THE MIRACLE SEASON: Feel-Good Biopic Hits Familiar Beats

I was admittedly a bit apprehensive walking into The Miracle Season. I wasn’t expecting much more than a by-the-books, sappy rise from the ashes biopic, with nothing new to bring to the table. And while much of the film does hit the predictable beats, it does it with a surprising sincerity, with a slight undercurrent of something more than just being a dramatization of a real-life story. At the end of the day, this is still a slightly uninspired crowd pleaser; but it’s one that I found myself enjoying all the same.

The Tragic Biopic Framework

The Miracle Season focuses on the true story of the 2011 Iowa City West High School girl’s volleyball team. Led by the strong-willed coach Kathy Bresnahan (Helen Hunt), they seem to be having a rough start to the season, being easily beaten by a big city team. Shortly thereafter, matters get much worse when the team’s star player, Caroline “Line” Found (a spunky Danika Yarosh), tragically dies in a biking accident. She is immediately mourned by her close family and friends, including her father Ernie Found (William Hurt) and best friend and teammate Kelly (Erin Moriarty).

Following this, the team, now led by center Kelly, struggle to reach their former glory, marred by the loss of their star player and friend. Yet, after an initial mishap, they start to rally around their lost friend instead, deciding to play as hard as they can in her memory, a momentum which leads them to the state championships.

The Miracle Season had to first of all be respectful of the real-life tragedy at its core, and the film thankfully does this, refraining from overly sentimentalizing either the lead up to or the actual incident itself. This initial decision by director Sean McNamara made me hopeful for the film to come.

To be fair, much of what follows from Line’s death is still your standard biopic beats, from the first overwhelming despair of the team to the initial somewhat abrupt rise of Kelly to the rank of leader, and followed by a series of wins at subsequent volleyball games. But even with this predictability, McNamara and editor Jeff Canavan keep the film flowing along at an even pace. There are a few thin subplots for sure; for example, Kelly’s relationship with a new neighbor, or the relatively underdeveloped members of the team besides her, but it’s not too much to take away from the main focus of the film.

Volleyball Montage!

If you came to The Miracle Season expecting to see some high-energy volleyball games, you came to the right place. The thundering sound of the ball being launched back and forth and the camera following along with its journey makes for some surprisingly engaging set pieces, and this is coming from someone who has never really gotten into the game.

The score by Roque Banos is often at its highlight during these sequences, rising and falling during pivotal moments, though at times also (unfortunately) replaced by a high volume pop song. Regardless, like last year’s Battle of the Sexes, if you shoot the action of a sports film the right way, even non-sports people (like myself) will find themselves caught up in it.

Much of the film is also helped along by Helen Hunt, who plays the forceful Coach Bresnahan with a likability factor and strong screen presence such that we haven’t seen from her in some time. Far from one-note, her character’s in-your-face persona is shown surprising vulnerability by the conclusion of the film, when she regretfully expresses that, with all her forcefulness in getting the girls to the finals, she forgot to allow them to have fun along the way.

Highlights from the remainder of the cast include the lead role of Kelly played by Erin Moriarty, who people might know from bit parts in Jessica Jones or True Detective. Here, the young actress shows that she can handle a leading role just as well as supporting, showing relatability through the character’s growing faith in herself.

Deeper Meaning

Once the West High team gets to the finals of the volleyball championships, they feel disheartened due to the pressure of feeling they have to win for the sake of Caroline. But Line’s father Ernie, warmly played by the great William Hurt, gives them an alternative, which he prints on a set of shirts for the team: Live Like Line.

He explains that they don’t have to necessarily win for her, but just to live like her instead, following the pattern of Line’s infectious love for life. It’s a sentiment that I didn’t quite expect, but it says much about the empowering quality of the film, since it doesn’t simply water down the idea that winning a game will somehow bring back a loved one. Caroline will always be gone; but respecting her memory is even more important.

Of course, by the time the West High team approaches the championship game, we still expect them to give it their all. And though we likely know where this is all going, it’s still an enjoyable ride to get to that final slow motion shot. It brings together the tragic underbelly of the story with what is a remarkable achievement regardless, given how far back the team was before getting to that point.

Conclusion: The Miracle Season

The Miracle Season is, all things said, still a mainstream fare sports biopic, albeit with a tragic backstory. But, with energetic sports play, a respect for its story and characters, and a slightly heavier final takeaway, it rises above the pitfalls that many of those films often fall into. Don’t expect to be blown away, but there are definitely worse ways to spend your time.

What are your thoughts on The Miracle Season? What are some of your favorite recent biopics?

The Miracle Season was released in the U.S. on April 6, 2018.