The Pledge

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The Pledge

R

2001

2h 4m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

125 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

On the day of his retirement, detective Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) accepts a gift -- an airline ticket to Mexico. But when the body of a murdered eight-year-old girl is discovered in the mountains, Jerry offers his expertise at the crime scene. When an ambitious younger cop wrenches a dubious confession from a simple-minded suspect, the case is closed... but not for Jerry.

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Critics Consensus

Though its subject matter is grim and may make viewers queasy, The Pledge features an excellent, subtle performance by Jack Nicholson.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

11/06/2002

3.5/4

Mystery-thriller buffs, promise yourselves that you'll see The Pledge. And while you're at it, be sure to invite along Jack Nicholson fans and anyone who saw the first two movies that Sean Penn directed.

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Peter Rainer

New York Magazine/Vulture

09/26/2002

Penn can't be faulted for his work with the actors. Most of the featured players have only a scene or two, but they're indelible.

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Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

03/22/2002

2.5/4

Ultimately, the payoffs just aren't there, either psychologically or dramatically.

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

03/05/2021

Penn has accommodated himself to the political and artistic status quo in an unfortunate manner.

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PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

12/02/2018

4/5

Penn intrinsically understands that there can be no epiphanies nor catharsis, as important portents and clues go unanswered as Black drifts into the mire of his obsession.

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Blake Howard

Graffiti With Punctuation

04/09/2017

4/5

It's "one last ride" for our leading character Jerry Black (Nicholson), until he abandons the case and retires. It examines a man trying to relinquish his deduction instincts in exchange for a slippery grip on a 'normal' life.

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Jeff S

@UncleJules 3h

The cast makes the film worth watching, Beautifully shot, I'd have taken another couple passes through the internal logic of the script. Might have been great.

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Dean S.

@DeanDFW 18h

Good script and great acting: predictable u til it’s not, great ending.

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Mar 13

The Pledge starring Jack Nicholson is an older thriller that I honestly never expected to watch, and I didn’t even realize it existed for a long time. Surprisingly, the film is put together quite well. The story is engaging, though it leans heavily on extended dialogue that can make certain parts feel slow and a bit overwhelming. At times the pacing feels like it’s drowning in conversation, but it never becomes so tedious that you want to turn it off. The screenplay could have been tightened to appeal more to a modern audience, especially since many viewers today prefer faster storytelling. Still, the film holds its own for its time. Nicholson delivers a strong, commanding performance that keeps the story grounded. Overall, The Pledge is a decent and thoughtful thriller. It may feel slow at times, but it remains interesting enough to watch and worth checking out.

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Jeremy S

@RT61123228 Mar 9

The first 3/4s of the film were unsettling and effective. Then you see what they are up against and, as with many a movie, the tension goes.

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Max M.

@Househuntermax Mar 2

Great cast and great production value. The story draws you in initially, but then the movie just doesn’t go anywhere for a long, long time. Ultimately ends up unsatisfying.

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Vin C

@RT87136215 Feb 25

Honestly, has Sean Penn directed a decent movie? I never would have watched it if I had paid attention to who directed it. Terribly slow, boring, with unrealistic situations. That’s coming from someone who pretty much loves everything with Jack Nicholson in it. Avoid or find something else to do during it like a workout.. I did!

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Synopsis

On the day of his retirement, detective Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) accepts a gift -- an airline ticket to Mexico. But when the body of a murdered eight-year-old girl is discovered in the mountains, Jerry offers his expertise at the crime scene. When an ambitious younger cop wrenches a dubious confession from a simple-minded suspect, the case is closed... but not for Jerry.

Director: Sean Penn
Producer: Sean Penn, Elie Samaha, Michael Fitzgerald
Screenwriter: Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Jerzy Kromolowski, Mary Olson-Kromolowski
Distributor: E Stars Films, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Morgan Creek Productions, Warner Bros., Pledge Productions Inc., Franchise Pictures, Clyde Is Hungry Productions
Rating: R (Sexuality|Language|Some Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 19, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.7M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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