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Miracle en Alaska

Original title: Big Miracle
  • 2012
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski in Miracle en Alaska (2012)
In small town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his ex-girlfriend — a Greenpeace volunteer — on a campaign to  save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.
Play trailer2:33
26 Videos
43 Photos
BiographyDramaRomance

In small-town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his Greenpeace-volunteer ex-girlfriend on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly-forming ice in the Arctic Circle.In small-town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his Greenpeace-volunteer ex-girlfriend on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly-forming ice in the Arctic Circle.In small-town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his Greenpeace-volunteer ex-girlfriend on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly-forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

  • Director
    • Ken Kwapis
  • Writers
    • Jack Amiel
    • Michael Begler
    • Tom Rose
  • Stars
    • Drew Barrymore
    • John Krasinski
    • John Pingayak
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    21K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ken Kwapis
    • Writers
      • Jack Amiel
      • Michael Begler
      • Tom Rose
    • Stars
      • Drew Barrymore
      • John Krasinski
      • John Pingayak
    • 81User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos26

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 2:33
    U.S. Version
    Big Miracle: Mcgraw Thanks Rachel For Her Help Saving The Whales
    Clip 0:38
    Big Miracle: Mcgraw Thanks Rachel For Her Help Saving The Whales
    Big Miracle: Mcgraw Thanks Rachel For Her Help Saving The Whales
    Clip 0:38
    Big Miracle: Mcgraw Thanks Rachel For Her Help Saving The Whales
    Big Miracle: Adam Interviews Rachel About Whales
    Clip 0:45
    Big Miracle: Adam Interviews Rachel About Whales
    Big Miracle: Malik Tries To Help Nathan Hear The Whales
    Clip 0:51
    Big Miracle: Malik Tries To Help Nathan Hear The Whales
    Big Miracle: Jill Convinces Adam And Rachel To Give Her A Ride To The Whales
    Clip 0:42
    Big Miracle: Jill Convinces Adam And Rachel To Give Her A Ride To The Whales
    Big Miracle: Mcgraw Sees The Whales For The First Time
    Clip 0:35
    Big Miracle: Mcgraw Sees The Whales For The First Time

    Photos43

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    Top cast81

    Edit
    Drew Barrymore
    Drew Barrymore
    • Rachel Kramer
    John Krasinski
    John Krasinski
    • Adam Carlson
    John Pingayak
    • Malik
    Ahmaogak Sweeney
    Ahmaogak Sweeney
    • Nathan
    John Chase
    • Roy
    Ishmael Angalook Hope
    • Bud
    Othniel 'Anaqulutuq' Oomittuk Jr.
    • Inupiat Whaler
    Andy Daly
    Andy Daly
    • Don Davis
    • (as Andrew Daly)
    Thomas R. Daly
    • Frank
    Maliaq Kairaiuak
    • Dana
    Jeffrey Evan
    • Arnold
    Ted Danson
    Ted Danson
    • J.W. McGraw
    Randy Eledge
    • Oil Man
    Thom Van Dorp
    Thom Van Dorp
    • Don Carr
    Tim Blake Nelson
    Tim Blake Nelson
    • Pat Lafayette
    Stephen Root
    Stephen Root
    • Governor Haskell
    Maury Ginsberg
    Maury Ginsberg
    • News Producer #1
    Kelly Lee Williams
    • News Producer #2
    • Director
      • Ken Kwapis
    • Writers
      • Jack Amiel
      • Michael Begler
      • Tom Rose
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews81

    6.520.9K
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    Featured reviews

    TxMike

    Whales trapped in Arctic ice, based on a real 1988 event.

    Managed to see this on DVD from my public library. It is based in real events in 1988, but many of the characters have been fabricated or named something different from the person they were taken from.

    It is outside Barrow, Alaska in the fall, cold weather is a bit early and the ice begins to freeze sooner than usual. This traps a whale pair and their young offspring.

