DEEP IMPACT (1997) ***1/2 It turns out that what you really need, whenever there's a meteor hurtling towards earth to eliminate all life forms, is a cool dirt bike. This film beautifully walks the impossible line between Hollywood schmaltz, eschatological philosophy, huge entertainment...and, well not great art, but damn good cinema anyways. With gloriously amplified special effects. They didn't used to make movies like this. Téa Leoni and Morgan Freeman are reasonably convincing as human reporter and President, and both have some very good moments that make up for the early ones. Robert Duvall is brilliant as the old NASA warrior from the O.K. Corral, making Robert De Niro faces all the way, Vanessa Redgrave tremendous as the dumped mother, though the script writers didn't give her enough drinks in at least two key scenes. Mimi Leder did an incredible job of putting together the pieces in a pleasing manner, and one that pulls at the heartstrings, all the while leaving you laughing at the heartstrings for pulling so.
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