Even though the special effects are not that special, Mimi Leder's disaster movie about a massive comet on collision course with the earth is still a gut-wrenching emotional document, full of moments of heroism and sacrifice.

After a really annoying beginning (why bother polishing off the scientist who discovers the comet a year before impact? ), the story quickly works up a full head of steam, anchored by Morgan Freeman's US President.

There can be few actors today so capable of expressing quiet authority. Téa Leoni is also good as the reporter who first gets wind of the impending disaster and of the 'Messiah mission' (why only one?) to destroy the comet, which is doomed to failure, only splitting it into two pieces.

But it's in the little moments that this film scores heavily and will have you dabbing your eyes. Such moments suggest that ER-trained Leder's talents as a director, despite beginning her movie career with this and The Peacemaker, lie in character-driven drama.