Hard Rain (1998) **

Solid actioner set in a small town during a terrible flood. Non-stop action, nice surprises, a great cameo by Golden Girl Betty White and plenty of moral ambiguities (heroic villains, dastardly heroes). It's a rare Hollywood action flick that's more impressive for its complex characterization than for special effects or gunfights. We should credit screenwriter Graham Yost, who also penned "Speed" and "Broken Arrow".