Without Remorse
Promotional release poster
Directed byStefano Sollima
Written by
Based onWithout Remorse
by Tom Clancy
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPhilippe Rousselot
Edited byMatthew Newman[1]
Music byJónsi[2]
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon Studios
Release date
  • April 30, 2021 (2021-04-30)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Without Remorse (also known as Tom Clancy's Without Remorse) is a 2021 American action thriller film based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Tom Clancy. It is directed by Stefano Sollima and written by Taylor Sheridan and Will Staples, and stars Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Luke Mitchell, Jack Kesy, Brett Gelman, Lauren London, Colman Domingo and Guy Pearce. The plot follows John Kelly, a U.S. Navy SEAL who sets out on a path of revenge after his pregnant wife and unit members are killed by Russian hitmen.

The film had been in development since the novel was published in 1993, with various actors, including Keanu Reeves and Tom Hardy, approached for the role of Kelly. After over 20 years in development hell, Jordan was announced as the lead role in September 2018, and Sheridan was hired to rewrite a script originally written in the 1990s. Filming began in Berlin in October 2019, and completed production in October 2020.

Without Remorse was originally produced and set for a theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, but was delayed and then acquired by Amazon Studios, who digitally released on Prime Video on April 30, 2021. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Jordan's performance but called the film generic.

Plot

In Aleppo, Syria, a team of US Navy SEALs, including Senior Chief Petty Officer John Kelly, rescue a CIA operative taken hostage by a suspected pro-Assad paramilitary group. The situation escalates as the SEALs discover that the captors are actually Russian military, which CIA officer Robert Ritter denies. Three months later, in apparent retaliation for their role in the mission, several members of the team are covertly killed by Russian FSB operatives. Kelly's pregnant wife Pam is murdered when the Russians break into their house. Kelly kills all but one of the attackers before being rushed to the hospital with near-fatal wounds.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Kelly's SEAL team leader and friend, Lt. Commander Karen Greer, meets with Ritter and Secretary of Defense Thomas Clay to discuss how the FSB discovered the SEALs' identities and review their response options. Leaked news of Russia's unprecedented attack on American soil has caused the already-strained relationship between the two nations to sour further, possibly causing a new cold war. The CIA refuses to conduct an investigation into the murders, motivating Greer to pass confidential information to Kelly.

Healed from his injuries, Kelly tracks down the Russian diplomat who issued the passports to the FSB operatives, and forces him to give up the name of the surviving assassin before killing him. Incarcerated for murder, Kelly bargains his way out by revealing the escaped operative is Victor Rykov, an ex-Spetznaz officer who is hiding in Murmansk, Russia. Despite Greer's objections, Clay allows Kelly to participate in Rykov's capture on the condition that Kelly serves his sentence after the mission.

Kelly flies to Murmansk with Greer and a CIA black ops team, planning to HALO jump into Russia. Intercepted and attacked by a Russian fighter, their plane crashes into the Barents Sea. Kelly dives into the wreckage to recover essential equipment, including a zodiac boat. The team arrives in Murmansk and finds Ritter, whom Kelly suspects is to blame for the intelligence leaks. Ritter swears he is not responsible and leads the team to Rykov. Kelly goes off mission to confront Rykov, finding him wearing a suicide vest and learns that he is a deep cover CIA asset. Rykov detonates his vest, killing himself as the team becomes pinned down by sniper fire. As police arrive, the team realizes that the mission was a set-up to have American soldiers killed on Russian soil to start a war.

Kelly volunteers to cover the team's escape; since he is a convicted murderer, his death could be plausibly denied. Kelly buys the team time to reach safety but is badly injured. He then uses an explosion as cover to steal a police uniform and hijacks an ambulance to escape. Kelly and the surviving team members leave the country by boat. Ritter officially reports Kelly as dead, allowing Kelly to hunt for the traitor.

Back in D.C., Kelly confronts Clay and forces him into his car. After Kelly threatens Clay's family, he confesses to being behind the intelligence leaks and orchestrating the conflict between the U.S. and Russia, intending to start a war with Russia to boost the economy and unite the American people against a common enemy. Kelly drives the car over a bridge and lets it sink to the bottom of the Potomac River, drowning Clay. Kelly escapes with a recording of the confession, with the help of Greer, who was waiting in the river with diving gear. At Washington Union Station, Greer gives Kelly a new identity provided by Ritter, he leaves to begin his new life as "John Clark".

