An elegant rejoinder to a tired genre, a consummate work of screen adaptation, and further evidence that there is precious little Sean Penn can't achieve on film, whether before or behind the lens.
The Pledge (2001)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:117
Fresh:90
Rotten:27
Average Rating:6.8/10
Consensus: Though its subject matter is grim and may make viewers queasy, The Pledge features an excellent, subtle performance by Jack Nicholson.
Runtime: 2 hrs 4 mins
Genre: Dramas
US Box Office: $18,894,185
Synopsis: Director Sean Penn's (THE INDIAN RUNNER, THE CROSSING GUARD) third film features Jack Nicholson as Jerry Black, a retired detective whose final case ultimately causes his slow descent into madness.... Director Sean Penn's (THE INDIAN RUNNER, THE CROSSING GUARD) third film features Jack Nicholson as Jerry Black, a retired detective whose final case ultimately causes his slow descent into madness. In the midst of his retirement party, Black decides to join Detective Stan Krolak (Aaron Eckhart) on one last case. The molested body of an eight-year-old girl is found in the Nevada mountains. When the chief suspect turns out to be a mentally challenged Native American (Benicio Del Toro), Black is not convinced of his guilt despite his confession. Unable to forget the promise he made to the dead girl's mother that he would find her daughter's killer, Black becomes determined to catch a monster that no one else believes is out there. His resolve increases when he realizes that two similar unsolved murders occurred in the same area in recent years, and the case hits closer to home when Black befriends Lori (Robin Wright Penn), a waitress with a threatening ex-husband, and her eight-year old daughter, Chrissy (Pauline Roberts). Nicholson is compelling in this study of a man whose obsession slowly eats away at his sanity as he attempts to keep his promise by any means necessary. [More]
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright Penn, Patricia Clarkson, Benicio Del Toro
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright Penn, Patricia Clarkson, Benicio Del Toro, Dale Dickey, Aaron Eckhart, Costas Mandylor, Helen Mirren, Tom Noonan, Michael O'Keefe, Pauline Roberts, Vanessa Redgrave, Mickey Rourke, Sam Shepard, Lois Smith, Harry Dean Stanton
Director: Sean Penn
Director: Sean Penn
Screenwriter: Jerzy Kromolowski, Mary Olson-Kromolowski
Producer: Michael Fitzgerald, Sean Penn, Elie Samaha
Composer: Hans Zimmer, Klaus Badelt
Studio: Warner Bros.
Reviews for The Pledge
Penn, unafraid, strategically uses visuals that hack directors don't even know how to approach.
Penn's past directing gigs...are the work of a tortured soul; The Pledge was guided by a tortured artist.
...a resolutely low-key and solidly unconventional exercise in frustration.
The film is more exciting that watching paint dry, however, because of great work by some very talented actors.
It is a story that is designed to frustrate those looking for easy answers and a neat wrap-up.
This is one of Nicholson's finest performances and that's saying one hell of a lot.
Any opportunity to see Jack Nicholson when he's not on autopilot is exciting.
A film that – warts and all – is going to be far more interesting to talk about in future years than 90 minutes of gunfights would have been.
There's not enough payoff at the end of The Pledge, following so much build-up, but the story still maintains enough interest and suspense to keep viewers tuned in.
Latest News for The Pledge
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 68% 68% | Sherlock Holmes | 26/12 |
| 40% 40% | The Lovely Bones | 26/12 |
| 100% 100% | The French Kissers | 26/12 |
| 85% 85% | Bright Star | 26/12 |
| 87% 87% | Nowhere Boy | 26/12 |
| 18% 18% | Alvin and the Chipmunk… | 26/12 |
| 11% 11% | Did You Hear About the… | 26/12 |
| 05% 05% | Old Dogs | 26/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- The Pledge at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Pledge at IGN
- The Pledge at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Movieline gets bravely swept away with the recycled refuse of the 2000s.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

We're giving away a bunch of stuff from the upcoming Squeakquel.



Top Critic


