When his wife and several members of his Seal team are killed, Senior Chief John Kelly (Michael B. Jordon) takes it upon himself to find the killers. But when he discovers that the killings are part of a larger conspiracy - one with global ramifications - he is forced to work with the government in order to catch the real culprit.
Amazon expands on the Tom Clancy universe they established with the John Krasinski led Jack Ryan, by introducing one of his well-known allies; John Kelly (A.K.A. John Clark). However, Ryan is more analyst than action man (certainly at first, anyway), whereas Kelly is an 'operator', and his entrance into this world is slightly more explosive. Despite being more of a blunt instrument, Kelly is intuitive and resourceful, something Jordan carries well. A scene involving Kelly posing as a drunk is a perfect example of this (even if the costume department didn't dirty him up enough). The actor also brings an intensity and determination to the role, making it easy to believe he is capable of everything he is seen to be doing. Teaming him with Jodie Turner-Smith was an excellent move, the two are formidable together, and the bond they share feels authentic. As Kelly's superior, it's also fun watching Turner-Smith's 'Lieutenant Commander Karen Greer' boss him around.
Taylor Sheridan and Will Staples have done a good job of updating the story. Bringing things into the 21st century, there are more than a few plot elements that feel at least relevant to the world we find ourselves living in. The problem is it's all a bit predictable. Every twist is easy to see coming, Jamie Bell and Guy Pearce are pretty much wasted, and when you add a heavy case of "fridging" you're left with a fairly mediocre plot. It doesn't help that the ending (including the mid-credits scene) felt incredibly rushed. There are several developments crammed so close together it feels like the filmmakers weren't told the run time had to be under two hours. Then there's that mid-credits scene which totally changes the end of the movie, in fact it feels like it should be the trailer for the sequel rather than something tacked on the end of this movie - although it does promise something far more interesting. Luckily Without Remorse is very action-heavy, maybe not enough to make up for the plot failings, but some great action all the same. Every scene is brilliantly choreographed, and in that way it all looks very believable - some scenes are actually quite tense. It certainly helps that Jordan and Turner-Smith did most of their own stunts, they also look like they know what they're doing throughout, all of which helps maintain that authenticity.
Despite its failings however, the two main characters are very likeable, and it will be interesting to see where they take them in the future, including how they will connect with the Jack Ryan TV show. Turner-Smith's character already shares a familial link with the show (something that's definitely worth exploring), and Kelly/Clark has already shared an interesting relationship with Ryan in past movies. The prospect of Michael B. Jordan and Jodie Turner-Smith working with John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce is definitely attractive. It would also make for an interesting reunion between Jordan and Pierce after their time together on The Wire. So even though Without Remorse isn't ground-breaking, it is the start of something promising.
A fairly decent action movie that is let down by a weak and predictable plot. That said, it should prove fun to see what the future holds for Kelly and Greer.
6/10
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