One year later, Clark meets with Ritter, newly promoted to deputy director, and proposes the creation of a multinational counter-terrorism team, codename: Rainbow.[lower-alpha 1]

Cast

Production

Savoy Pictures first bought the film rights to Without Remorse soon after the novel was released, for $2.5 million.[3] At one point, Keanu Reeves was offered the role as John Kelly for $7 million but declined.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] The film went under development hell for years until Christopher McQuarrie signed on with Paramount Pictures to direct the adaptation in 2012.[7] Tom Hardy was approached by Paramount to play Kelly, 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 did not happen.[8]

In 2017, it was announced that Akiva Goldsman signed on with the same studio to produce another film adaptation starring Clark, Rainbow Six.[9] On September 20, 2018, Michael B. Jordan was announced to be playing the character in a two-part film series, which will be composed of Without Remorse and Rainbow Six and produced by Goldsman, Jordan, Josh Appelbaum, and Andre Nemec.[10] In December 2018, Stefano Sollima was hired to direct the film.[11] On January 9, 2019, Variety announced that Taylor Sheridan would rewrite the screenplay.[12]

In September 2019, Jamie Bell and Jodie Turner-Smith were cast, with Luke Mitchell, Jacob Scipio, Cam Gigandet, Jack Kesy, Todd Lasance and Brett Gelman joining in October.[13][14][15][16][17]

Filming began in Berlin on October 25, 2019.[18] Some filming was scheduled to begin on December 19 near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.[19] The film possibly completed filming in Los Angeles on October 19, 2020.[20]

Jónsi composed the film score. Paramount Music has released the soundtrack, coinciding with the film's release.[2]

Release

Without Remorse was originally scheduled to be released on September 18, 2020, by Paramount Pictures,[21] but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed to October 2, 2020,[22] and again to February 26, 2021.[23] In July 2020, Amazon Studios entered talks to acquire the distribution rights to the film and release it digitally on Amazon Prime Video.[24] Paramount officially took the film off its theatrical release calendar in November 2020.[25] The film was teased in Amazon's commercial featuring Alexa and Jordan made for Super Bowl LV.[26]

The film was released on Prime Video on April 30, 2021.[27] According to Samba TV, the film was watched in 4.8 million households in its first 30 days of release.[28]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 45% approval rating based on 191 reviews, with an average score of 5.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Despite a commanding performance from Michael B. Jordan, Without Remorse fails to escape its outdated patriotic tropes and forced franchise place settings."[29] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 41 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[30]

The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney called the film "pacey and punchy, buoyed by its magnetic lead" and wrote: "The result is a solid entry in the Clancy screen canon — gritty, briskly paced, laced with vigorously choreographed fight scenes, explosive weapons action and twisty political intrigue that seems prescient as it taps into the most strained period in U.S.-Russian relations since the Cold War."[31]

Randy Meyers of The Mercury News wrote, "Without Remorse improves on its source material and delivers a satisfyingly sleek and ultra-violent spy thriller."[32] Owen Gleiberman of Variety called the film "...a lively formulaic action-hero origin story, dunked in combat grunge, that demonstrates how a resourceful lead actor can bend and heighten the meaning of a commercial thriller."[33]

Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail wrote, "Without Remorse is a half-hearted attempt to exfiltrate an espionage brand that just won't come in from the cold. If you like your shootouts generic, your characters disposable, and your plot twists as predictable as airport newsstand merchandise, then have I got the far-from-impossible mission for you."[34] David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a grade of C− and said: "Without Remorse doesn't understand the role it's meant to serve as the foundation of a potential franchise. It's a movie locked in a tedious custody battle between legacy and potential, too safe to whet appetites for what's to come while also too sequel-oriented to stand on its own two legs."[35]

Anupama Chopra of Film Companion wrote, "The action is fierce and relentless. The body count is high. But it isn't seductive."[36]

Sequel

In September 2018, Jordan's selection to play Kelly was reported to serve as an origin story for the character before he would appear in a sequel, based on Clancy's Rainbow Six novel.[10]

In January 2023, the film adaptation was officially greenlit and entered development. Chad Stahelski will serve as director, with Jordan reprising his role from the previous movie, with the plot centering around Jordan's character commanding a multi-country anti-terrorist squad, against an international conspiracy. Additionally Jordan is a producer, alongside Akiva Goldsman, Greg Lessans, Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Elizabeth Raposo. The project will be distributed by Paramount with the studio developing Rainbow Six for theatrical release. The film will also be a joint-venture production between Paramount, Outlier Society, Weed Road Pictures, The Saw Mill Productions, and 87Eleven Entertainment. Principal photography is expected to commence as Stahelski's next project, following the release of John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).[37][38][39][40]

Notes

  1. ↑ i.e. the team from Rainbow Six.

