BIG MIRACLE

US, 2011, 107 minutes, Colour.
Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Ted Danson, Kristin Bell, Tim Blake Nelson, Vinessa Shaw, Dermot Mulroney, Kathy Baker, John Michael Higgins, James Le Gros, Rob Riggle.
Directed by Ken Kwapis.

Big Miracle is a family-oriented film, also useful for the classroom.

It takes up a popular story of 1988, the stranding of three whales, mother, father and child under the ice near the town of Barrow, Alaska. The television reportage extended from Alaska, to California, to all over the United States and then the world. Audiences watched as attempts were made to release the whales.

The film also has the setting of oil exploration in Alaska, the granting of contracts to big companies. Ted Danson appears as the CEO of such a company. He clashes with the Greenpeace representative, played by Drew Barrymore. Once she takes up the cause of the whales, she tries to persuade the governor (Stephen Root), to do something but he ignores her until public pressure compels him to go on to the media and give support.
John Krisinski plays a television reporter who does items on Barrow but comes across the situation of the whales and sends his footage into headquarters. A genial presence, he has been in a relationship with Rachel but they have broken up because of her rather self-absorbed intransigence. He is interested in a young reporter, quite inexperienced, who turns up, played by Kristin Bell.

Also in focus is the Eskimo community, relying on hunting and whales for their livelihood and food, but realising that the contemporary world was closing in on them.

The National Guard is called in. It is headed by Dermot Mulroney. Then the CEO allows his barge to be brought in and to be drawn by two helicopters. This fails.

The film is also set during the Bush campaign for the presidency and criticisms of the Reagan administration for not doing enough about the environment. So, the president also becomes involved. Deals are done and a Russian ice-breaker is sent in. However, part of the solution comes from to ordinary salesmen-inventors from Minnesota who have an ice-melting machine.

The film shows a worldwide response, especially from children and the desire to save the whales. The question is also raised about the effort given to saving the whales while there are many other important needs around the world involving humans.

The film was directed by Ken Kwapis who has directed many comedies and satires.

1. A family entertainment, save the whales? The benefit of the film for education, Greenpeace, conservation movements, understanding nature and whales?

2. The 1988 setting, oil exploration in the Arctic, contracts and deals? Eskimo life and traditions, livelihood, modernising, the young boy with his CDs? Technological developments? The media and influence? Political issues, conservation, Ronald Reagan and his administration, reputation? Efforts?

3. Barrow, the northernmost city in the United States? Alaska, town, small, ice and snow? The scene? The importance of the whales? The motel, the diner? Musical score?

4. The hole in the ice, the ice-scape, the weather, the look of the Arctic, the conditions?

5. The Eskimos, the young boy with his grandfather, trying to sight the whale? The whaling tradition? Playing his CDs? The men, the jobs? Conservation versus food supply, training for the future?

6. Mc Graw, corporation boss, calling the meeting, the announcing of the contracts, pleased? Rachel and her disturbance? Her defiance, being ousted? His wife phoning Rachel after seeing the television? And the suggestion about the barge and the helicopters? With her husband, the PR possibilities, his agreement? His going to Alaska, the public image, with the young whale, his growing involvement, consciousness, connection with the government? The aftermath and the Exxon Valdez? Making money from the clean up?

7. Adam, his work, being in Barrow, the TV clip on the diner, the applause? Friendship with the boy? His being persuaded to film on ice, the young boy and the machine? The discovery of the hole, sending the film to Anchorage, its being taken up, filmed, nation-wide?

8. The episode being used as a filler, local to California, throughout the U.S., beyond? The use of footage by Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings? The producers, their response? Adam, his reputation and opportunities? Jill, and Wes, the chauvinist member of the staff, ridiculing her, her decision to go to Alaska, reporting?

9. Jill, her arrival, credit card, its not being able to be used, needing money, cold, ignorant, not buying the cardboard? The boy shrewd in selling the cardboard and her giving in at a higher price? Adam’s interest and attraction? Involving her, getting the scoop about the ice melter and its success? Discussion about her future, the scoop determining what she would do?

10. Rachel and Adam and their past, the break-up? Rachel intense, at the meeting, defying people, discovering the plight of the whales? Her plea to the governor and his irritation with her? Mrs. Mc Graw and her phone call? Rachel and her urgency, irritating people? The scuba diving and freeing the young whale from its net? Her crusade, herself absorption in the crusade? Her plea to the meeting with the Eskimo leaders, their discussions and shrewd decision? Their assistance and local knowledge. Local helpers?

11. People raising the issues of saving the whales while there were bigger and more urgent causes around the world, human stories?

12. The issue of the National Guard, Scott, his response to the requests, negative? His staff? The phone call from Kelly, ignoring it? The flight of the helicopters, the phone call with Ronald Reagan, his reassuring him? Kelly coming to Alaska, involvement, the barge being stuck, impossible to help with the helicopters? His coming to the site? His involvement? The aftermath and his marrying Kelly?

13. The glimpse of the governor, his concern about public relations and his acceptance of the request? On media?

14. Kelly, her work for the Reagan administration, the Bush campaign, 1988? Her plan, her superiors and the scepticism? The phone calls?

15. The two men from Minnesota, their machine gun, the idea of going to Alaska, the media asking them? Going, the machine frozen? Stealing the generator, the dangerous helicopter ride, success, Adam and Jill filming? Sending it to the studios? The reaction of the chauvinist reporter?

16. The visualizing of the whales, the names, echoes of the Flintstones? The baby whale and its needs? Their being trapped, under the ice, needing to come up for air? Protecting the baby?

17. The collage of people watching, Mrs. Mc Graw, the families, the concern, the glimpse of the school and all the projects being about whales?

18. The strategy of making more holes, leading to the sea, the poking of the whales and lack of success?

19. The Soviet Union, the attitude of the Soviets, Gorbachev, Reagan, the politicising and the decision? The icebreaker, the captain and his assistant, their
bets about being employed? The several attempts, the success?

20. The baby whale dying, the others breaking free?

21. The ending, the benefit to everyone concerned? And the romantic ending with Adam and Rachel?

22. The story of the 1980s, dramatized for the 21st century?