Don Biederman

Deep Impact (1998)

Actors: James E. Ash (actor), Rahi Azizi (actor), Alimi Ballard (actor), Aleksandr Baluev (actor), Matt Bennett (actor), Len Berdick (actor), W. Earl Brown (actor), Cullen G. Chambers (actor), Charles Rahi Chun (actor), Joshua Colwell (actor), O'Neal Compton (actor), James Cromwell (actor), Christopher Darga (actor), Leslie Dilley (actor), Ethan Aronoff (actor),

Plot: Journalist Jenny Lerner is assigned to look into the background of Secretary Alan Rittenhouse who abruptly resigned from government citing his wife's ill health. She learns from his secretary that Rittenhouse was having an affair with someone named Ellie but when she confronts him, his strange reaction leads her to reconsider her story. In fact, a meteor, discovered the previous year by high school student Leo Biederman and astronomer Dr. Marcus Wolf, is on a collision course with the Earth, an Extinction Level Event. A joint US-Russian team is sent to destroy the meteor but should it fail, special measures are to be put in place to secure the future of mankind. As the space mission progresses, many individuals deal with their fears and ponder their future.

Keywords: 1990s, apocalypse, astronaut, astronomer, astronomy, bar, barbecue, beach, black-president, black-u.s.-president
Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller,
Taglines: Heaven and Earth are about to collide. Oceans rise. Cities fall. Hope survives.

Quotes:

Oren Monash: Fish. Why the hell do they call you FISH?::Spurgeon Tanner: Well, Spurgeon... Sturgeon... FISH. Took about 15 minutes my first day at the Naval Academy.

President Beck: We always thought the deadline for public knowledge was the publication of next year's budget since we've spent more money than we can account for. That won't happen for two weeks. I don't suppose I could prevail upon you to wait two weeks in the name of national security?::Jenny Lerner: Two weeks? There's no such thing as two weeks in the news business.

Jenny Lerner: When I was 11, I stole $32 from your wallet.::Jason Lerner: When you were a baby I once dropped you on your head.

President Beck: Life will go on, we will prevail.

Spurgeon Tanner: [about the Wolf comet] Now the outgassing has created a vent a half mile wide and at least two miles deep. Comet gets closer to the sun; sun melts the ice, ice turns to steam. We get a big hole, okay? So, how many nukes do we have left in the back?::Mikhail Tulchinsky: Four.::Spurgeon Tanner: Okay. If we can get the remaining bombs in that vent, there shouldn't be anything left of that comet bigger than a suitcase. Now, we can't do anything about the little one, but you know... it just might give them a chance. Now, without the arming codes, we're going to have to wait to set the bomb timers until we get closer to Earth, to raise Houston.::Mikhail Tulchinsky: We may not have enough life support left to get back into the cargo bay for the nukes. Much less to go down to the comet.::Mark Simon: We sure as hell don't have enough propellent left in the Messiah to maneuver with. How are we supposed to get back off the surface once we've... once we've gotten down there?::[Fish is silent, and everyone's expression changes knowingly]::Orin Monash: We don't.::Andrea Baker: [smiles briefly] Well, look on the bright side. We'll all have high schools named after us.

Mike Perry: Thank you for your sexual insight, Mr. Thurman. You can sit down now.::Jason: Famous people always get sex, Mr. Perry. That's the main reason it's good to be famous.

Alan Rittenhouse: I know you're just a reporter, but you used to be a person, right?

Spurgeon Tanner: [reading to Oren Monash, blinded and strapped to a bunk in the spacecraft] Well, let's get started. Moby Dick. Chapter One. Call me Ishmael...

[President Beck & Jenny are discussing the upcoming news conference about the comet]::Jenny Lerner: I want exclusivity.::President Beck: Now listen, young lady. This is a presidential favour. I'm letting you go because I don't want another headache. And I'm trusting you because I know what this can do for your career. Now, it may seem like we have each other over the same barrel but it just seems that way.::Jenny Lerner: I want...::President Beck: You want?::Jenny Lerner: May I... May I have the first question?::President Beck: I'll see you Tuesday, Miss Lerner.

Leo Biederman: [to his parents] I have to go back for Sarah.