypics start, and somehow this rag tag bunch of misfits use their heart and win the game 2-1. The tourny continues, and the team gets better. On the eve of the semi final against the Soviets an evil Russian scientist is shown delivering steroids to the Soviet team in order to give them the edge. Then , the Dictator (nobody said this would be historically accurate) of the USSR phones the coach and tells him the Soviets better win Gold and they better beat the US or else he willm face dire consequences. The Soviet coach whispers something to the evil Soviet Scientist, and they laugh an evil laugh. Next scene we see the scientist opening a container of some liquid, which he pours into the US team's soup.
Now its game time, US vs USSR, and oh no, it appears the US team has fallen ill, everyone is in the bathroom, and those who are not are unable to stand (damn evil scientist). The team is asked if they want to forfeit, but Brooks says "No, we're Americans we never quit". The Olympic official snickers and walks off. The US team somehow makes it to the bench, but they are talking a beating against the physical play of the Soviets. They are also handicapped by the suspect officiating. By the 2nd intermission the team seems out of it, and they can barely make it out for the third. However, during the 3rd out comes the star player, who cant raise his right arm, but dammit he's going to play. He scores the game winning goal, and the US are victorious.
Clips are then shown of the US getting their Gold Medals, and the Soviets acting all upset because of their Silver medals (again it doesn't have to be accurate).
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In fairness, I am a huge fan of Herb Brooks and what he did for hockey in America, I just hope this movie isn't a typical US propoganda machine that distorts facts in exchange for telling a Hollywood story.
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