Film Review: "Tom Clancy's Without Remorse" (2021).

"From the author of Rainbow Six" comes Tom Clancy's Without Remorse. This action thriller film directed by Stefano Sollima adapted by Taylor Sheridan and Will Staples, and based loosely based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Tom Clancy. An elite Navy SEAL uncovers an international conspiracy while seeking justice for the murder of his pregnant wife in Without Remorse, the explosive origin story of action hero John Clark – one of the most popular characters in author Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan universe.

In 1993, after the novel's publication, Savoy Pictures first bought the film rights for $2.5 million. Although the film failed to meet its expected December 1995 release date, it was fast tracked after John Milius joined the production with the intent to write and direct the film, working in close consultation with the original book's author Tom Clancy. Variety magazine reported that Laurence Fishburne and Gary Sinise were later attached to star in the adaptation; however, production was shut down for script problems and financial woes with the production company. The film went under development hell for years until Christopher McQuarrie signed on with Paramount Pictures to direct the adaptation in 2012. Tom Hardy was approached by Paramount to play Clark, and Kevin Costner was slated to reprise his role as mentor William Harper from another Clancy-based film, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), but this version was most likely scrapped. In 2017, it was announced that Akiva Goldsman signed on to produce a film adaptation of Rainbow Six. In late September 2018, Michael B. Jordan was announced to be playing Clark in a two-part film series, which will be composed of Without Remorse and Rainbow Six. In December 2018, Sollima was hired to direct. In early January 2019, Variety announced that Taylor Sheridan would rewrite the script. By late October, Jamie Bell, Jack Kesy, Colman Domingo, Guy Pearce and Cam Gigandet rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late October 2020. Filming took place at Studio Babelsberg, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany, as well as Santa Clarita, California and Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Paramount Pictures originally scheduled the film for a September 18, 2020, but delayed to October 2, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and again to February 26, 2021. In July 2020, Amazon Studios entered talks to acquire the distribution rights to the film and release it digitally on Prime Video.

The film stars Jordan, Bell, Kesy, Domingo, Pearce and Gigandet. The actors, especially Jordan, really carry this film. Jordan is so good in this and the action so compelling that you almost forget how over the top and problematic the story is. Almost.

The film is engrossing in a very direct action way. But there are enough hot button issues floating around in this movie that I was hoping for something more than just a glorified "blow things up real big" action movie. While it wouldn't be fair to advise potential viewers to just say no to the film, it would be acceptable to recommend that they approach it with lofty expectations held in check.

Simon says Tom Clancy's Without Remorse receives:

Also, see my review for Sicario: Day of the Soldado.