Without Remorse, directed by Stefano Sollima and starring Michael B. Jordan, is a gritty, action-packed thriller based loosely on Tom Clancy’s 1993 novel. It serves as an origin story for John Clark, one of Clancy’s most famous characters from the Jack Ryan universe.
The Story:
The film follows Navy SEAL John Kelly (later known as John Clark), who seeks revenge after a squad of Russian operatives kills his pregnant wife. As Kelly digs deeper, he uncovers a wider conspiracy that could ignite a war between the U.S. and Russia. The plot combines personal vengeance with espionage drama, though it simplifies much of the political complexity found in Clancy’s original book.
Performances:
Michael B. Jordan carries the film with intensity and physicality. His portrayal of Kelly feels believable — he’s brooding, lethal, but still grounded by human vulnerability. The supporting cast, including Jodie Turner-Smith as Lt. Commander Greer and Jamie Bell as CIA officer Ritter, does well, but their characters often feel underdeveloped compared to Jordan’s.
Action & Direction:
Sollima delivers brutal, well-choreographed action sequences. One standout moment is an intense prison fight scene that Jordan performs mostly without a stunt double. The action feels raw and heavy, avoiding the glossy feel of many recent spy thrillers. However, some viewers felt that outside the action scenes, the pacing could drag and the plotting was overly familiar.
Criticism:
Many fans of the Tom Clancy novels were disappointed by how much the film deviates from the source material — toning down political intrigue for a more straightforward revenge story. Some critics also noted that despite Jordan’s strong performance, the screenplay felt thin, lacking the depth or smart twists expected in a Clancy adaptation.
Overall:
Without Remorse is a solid if not exceptional military thriller. It’s elevated by Michael B. Jordan’s charisma and some hard-hitting action scenes, but it doesn’t quite live up to the high bar set by other Clancy-inspired works. It’s a good watch if you’re in the mood for an intense action movie, but maybe not if you’re looking for a complex spy thriller.