    John Krasinski is reporter Adam Carlson in Alaska and one day happens to notice something on the ice. He spots the whales repeatedly surfacing through a medium sized hole in the ice, but because it would require a 5-mile swim under ice to get free and swim south, the three whales are stranded at the hole.

    Drew Barrymore is a conservationist who wants to attract more attention to saving the whales, while the local native Alaskans are thinking about "harvesting" the whales for food. Ted Danson is J. W. McGraw, a wealthy businessman wanting to drill in the Arctic, he ends up under pressure of publicity donating a hovercraft barge to be used as an ice breaker. Kristen Bell is too pretty as the California reporter Jill Jerard who ends up going there also and reporting some of the developments.

    This is basically a family movie, cooperating to take care of the environment. Plus, when they were not able to get the hovercraft there the Russians ended up saving the day, using their ice breaker to free the whales, after Alaskans had used chainsaws to cut a series of holes in the ice closer and closer to the open sea, to allow the whales to make progress.

    Pretty interesting movie.
    7gradyharp

    A Message from the Arctic

    Sometimes it takes a film about the environmental crises to bring to the attention of the entire populace that not only MUST we do something about our bruising of our natural environment, but that when certain people take action it does indeed make a difference. This is a gently made film that gets its point across in a warmly entertaining way - and it is a true story!

    Thomas Rose' book FREEING THE WHALES forms the basis for this story, adapted for the screen by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler. Ken Kwapis directs. In brief summery (everyone knows this story by now), an animal-loving volunteer and a small-town news reporter are joined by a native Alaskan boy to rally an entire community - and eventually rival world superpowers - to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.'

    The cast is a large one with some actors only appearing briefly but in roles that show their professional an also their emotional support for placing this subject before the public. In the lead roles are John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Ted Danson and Tim Blake Nelson, but the remainder of the cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Kathy Baker, Kristin Bell, James LeGros and a fine supporting cast of Inuit actors and others.

    The special effects are credible and deeply moving as the whales are released form their frozen captivity. The film adds much to the understanding of environmental problems and how multinational efforts are necessary to tame the destructive threats to the future of our globe. Grady Harp, January 13
    6ocjetsfan

    We liked it!

    This is a slow movie. Prepare to watch people standing around a hole in the ice. If you think gray whales are a waste of time, you won't be moved. On the other hand, if you can pull for a family of marine mammals in danger of freezing to death, you will probably find satisfaction in this movie's numerous charms. You'll enjoy the dignity given to the Inuit people, environmentalists, oil executives, Soviets, journalists, and even Republicans(!) who collaborate in dramatic efforts to save the trapped whales. You'll appreciate the care taken with a late 80's period piece, down to the silk blouses, big glasses, hair, and Peter Jennings. You may even be moved by the warm and unguarded performances of Drew Berrymore, John Kasinksi, and others.

    It's possible you may have your heart enlarged by the uncommon efforts of truly diverse people on behalf of beautiful and vulnerable earthlings like the grays. There is an unabashed love for both the whales and the humans portrayed in this movie, whose lives and futures are at stake in a variety of ways. Some may regard this affection as sentimentality, but the sense of humor sustained throughout the film argues against this. Somehow I think the worst-ever portrayal of Ronald Reagan was hardly unintentional. This director definitely has it in for for Minnesotans, too.

    My ten and thirteen year-old sons were engrossed by this true story brought to the screen and gave it two thumbs up. My wife and I enjoyed being unembarrassed in their presence throughout.

    Simply as an introduction to Barrow, Alaska, the movie is totally worthwhile.

    My biggest complaint: Drew Barrymore's lips should be blue when scuba diving in frigid Artic waters.
    7bob-rutzel-1

    Exciting and very well done

    TV news reporter Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) and Green Peace worker, Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore), help enlist an Alaskan town to save a family of gray whales trapped by fast moving ice.

    This is inspired by a true story in Barrow, Alaska in 1988.