References

  1. ↑ "Iconic Editorial Opens With Academy Award-Winning Editors". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Jónsi Scoring Stefano Sollima's 'Without Remorse'". Film Music Reporter. February 1, 2021. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  3. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 7, 2012). "Paramount Confirms Christopher McQuarrie Taking On Tom Clancy's 'Without Remorse'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  4. ↑ Fretts, Bruce (August 19, 1994). "Harrison Ford takes on Tom Clancy...again". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Clancy, Milius: military minds 'Without Remorse'". Variety. August 7, 1995. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  6. ↑ Busch, Anita M. "Savoy Without 'Remorse'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  7. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 7, 2012). "Paramount Confirms Christopher McQuarrie Taking On Tom Clancy's 'Without Remorse'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  8. ↑ Vejvoda, Jim (August 21, 2012). "Is Tom Hardy Without Remorse?". IGN. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 11, 2017). "Akiva Goldsman To Paramount; 'Rainbow Six', 'Ologies' & 'Avengelyne'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  10. 1 2 Kroll, Justin (September 20, 2018). "Michael B. Jordan to Play Tom Clancy Character John Clark". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  11. ↑ Kroll, Justin (December 5, 2018). "'Sicario 2' Filmmaker to Direct Michael B. Jordan in 'Without Remorse' Adaptation (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  12. ↑ Kroll, Justin (January 9, 2019). "Taylor Sheridan to Rewrite Michael B. Jordan's 'Without Remorse' (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  13. ↑ Kroll, Justin (September 17, 2019). "Jamie Bell Joins Michael B. Jordan in 'Without Remorse' Adaptation (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  14. ↑ Kroll, Justin (September 18, 2019). "'Queen and Slim' Star Jodie Turner-Smith Joins Michael B. Jordan in 'Without Remorse' (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  15. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 1, 2019). "'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Luke Mitchell Boards Paramount's Tom Clancy Pic 'Without Remorse'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  16. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 4, 2019). "Paramount Tom Clancy Pic 'Without Remorse' Enlists Four For Michael B. Jordan's Navy SEAL Team". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Brett Gelman Joins Michael B. Jordan in 'Without Remorse' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. October 18, 2019. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  18. ↑ "BER-Baustelle ist wieder Filmkulisse". berlin.de. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  19. ↑ Gaskins, Nikki (December 16, 2019). "Movie Filming To Shut Down Several DC Roads, Police Say". Patch. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  20. ↑ Robb, David (October 19, 2020). "FilmLA Says 17 Movies, TV Series & Reality Shows Are Shooting On Location Or Recently Wrapped In L.A." Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  21. ↑ Couch, Aaron (February 4, 2019). "Michael B. Jordan's 'Without Remorse' Sets 2020 Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  22. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (April 22, 2020). "Michael B. Jordan's 'Without Remorse' Snaps Up New Fall 2020 Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  23. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 26, 2020). "Paramount Moves 'Without Remorse' To 2021". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  24. ↑ Lang, Brent (July 23, 2020). "Amazon Nears Deal for Michael B. Jordan's 'Without Remorse' (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  25. ↑ Beresford, Trilby (November 13, 2020). "Paramount Pictures Takes Michael B. Jordan Pic 'Without Remorse,' 'Micronauts' Off 2021 Release Calendar". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Michael B. Jordan's Becomes Alexa in Amazon's Super Bowl Ad". ScreenCrush. February 2, 2021. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  27. ↑ Kit, Borys (February 8, 2021). "Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society Signs Film Deal With Amazon". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  28. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 3, 2022). "With Tentpoles Bound To Surge The 2022 Box Office, The Great Theatrical-Streaming Day & Date Experiment Goes Out Like A Dud In 2021". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Tom Clancy's Without Remorse (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Tom Clancy's Without Remorse Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  31. ↑ Rooney, David (April 28, 2021). "'Tom Clancy: Without Remorse': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  32. ↑ "New movies: Michael B. Jordan's a classic Clancy hero". The Mercury News. April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  33. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (April 28, 2021). "'Tom Clancy's Without Remorse' Review: A Ferocious Michael B. Jordan Reheats the Cold War". Variety. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  34. ↑ Hertz, Barry (April 28, 2021). "Tom Clancy's Without Remorse is a clear and present danger to Michael B. Jordan's career". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  35. ↑ Ehrlich, David (April 28, 2021). "'Tom Clancy's Without Remorse' Review: Michael B. Jordan's Thriller Lacks Intrigue and Fun". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  36. ↑ Chopra, Anupama (April 30, 2021). "Without Remorse, On Prime Video, Is A Sleek But Standard Spectacle Anchored By A Charismatic Hero". Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  37. ↑ Kit, Borys (January 17, 2023). "Chad Stahelski to Direct Michael B. Jordan in Paramount's 'Rainbow Six' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  38. ↑ Grobar, Matt (January 17, 2023). "'John Wick's Chad Stahelski Tapped To Helm Michael B. Jordan-Led 'Rainbow Six' For Paramount". Deadline. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  39. ↑ London, Rob (January 17, 2023). "'Rainbow Six': Michael B. Jordan to Lead Chad Stahelski's 'Without Remorse' Sequel". Collider. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  40. ↑ White, James (January 17, 2023). "Michael B. Jordan On For Rainbow Six, With John Wick's Chad Stahelski Directing". Empire. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
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