Big Miracle (2012)

 

Big Miracle - 2012

Coming up next we have 2012's "Big Miracle", a based on true events film about a small group of people and the fight to save three grey whales that are trapped beneath a thick layer of ice high above the Arctic Circle.

The film's cast includes Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Danson, Kathy Baker, Ahmaogak Sweeney, John Pingayak, John Michael Higgins, Vinessa Shaw, Rob Riggle, and Sarah Palin.

Our setting is 1988's Barrow, Alaska, a town that is three hundred miles above the Arctic Circle.

Alaskan reporter Adam Carlson is looking to break into big time news.  He's not especially excited about reporting on avocados, guacamole, and Mexican restaurants in Barrow.

His big chance comes when he discovers three grey whales stranded near an ever-closing hole in the ice.

Adam is surprised by how quickly the story gains traction.  Even such luminaries as Tom Brokaw are reporting on it.  (Here, we see footage from a 1988 news broadcast about the whales.)

The US government begins to make plans to help.  Orders come from President Reagan, himself, and Colonel Scott Boyer is tasked with leading the efforts to help the whales on their path to open ocean.

Adam's ex-girlfriend Rachel even steps in to help.  She works with Greenpeace and is anxious to make sure everything is being done to ensure maximum safety for the whales.  Adam is very surprised to see her arrive.

And even big-time news affiliates send reporters to cover the story.  Adam meets Jill Jerard, who chafes at eating a big breakfast before hitting the ice for some reporting.  "If you don't have ten thousand calories today, you won't last five minutes out there," Adams warns her.  Shocked, Jill looks at him and says, "I won't eat ten thousand calories in a year."

Because of plummeting temperatures, the whales are threatened with the closure of their breathing hole.  Volunteers work around the clock using chainsaws to make sure the hole stays open.

Another problem that must be faced is a huge wall of ice that blocks the whales from actually entering the open ocean.  The US military is using a hovercraft ice blower, but it only has a minimal effect.

Rachel wants to check on the health of the whales, and she decides to dive into the freezing water.

Under the ice, she gets views that nobody else gets to see.  The whales come to be named Fred, Wilma, and Bamm-Bamm.

With the aid of special machines and a whole bunch of helpers, the group makes over 400 breathing holes on a pathway to the open ocean.  At the ice wall, a Russian icebreaker is helping to make sure the ice gets broken and the whales can get through.

Everybody waits with baited breath to see if the ice has broken enough to allow the whales to pass.  They erupt into cheering when the whales surface for a breath of air.

Adam and Rachel smile and cheer right alongside the group as they watch the whales swim off to freedom.  Eventually, they resume their relationship.

Cast rundown:

   Drew Barrymore............................Rachel Kramer

   John Krasinski...............................Adam Carlson

   Kristen Bell...................................Jill Jerard

   Dermot Mulroney...........................Colonel Scott Boyer

   Ted Danson...................................J.W. McGraw

   Kathy Baker...................................Ruth McGraw

   Ahmaogak Sweeney.......................Nathan

   John Pingayak...............................Malik

   John Michael Higgins......................Wes Handrick

   Vinessa Shaw................................Kelly Meyers

   Rob Riggle....................................Dean Glowacki

   Sarah Palin...................................Herself

And that's it for Big Miracle.  One of the interesting things about this is movie is that despite the film being set in the icy conditions of the Arctic Circle, not one characters breath is shown when they are outdoors.  Also, when Rachel goes diving to see the condition of the whales, she is wearing red thermal gloves above the ice.  Under the ice, we see her bare hands.  When she resurfaces, she is once again wearing the red thermal gloves.

An amusing scene occurs when a Los Angeles reporter comes to Barrow and orders a breakfast burrito at the town's only restaurant (which happens to be a Mexican restaurant called Amigos).  The waitress tells him that his order will come with a side of reindeer sausage.  The reporter looks at her and says, "Mine, uh, won't."

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