    Hey, I found a way to keep cool this summer: watch movies that have Alaska as the location. Seeing all that ice, and extremely cold water does it. If you don't believe this: try it and see for yourself.

    In 1988, the trapped whales became a big story throughout the USA. Actual footage by the stars of network news all chimed in, and the president of the US gets updates on the progress.

    The whales are cut off from the ocean by 5-miles of ice. They cannot swim underwater for that distance without coming up for air. Hence, the townspeople cut holes in the ice so the whales can come up and breathe. In time, the holes are cut as stepping stones all the way to the ocean. Will the whales follow the newly cut holes? The hated oilmen see a good PR scenario and jump in to help out. Two Minnesota men had invented a De-Icer and they want to use it to keep the ice from forming quickly in the holes as the temperature falls dangerously low. Will it work in the freezing temperature?

    A Hover Barge, being flown by 2-helicopters, is on the way to the whales. The Hover Barge uses compressed air to break up the ice it passes over. Will it be in time? Can the townspeople cut the holes fast enough for the required 5-miles? There is some talk of getting the Russians to help out with their ice-breaking vessel. Some like that idea, some do not.

    I had no idea this would be as exciting as it was. Very good. This was an extremely well done production. The entire cast were unbelievably good. Nothing dragged. Dialogues were spot on. The editing made everything run smoothly and the photography was unbelievably sharp. I knew from the title above that all would be okay, but still there was suspense throughout. I have no idea how the whale shots were accomplished whether using actual whales or CGI. Whatever made these shots look real, this was truly spectacular. Kudos.

    All in all a very good family movie about people coming together to save the whales. At the end you might want to keep a box of Kleenex handy. When the credits run, you will see actual footage of the people working to help the rescue effort in 1988.

    Now I have to find another movie that has ice and snow to keep me cool as I was with Big Miracle. There is THIN ICE, but that location is in Wisconsin. Gets cold there, doesn't it? It has "ice" in the title………hmmm……….will have to check it out. (7/10)

    Violence: No. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: Some, not much.
    7CaptMTS

    Good Family Movie With Whales & Ensemble Cast

    Big Miracle dramatizes the real life struggle of three gray whales trapped in the ice near Barrow, Alaska. While my daughter told me what happens before we saw the movie, I still enjoyed the movie for its heart-warming and touching story of humans and nature.

    Big Miracle has an ensemble cast that was very good. Drew Barrymore, in particular, did an outstanding job as a Greenpeace activist trying to save the gray whales. And, Ten Danson was fun as the oil magnate who sees an opportunity to help save the whales for some good PR.

    The highlight of the movie was the Inupiat actors, who were charming and added warmth to the movie. The grandfather Inupiat stole every scene with his strong and quiet presence, and he provided several funny moments. His young grandson was also outstanding as the young friend to John Krasinki's character.

    Big Miracle, however, did move slowly and many scenes seemed forced in drawing laughter or empathy. My wife and I enjoyed the movie for its touching story and appealing characters, but our kids said they were bored and uninterested. At the very least, catch Big Miracle at a matinée.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sportscaster shown at the end of the archived news clip is a young Sarah Palin.
    • Goofs
      When the Greenpeace activist dives under the ice in a wetsuit, she has red thermal gloves on. While submerged and using her knife to cut away the net on the baby whale's fluke, her bare hands are visible. When she surfaces, the red gloves are back on.
    • Quotes

      Adam Carlson: I think Barrow might have one great story left in her.

    • Crazy credits
      During the credits, on the left side are scenes from the movie characters and on the right side, archive footage of the real people.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Colbert Report: Drew Barrymore (2012)

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Big Miracle?Powered by Alexa
    • Did they use real whales in this film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 18, 2012 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Big Miracle
    • Filming locations
      • Barrow, Alaska, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Anonymous Content
      • Working Title Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,157,300
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,760,205
      • Feb 5, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $24,740,061
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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