Deep Impact

"Very Good"

Deep Impact Review


I admit it. I'm a sap for the touchy-feely business sometimes.

Deep Impact makes no apologies for being a sob-fest. I mean, how else do you smash a comet into the earth without killing off a few hundred million people, and breaking a few hearts in the process? As the first disaster-from-space film of the year, Deep Impact sets the bar at an interesting level. It's not an action film, although it has action elements. It's not a thriller, although suspense is in the mix. It's more a drama than anything else, the main story lines being a reporter (Téa Leoni) estranged from her father, a young astronomer (Wood) who finds he can't abandon his girlfriend, and a codgery astronaut (Robert Duvall) who gains acceptance among a younger crew.

Against the backdrop of a giant comet en route to the planet, it's a surprise that there are so many lulls in the story where there's little to do but check your watch. Still, ER veteran Mimi Leder directs the action with sufficient flair to keep you interested and keep those Kleenex in action.

I'm not immune. Once you get past the urge to dismiss the whole shebang as an unlikely bit of Hollywood trickery, there are so many sacrifices in the film from so many characters... even a cynic like me can get a bit teary-eyed.

Overall, it's a refreshing change of pace from the big budget extravangzas that Tinseltown regularly trots out.

The new special collector's edition DVD includes a commentary track from Leder and her special effects guy, plus three short featurettes about the making of the film. The "creating the perfect traffic jam" is an amazingly instructive vignette on parking 2,100 non-CGI automobiles.

More impact than a kick in the pants!



Deep Impact

Facts and Figures

Run time: 120 mins

In Theaters: Friday 8th May 1998

Box Office Worldwide: $140.5M

Budget: $75M

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Production compaines: Paramount Pictures, Zanuck/Brown Productions, Manhattan Project

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 3.5 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 47%
Fresh: 24 Rotten: 27

IMDB: 6.1 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: Mimi Leder

Starring: as Capt. Spurgeon 'Fish' Tanner, as Jenny Lerner, as Leo Biederman, as Robin Lerner, as President Tom Beck, as Jason Lerner, as Sarah Hotchner, as Alan Rittenhouse, as Gus Partenza, as Beth Stanley, as Andrea Baker, as Don Biederman, as Mark Simon, as Dr. Marcus Wolf (uncredited), Una Damon as Marianne Duclos, as Eric Vennekor, as Theo Van Sertema, as Jenny's Assistant, Alimi Ballard as Bobby Rhue, as McCloud, as Vicky Hotchner, as Jason

Contactmusic


Links


New Movies

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago,...

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Like the 2015 original, this comedy plays merrily with cliches to tell a silly story...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

There's a somewhat contrived jauntiness to this blending of fact and fiction that may leave...

Ferdinand Movie Review

Ferdinand Movie Review

This animated comedy adventure is based on the beloved children's book, which was published in...

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Director Dave McCary makes a superb feature debut with this offbeat black comedy, which explores...

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

A dramatisation of the real-life clash between tennis icons Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs,...

Shot Caller Movie Review

Shot Caller Movie Review

There isn't much subtlety to this prison thriller, but it's edgy enough to hold the...

Advertisement
The Disaster Artist Movie Review

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

A hilariously outrageous story based on real events, this film recounts the making of the...

Stronger Movie Review

Stronger Movie Review

Based on a true story about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this looks like one...

Only the Brave Movie Review

Only the Brave Movie Review

Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its...

Wonder Movie Review

Wonder Movie Review

This film may be based on RJ Palacio's fictional bestseller, but it approaches its story...

Happy End  Movie Review

Happy End Movie Review

Austrian auteur Michael Haneke isn't known for his light touch, but rather for hard-hitting, award-winning...

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

A Victorian thriller with rather heavy echoes of Jack the Ripper, this film struggles to...

Advertisement
Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews