Blown Away MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

Boston police bomb squad expert Lt. Jimmy Dove (Jeff Bridges) is retiring and marrying Kate (Suzi Amis), a concert violinist. His plans for a peaceful retirement are delayed when Ryan Gaerity (Tommy Lee Jones) escapes from an Irish prison. In his idealistic youth, Dove was Liam McGivney and a colleague of Gaerity's in Ireland. When a bombing they planned went wrong, Gaerity's sister, who was Dove's girlfriend, was killed. Gaerity was imprisoned and McGivney came to the United States, became Dove, and devoted himself to disposing of bombs rather than creating them. Now free, Gaerity comes to Boston and begins to exact his revenge by systematically attempting to blow up people who mean something to Dove: his co-workers on the bomb squad, lifelong friend Max (Lloyd Bridges), and of course Katy and her daughter Lizzie. BLOWN AWAY is a very good looking movie with almost non-stop action and suspense. The scenes with close-ups of the inner workings of the deadly machinery are riveting.

This film easily earns its R rating, with graphic violence and excessive foul language being the primary detractors. Gaerity stabs his cellmate to death before he escapes. We see the moderately bloody aftermath of a college student's handgun suicide. Although several people are blown away, we are spared the heavy-duty gore, seeing just charred bodies. Interestingly, this R rated movie lacks any sexual behavior or suggestive dialogue. Still, despite its good looks and well-woven suspense, BLOWN AWAY's violence and considerable offensive language make it a candidate to stay away from.

Preview Reviewer: Pete Zimowski
Distributor: MGM, 10000 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232