Big Miracle is a family drama starring Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski Dermot Mulroney, Kristen Bell with a great performance from Ted Danson. Directed by Ken Kwapis, the film is based on the 1989 book 'Freeing the Whales' by Tom Rose, which covers Operation Breakthrough, the 1988 international effort to rescue gray whales trapped in ice near Point Barrow, Alaska. The film was released on February 3, 2012. 

It's amazing how a true story can capture the hearts of so many people across the world. This rescue adventure tells the tale of a small town news reporter and an animal-loving volunteer who become joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

Big Miracle - gray whale and human diver

Synopsis

Three California gray whales, trapped in a hole in the ice of the Arctic Circle, are discovered by television news reporter Adam Carlson (John Krasinski). Their plight is publicized after he does a feature on them, which he hopes might be his opportunity to move up to a larger TV market. His news story draws international attention and sets into motion a massive effort to free the whales from the ice. He is joined by Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore) an outspoken environmentalist, and also his ex-girlfriend.

Drawn into the collaborative rescue work are several normally hostile factions: Inupiat (Inuit) whale hunters, a Greenpeace environmental activist, an oil executive, ambitious news reporters, the National Guard, and politicians at state, national and international levels. Also joining in the effort are two entrepreneurs from Minnesota, who provide de-icing machines to help keep the hole open.

With time running out, Rachel and Adam rally an unlikely coalition of Inuit natives, oil companies and Russian and American military who set aside their differences to free the whales. As the world’s attention turns to the top of the globe, saving these endangered animals becomes a shared cause for nations set against in a Cold War, leading to a temporary thaw in diplomatic relations.

The official website: www.everybodyloveswhales.com

Cast

Big Miracle - advertising film poster

Production

Warner Bros. bought the screenplay by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler in April 2009, and in the following June, Kwapis was attached to direct the film. In September 2010, with Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski cast in the starring roles, filming began in Seward. The movie had a production budget of $30 to $40 million. The film crew constructed sets in Anchorage to resemble places in Barrow during the whale rescue. Filming lasted for 10 weeks.

The film's working title was Everybody Loves Whales, which is a line still heard in the film.

Post-production

Visual effects on Big Miracle were created by Rhythm and Hues Studios and Modus FX.

Burger King is now promoting the movie with toys. The MPAA has rated this film PG for language.

Reception

Critical responseThe film received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film currently holds a rating of 74% based on 95 reviews. The site's consensus was: "Big Miracle uses real-life events as the basis for a surprisingly satisfying family drama." Metacritic currently holds a score of 61 based on 28 reviews.

With the ice freezing over, the race is on to save the whales

Box office (source: Mojo)

The film opened with $2,267,385 takings on its opening day, ranking at #4 behind Chronicle, The Woman in Black, and The Grey at the box office. The film grossed $7,760,205 on its opening weekend and remained at the same spot. On its second weekend the film dropped to #8, with $3,946,050.

USA

Budget  -  $40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend  -  5th and 10th of February 1012 (depending on location)

$7,760,205 (USA) (5 February 2012) (2,047 Screens)

Big Miracle - a Universal picture

Gross

$17,605,685 (USA) (19 February 2012)
$13,281,985 (USA) (12 February 2012)
$7,760,205 (USA) (5 February 2012)

Weekend Gross

$2,263,515 (USA) (19 February 2012) (1,634 Screens)
$3,946,050 (USA) (12 February 2012) (2,133 Screens)
$7,760,205 (USA) (5 February 2012) (2,047 Screens)

Technical Specs

Runtime: 107 min

Sound Mix: SDDS  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | Dolby Digital

Color: Technicolor

Big Miracle official trailer

Cameras:

Panavision Panaflex Lightweight, Panavision Primo Lenses
Panavision Panaflex Millennium, Panavision Primo Lenses
Panavision Panaflex Platinum, Panavision Primo Lenses

Laboratory  -  Technicolor, Hollywood (CA), USA

Film negative format (mm/video inches)

35 mm (Kodak Vision3 250D 5207, Vision3 500T 5219)

Cinematographic process-  Digital Intermediate (2K) (master format)
Super 35 (3-perf) (source format)

Printed film format  -  35 mm (anamorphic) D-Cinema

Aspect ratio:  2.35 : 1

Several amazing experiences occur throughout this movie and at the end with the credits rolling. First, this family drama sustains an elevated, compelling appeal over the entire movie that has rarely been obtained in recent memory with any movie using many well edited scenes with excellent pacing.

This is one of the best "feel-good" movies in years that depicts a real life event,  focusing on the convergence of polar opposites in political life to merge into a superb animal story with the world caught up in the struggle to rescue a trapped whale family.

This movie is reminiscent of other animal movies such as Free Willy to a limited extent, with strong human performances and solid supporting foundation from the animals they are trying to save. See also:-

Never Cry Wolf (1983)

Bless the Beasts and Children (1971)

Fly Away Home (1996)

The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)

The Whale Rider (2002)

A gray whale surfacing - www.aquariumofpacific.org

LINKS:

Official website

Big Miracle

"Drew Barrymore film will be shot in Alaska". Anchorage Daily News 10-6-2010 http://www.adn.com/2010/06/11/1319289/hollywood-comes-to-alaska.html 

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=everybodyloveswhales.htm

"John Krasinski Joins Drew Barrymore in Family Flick 'Whales'"  2010-04-30

"Drew Barrymore To Star In ‘Everybody Loves Whales’"

"Kristen Bell Joining 'Everybody Loves Whales'"  2010-06-25

"Ted Danson and Vinessa Shaw Join 'Everybody Loves Whales'"  2010-11-08.

"Ken Kwapis circles 'Whales' drama" http://www.variety.com/  June 4, 2009

"'Everybody Loves Whales' crew begins filming in Anchorage" Anchorage Daily New http://www.adn.com/2010/09/16/1458225/whales-begins-filming-in-anchorage.html

"Big Miracle Movie Reviews, Pictures – Rotten Tomatoes" Flixster http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/big_miracle/  2012-02-4

"Big Miracle Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic" CBS Interactive http://www.metacritic.com/movie/big-miracle  2012-02-4

http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-02-03&p=.htm

http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=05&p=.htm

http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2012&wknd=06&p=.htm

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