No Regrets for Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse

The Stream: A generic plot with generic supporting characters could derail the movie.
The Big Screen: Great action sequences throughout keep the energy up.
The Final Bill: A great action flick to begin the summer movie season.
– Trip Fontaine
Director: Stefano Sollima
Writers: Taylor Sheridan (screenplay by), Will Staples (screenplay by) | 3 more credits »
Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Jamie Bell | See full cast & crew »
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Platform: Prime Video (April 30, 2021)

Usually, summer movie season starts in late May, Memorial Day weekend; but over the years, the summer blockbusters seem to premiere earlier and earlier. On this first weekend of May, I’m calling Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse on Prime Video an early summer movie release. It’s got all of the hallmarks: big-named action star (Michael B. Jordan), explosions and gun fights, and a slick look. Michael B. Jordan hasn’t really headlined a summer blockbuster like this, so let’s see if he makes the most of it.

Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse claims to be an adaptation and an origin story of John Clark, a Navy SEAL, who seeks to avenge his pregnant wife’s murder after a botched mission leads to some secret operatives coming after him and his fellow SEALs. Michael B. Jordan plays John with a singularly focused intensity to figure out what happened and take out those to took his family. This film was written by Taylor Sheridan, who also wrote Hell or High Water and both Sicario movies – with those movies in his filmography, the expectations can be set pretty high for taut action and twisty storytelling.

Without Remorse gives you all of the action you are promised and then some. There are some pretty cool sequences throughout both on land, in water and in the air. Not only is the action good, but it looks great, too. Also, Jordan is such a convincing action star that it’s a wonder that he hasn’t been in these kind of thrillers before. I get that all these actors want to be in Marvel and DC movies, but these flicks need capable stars too. Jordan could corner the market like Liam Neesons has in the old-guy-avenging-his-daughter-movies. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the rest of the cast. They are fine but kind of boring and generic. Anyone could have played these characters as there’s no real personality. No one stand out positively, so it’s barely worth mentioning. They don’t ruin the movie, but they don’t add anything either.

Lastly, the plot is also pretty generic and a little obvious as these Tom Clancy thrillers go. On the other hand, it does suck you in. There are some many tense moments that occur you forget that you already know where it’s going.

Ultimately, Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse is worth a summer movie weekend viewing. Michael B. Jordan is the draw here, and he lives up to the promise. The action is great and the movie sucks you in. Grab you big box of popcorn. You won’t regret it. (See what I did there.)