The film is wonderfully acted, truly in ensemble. Pacino's character lives in those vibrant brown eyes of his.

It's a rewarding, richly detailed film -- not only the best work Sidney Lumet has ever done but also possibly the most perceptive movie ever made on the intriguing subject of New York City's collapse.

True the incident may have been, but Pierson, Lumet, Pacino and company have packed more art into the replaying of it than the last dozen works of pure film fiction anybody is likely to have seen.

"Day" refuses to be classified. Comedy, drama, adventure, suspense -- it's all of them.