Blown Away (1994)

An Irish bomber escapes from prison and targets a member of the Boston bomb squad.

Director:

Stephen Hopkins

Writers:

John Rice (story), Joe Batteer (story)

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones, Suzy Amis

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	Dove
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Gaerity
Suzy Amis	...	Kate
Lloyd Bridges	...	Max
Forest Whitaker	...	Franklin
Stephi Lineburg	...	Lizzy
John Finn	...	Captain Roarke
Caitlin Clarke	...	Rita
Christofer de Oni	...	Cortez (as Chris de Oni)
Loyd Catlett	...	Bama
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Blanket
Lucinda Weist	...	Nancy
Brendan Burns	...	Kevin
Tricia Heine	...	Connie (as Patricia A. Heine)
Josh McLaglen	...	Prison Guard

Storyline

Jimmy Dove works for the bomb squad in Boston and he is always the one who is on the tough jobs. One day he decides to quit the force and to become a teacher for the rookies of the squad. A few days later his former partner is killed by a bomb and Jimmy becomes suspicious that maybe this bomb could have been built by a former friend of himself. He begins to investigate and finds out that his worst nightmare has returned from his past.

---

Plot Keywords:

bomb | irish | prison | ireland | mit | 

---

Taglines:

Boom baby. Sweet dreams.

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and some language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Irish

Release Date:

1 July 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Explosiv

Filming Locations:

Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,424,873, 3 July 1994, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$30,155,037

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM),Trilogy Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR DTS-Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although they are really father and son, Lloyd Bridges and Jeff Bridges are cast as uncle and nephew in the movie.

---

Goofs

When Ryan Gaerity is drinking with Max, he drinks almost half the beer served, but when he picks the glass for another sip, it's almost full again.

---

Quotes

James 'Jimmy' Dove: [On the phone after the lethal explosion] God damn you, Gaerity! Look what you've done!
Ryan Gaerity: You've got me all wrong. I'm not a destroyer... I'm a creator.
James 'Jimmy' Dove: You're not a creator! You're a sick freak - it's what you are!

---

Crazy Credits

This film is dedicated to the memory of Officer Jeremiah J. Hurley of the Boston Bomb Squad, and to the more than Three Thousand Certified Bomb Technicians throughout the world who risk their lives for our safety every day.

---

Alternate Versions

In addition to your normal dialogue and language cuts, the TV version also edits the computer sequence so that the display does not cycle text on part of the monitor, whereas in the original version, there is text in that section, including a b-word used in a context that network TV likely would not have tolerated. Some parts of this sequence are also cropped so that just the typing is visible.

---

Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Sinister Urge (1994)

---

Soundtracks

With or Without You
Written by U2 (Bono (as Paul Hewson), The Edge (as Dave Evans), Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. (as Larry Mullen))
Performed by U2
Courtesy of Island Records Ltd.

User Reviews

Deserved better than it got.

"Blown Away" obviously suffered in comparison to "Speed" since both films were released the same year during the same summer. I never really considered this a pure action film more than a suspense thriller. Things aren't blowing up every 10 minutes and the characters are more deep and interesting here than in a lot of your mindless action romps. I found Jeff Bridges desire to resume a normal life in Boston after his questionable "IRA-like" activities back home in Ireland appealing and his lovely fiancee played by Suzy Amis very likeable. Tommy Lee Jones has a great Irish accent and the lunatic he plays is great fun to watch. Lloyd Bridges as Jeff's uncle and Boston cop Forest Whittaker are equally appealing. My home-town newspaper, "The Dayton Daily News" gave the film 3 stars. I'd say that's about right.

No sequels please!