STARS...
Morgan Freeman, Tea Leoni, Robert Duvall, Blair Underwood, Vanessa Redgrave, and Elijah Wood.

DIRECTOR: Mimi Leder
YEAR & RATING: 1998 (PG-13)

PLOT SUMMARY...
With a huge comet on a collison course with Earth, the American president takes bold steps to save the world.

QUICK SCAN...
Director Leder delivers solid entertainment with a lot of heart. Tea Leoni breaks through her goofy TV persona (The Naked Truth) with an effective performance. Robert Duvall, as a veteran astronaut, is quietly magnificent. The Visual Effects by Industrial Light & Magic, while not plentiful, are first rate as usual.

SYNOPSIS...
Two astronomers discover a city-size comet on a collision course with Earth. The president of the United States keeps this a secret while he attempts to cope with the pending crisis.

A young anchorwoman gets the scoop on the crisis. The Presidnet tells the world of the crisis. A special astronaut team is launched to deflect the comet.

The astronauts break up the comet reducing, but not eliminating, the danger to Earth. On Earth, the anchorwoman and her father await the arrival of a large comet fragment.

BEST BETS: Armageddon, Independence Day

Review:

Director Mimi Leder's "Deep Impact" is a Sci-Fi disaster flick with a human heart.

Morgan Freeman, as the president, delivers his own unique blend of dignity, power and humanity. Freeman, in film's as different as "7" and "The Shawshank Redemption," has proven himself to be one of America's most authoritative actors.

Tea Leoni is quite likable and sympathetic as a cable T.V. reporter who is catapulted to huge fame while covering the story of the century. This character is far removed from her goofy photojournalist on TV's "The Naked Truth." Leoni, in a way, has grown up in her journey from television to the movies, and it's a delight to see.

Robert Duvall, as a veteran astronaut, is quietly magnificent. He underplays his role perfectly, adding to the reality of his performance. Duvall's craggy face has become an American treasure. Gee, I wonder if there's any room left on Mount Rushmore?

Much of "Deep Impact" does not involve FX, as Leder and screenwriters Bruce Joel Rubin and Michael Tolkin focus on the human face of the pending world crisis. The FX that are shown, however, such as the astronauts perilous trip to the comet, or the comet's ultimate deep impact on Earth, are top notch. Industrial Light & Magic, as usual, gets the credit.

Much has been made of the similar plot lines between "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon." While there are similarities, particularly in their scenes of astronauts on the comet/asteroid surfaces, their contrasts in "flavor" are as different as chocolate and vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed both films, and think you will too.

James Horner delivers another memorable film score. Once again, as he did in "Apollo 13," he uses trumpets to underscore the struggle for hope in the face of great danger.

"Deep Impact" should be fairly watch able for most Sci-Fi viewers. Those expecting wall-to-wall FX will be disappointed. Freeman/Leoni/Duvall fans will be well entertained.

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