Blown Away (1994)

28% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
45% of users liked it
(31,098 ratings)

Opening within one month from each other in 1994, Blown Away invited many comparisons to Speed. Both are pyrotechnical displays involving mad bombers and a multitude of flying building debris and body parts. The cop and the mad bomber in this one are Jimmy Dove (Jeff Bridges), a veteran of the… More Opening within one month from each other in 1994, Blown Away invited many comparisons to Speed. Both are pyrotechnical displays involving mad bombers and a multitude of flying building debris and body parts. The cop and the mad bomber in this one are Jimmy Dove (Jeff Bridges), a veteran of the Boston Bomb Squad planning to retire from the force, and Ryan Gaerity (Tommy Lee Jones), a revenge-crazed explosives expert who has recently escaped from a detention center in Northern Ireland. It seems that Gaerity is out to get Jimmy and has been nursing his grudge for the past twenty years. Back in his Irish past, Jimmy, then known as Liam, was a student of Gaerity, who constructed bombing devices for the IRA. But when Gaerity's bombing plans included the killing of innocent civilians, Liam opposed him and thwarted his efforts. As a result, Liam escaped to the United States to become Jimmy, and Gaerity was arrested and sent to prison. But now that Gaerity is out of jail, he is traveling to Boston to wreak havoc upon the city in revenge for what Jimmy has done to him. His plan is to create so many bombings in Boston that the bomb squad's strength will be depleted, allowing him to get to Jimmy and his family. The goal? Blowing up Jimmy's wife (Suzy Amis) and stepdaughter at a Boston Pops concert. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 1 min.
Directed By: Stephen Hopkins
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jul 1, 1994 Wide
On DVD: May 15, 2001
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Beth Accomando, KPBS.org
No one will be blown away by this formula thriller.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
One of the better suspense thrillers of the early 90's
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Someone should tell director Stephen Hopkins that 'action thrillers' require one small ingredient--action.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
you won't be
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Annoyingly bereft of the whiz-bang action that a movie like this desperately needs. Still, Quaid does a darn good job.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jens S

Excellent action thriller starring Tommy Lee Jones as wonderfully crazy bomber and Jeff Bridges as bomb squad member with a past. While the mad bomber is taking out one after another of the hero's squad team with some really mean explosive devices the main character is struggling… More
Excellent action thriller starring Tommy Lee Jones as wonderfully crazy bomber and Jeff Bridges as bomb squad member with a past. While the mad bomber is taking out one after another of the hero's squad team with some really mean explosive devices the main character is struggling with his history. Sure, there are some stereotypes about Irish people in America covered here and not all characters are as round and interesting but it's still pretty damn exciting to follow the bomber's path of destruction and the booby traps and chain reactions he builds. The showdown on an old casino ship is simply spectacular. One of the most exciting action thrillers of the 90s with a pretty good soundtrack, too.
Ginny

Not bad at all. The soundtrack was filled with U2 songs and it was quite fun to watch someone in the cast sing and 'dance' to it. Tommy Lee Jones plays the role of the mad Irish bomber who just got out of prison and has decided to target members of the Boston Police bomb… More
Not bad at all. The soundtrack was filled with U2 songs and it was quite fun to watch someone in the cast sing and 'dance' to it. Tommy Lee Jones plays the role of the mad Irish bomber who just got out of prison and has decided to target members of the Boston Police bomb squad, it just so happens that Jeff Bridges is about to retire from the bomb squad and settle down. Forest Whitaker plays the fresh, cocky sob in the bomb disarmament unit. An ok action flick riddled with just enough rubes, clues and explosions. Superb acting from Tommy Lee and Jeff Bridges. Everyone loves a hero. But who is it gonna be? ;)
Anthony L

Tommy Lee Jones, Forest Whitaker and Bridges & Son performances make it a worth while watch!
Bruce B

Where was I when this movie came out? To me a hidden all star film. This Movie is loaded with Stars, Jeff and Lloyd Bridges a father and son team from Ireland, Jeff is a ex IRA Bomber who is now on Boston's Bomb Squad, Until bad guy Tommy Lee Jones shows up, and he plays the… More
Where was I when this movie came out? To me a hidden all star film. This Movie is loaded with Stars, Jeff and Lloyd Bridges a father and son team from Ireland, Jeff is a ex IRA Bomber who is now on Boston's Bomb Squad, Until bad guy Tommy Lee Jones shows up, and he plays the expert bomb maker who is crazy and after Jeff Bridges for past wrongs. Forest Whitaker plays a new member of the bomb squad who sits around and figures just whets up with Jeff and what it is he's hiding from his past. Suzy Amis plays Jeff?s new wife and has come along way from her starting role in Miami Vice. Full of action, chase scenes and thrills, my only question how did they run electricity to a abandon ship ????? Still no less then 5 stars.
Tim S

Yeah, I said it! Look, I'm jobless and I have writer's block, so I watch a lot of basic cable. Yeah, this movie is predictable as hell, but, it makes more sense than Speed and nobody has a better time chewing scenery as a villan than Tommy Lee Jones. And to watch the late,… More
Yeah, I said it! Look, I'm jobless and I have writer's block, so I watch a lot of basic cable. Yeah, this movie is predictable as hell, but, it makes more sense than Speed and nobody has a better time chewing scenery as a villan than Tommy Lee Jones. And to watch the late, great Lloyd Bridges pull off (slightly) an Irish accent made me smile. Oh, and watching Forrest Whitaker try to pull off a Boston accent is pretty funny, too.
Dean M

Creditable, intriguing thriller with a great deal of suspense. Tommy Lee Jones holds this good, but not great film together with another strong villainous performance.
xGary X

Ineptly directed tosh that's strictly film-making by numbers, populated with stereotypes and laughable oirish accents. A box of fireworks would have considerably greater entertainment value.
Khris N

This movie is undderated - stuff the critics - Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones are aces!! And for U2 fans: the soundtrack of the movie has U2'z the Joshua Tree running right through it!!! Talk about a superb soundtrack....
Lee K

good thriller starring tommy lee jones