Without Remorse (2021)

Directed by: Stefano Sollima | 109 minutes | action, adventure | Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Jamie Bell, Guy Pearce, Lauren London, Jacob Scipio, Todd Lasance, Jack Kesy, Lucy Russell, Cam Gigandet, Luke Mitchell, Artjom Gilz, Brett Gelman, Merab Ninidze, Alexander Mercury

‘Without Remorse’ is a contemporary thriller according to a tried and tested recipe. By analogy with the novel by Tom Clancy (including ‘Patriot Games’), we meet a black Navy SEAL with a personal reckoning in the family atmosphere. The tension in the worries of this John Clark (Jordan) is that he is not supported in his troubles by the country he serves. On the contrary, when he is arrested for revenge, he awaits treatment from a dark-skinned delinquent, with the known side effects.

What’s next, without spoilers? Clark is an experienced commando who knows how to handle captivity. He finds a loyal partner in his ‘boss’ Karen (Turner-Smith), because (spoiler) the murder of his wife and finding the culprits are intertwined. Actually, we’re almost done, but that would make this review too short. The pacing in this Amazon Original is as fitting as it is throbbing; the acting is no more than decent. This isn’t a top thriller, especially since it lacks a Will Smith or Denzel Washington.

Turner-Smith (“Queen & Slim”) is the intended counterweight to Jordan (“Black Panther”) in the film, as Tommie Lee Jones can be in comparable productions. Turner-Smith is not, however, a rough-and-tumble white spunk like Jones or an authority like Judi Dench in recent Bond films – rather a potential romantic interest. ‘Without Remorse’ simply has too little weight and star power to keep you interested. That makes this film a somewhat obligatory standard product, although the principles after Clancy’s novel are worthwhile and the action is entertaining.