Part of a brief run of mid-1990s action films anchored by mad bomber narratives, Blown Away is a diverting series of nail-biting sequences which fails to leave a mark. Although the movie was overshadowed by superior efforts like Speed, Kino’s newly released 4K UHD set is a visually and sonically impressive effort that will please fans of the 1994 thriller.
The Production: 3/5
Part of a brief run of mid-1990s action films anchored by mad bomber narratives, Blown Away is a diverting series of nail-biting sequences which fails to leave a mark. Released in 1994 — less than a month after the similarly-themed (and far more effective) blockbuster Speed — the Stephen Hopkins-directed and Boston-set thriller revolves around the cat-and-mouse game between escaped Irish bomber Ryan Gaerity (Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones, sporting a ripe, inconsistent brogue) and hot-shot Boston bomb squad lieutenant Jimmy Dove (Jeff Bridges, whose own Bah-ston accent is so faint as to be non-existent).
Dove’s family and friends are being targeted by fiendishly conceived explosives, and he races against time to sort out the spasms of stochastic violence. Without treading too far into spoiler territory, there is a connection between Dove and Gaerity involving the Troubles, and one man’s relentless quest for retribution — even if it’s never made clear exactly what wrong was committed.
That the main villain’s motivations are so murky only underscores the paint-by-numbers feeling of nearly every character on-screen, whether it’s Bridges’ real-life father Lloyd (whose role as Jimmy Dove’s uncle Max features a chewy Irish accent which has to be heard to be believed), Forest Whitaker’s impulsive new guy, Anthony Franklin, Suzy Amis’s concerned wife Kate or any of the interchangeable, half-dozen other members of the Boston bomb squad. The story (Joe Batteer and John Rice share screenplay credit) feels stapled together from other, better films — moments that are meant to land with significant emotional force don’t, only because Blown Away tends to treat its characters as walking cliches, rather than credible individuals.
Still, for all its many shortcomings, Blown Away, thanks to the commitment of its cast and the skill of its director, cinematographer (Peter Levy) and special effects team (led by William D. Harrison and John Palmer), musters some truly harrowing moments, beginning with the opening sequence set in a MIT computer lab, as Dove must defuse a machine rigged to explode if the terrified woman at the keyboard stops typing.
Elsewhere, a hair-raising interlude at the Dove family home spikes the adrenaline, as does the sequence where Whitaker’s character Franklin discovers his headphones have been weaponized (it’s worth noting this portion has been altered from its original theatrical release: Instead of Aretha Franklin, a generic replacement is heard here and dialogue has been unartfully edited, although the English subtitles reflect the original line).
The grand climax aboard a disused ocean liner, as Gaerity and Dove grapple amid Rube Goldberg-ian explosive devices, is an absurd and fitting summation of Blown Away’s reach exceeding its grasp — the operatic sight of a brooding, bloodied bomber swallowed by fire feels silly instead of striking, an attempt to infuse slick Hollywood action with soul-by-proxy and coming up with nothing but ash.
Video: 5/5
3D Rating: NA
Blown Away makes its UHD debut with a sharp-looking 2.35:1 image, additionally enhanced by Dolby Vision. Per Kino, its 2160p transfer was taken from the original 35mm camera negative, which was scanned at 4K, and given a Dolby Vision/HDR grade. Black levels are rock solid, colors are accurately reproduced — all those billowing fireballs are rich with gradations of orange — and while there is no visible grain (apart from some fleeting glimpses during the opening credits’ opticals), Blown Away has a beautiful, period-appropriate filmic look throughout. A Blu-ray disc is also included in the package, and retains a similarly clean, sharp look, although the addition of high dynamic range, which bolsters the image, gives the UHD an edge.
Audio: 4.5/5
Befitting a film full of explosions, Blown Away does not disappoint sonically. Outfitted with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, as well as a DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo track, the numerous sequences of flaming detonations have robust presence and meaty bass, heightening the impact of the visuals. On the dialogue front, those tin-eared Irish and Boston accents are, regrettably, heard clearly throughout. Kino’s UHD also takes care to audibly render the more delicate moments with as much nuance; the film’s opening thunderstorm, crowd scenes and orchestral performances also have pleasing heft and immersive qualities. English SDH subtitles are an option.
Special Features: 4/5
Kino provides a pair of commentary tracks here, available on both the UHD and Blu-ray discs. Director Stephen Hopkins sits for one, providing amiable insight and backstory about the making of the film, while the second, newly created offering features “action film historians” Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, who delve into more context around Blown Away and its cinematic brethren.
The bulk of the bonus features are housed on the Blu-ray disc and include:
“The Making of Blown Away: A Day in the Life of a Bomb Squad” (20:48)
A music video for Joe Cocker and Bekka Bramlett’s “Take Me Home” (4:25)
Blown Away’s theatrical trailer (1:35)
Blown Away TV spots (2:35)
Theatrical trailers for Face/Off, Hard Target, Ronin, Turbulence, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Winter Kills, Black Moon Rising, The Package and The Usual Suspects
Overall: 4/5
Blown Away is a Hollywood blockbuster with a wet fuse. A handful of skillfully staged and nerve-jangling set pieces can’t rescue this film from its weak script and overheated performances. Regardless, Kino’s UHD presentation of this middling 1990s action-thriller should satisfy any fans, as its definitive video and audio presentation are fantastic, and the best the film has looked on home video.
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