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Jack Nicholson, Patricia Clarkson, Benicio Del Toro, Dale Dickey, Aaron Eckhart ... see more see more... , Costas Mandylor , Helen Mirren , Tom Noonan , Michael O'Keefe , Robin Wright , Vanessa Redgrave , Pauline Roberts , Mickey Rourke , Sam Shepard , Lois Smith , Harry Dean Stanton , Eileen Ryan

Sean Penn directed this tense drama of loyalty, honor, and obsession, based on a novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt. Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) is a veteran police detective who lives and works in a smal... read more read more...l Nevada town. On the day of his retirement, it falls to Jerry to handle an especially unpleasant assignment -- a seven-year-old girl has been brutally murdered, and Jerry has to check out the crime scene, and then tell the girl's parents the awful news. The girl's mother (Patricia Clarkson), understandably distraught, demands to know if the killer will be brought to justice, and Jerry promises her that he will personally see to it, "on my soul's salvation." A younger detective also on the case, Stan Krolak (Aaron Eckhart), thinks he's traced the crime to Toby Jay Wadeneh (Benicio Del Toro), a mentally retarded man who confesses to the murder shortly before killing himself. Stan considers the case closed, but Jerry can't shake his belief that Toby Jay wasn't actually the murderer, and Jerry begins to investigate the case on his own time, over the objections of his former boss, Eric Pollack (Sam Shepard), who reminds Jerry that he's no longer an official member of the police force. Before long, Jerry's personal investigation has taken over his life, and he uncovers evidence that suggests the girl's murder was just one in a series of killings involving young girls and a mysterious man called "the Wizard." When Jerry becomes close to a young single mother, Lori (Robin Wright-Penn), he feels he has reason to believe the murderer may be targeting her eight-year-old daughter, and finds himself using her as a decoy in order to bring the killer to justice. The Pledge marked Jack Nicholson's second starring role in a film directed by Sean Penn following 1995's The Crossing Guard; The Pledge's stellar supporting cast includes Vanessa Redgrave, Helen Mirren, Harry Dean Stanton, and Mickey Rourke. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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55% liked it

20,479 ratings

Critics

78% liked it

120 critics

R, 2 hr. 4 min.

Directed by: Sean Penn

Release Date: January 19, 2001

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DVD Release Date: June 19, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (805)

  • blkbomb
    May 8, 2011
    blkbomb
    This is Sean Penn's masterpiece. He has made other really good movies like The Indian Runner and Into The Wild, but this is easily his best. The cast is amazing with possibly the best two roles coming from Mickey Rourke and Benicio Del Toro who both have very little screen time. ... read moreThis is a very unique and chilling movie.
  • LWOODS04
    December 1, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Jack Nicholson, Dale Dickey, Benicio Del Toro, Aaron Eckhart, Helen Mirren, Tom Noonan, Robin Wright Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, Mickey Rourke, Sam Shepard, Lois Smith, Harry Dean Stanton, Costas Mandylor, Michael O'Keefe, Eileen Ryan, Patricia Clarkson

    Director: Sean Penn ... read more

    Summary: Homicide detective Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) is on the eve of retirement when he gets a call that changes everything. A young girl has been murdered, and Black takes the case, promising the distraught parents he'll see it through to the end. Robin Wright co-stars as Black's companion, a single, working-class mother who can't divine the obsessive streak that makes him tick.

    My Thoughts: "I thought it was a really good film. Jack Nicholson was exceptional as Jerry Black. This film has a great supporting cast from Helen Mirren to Patricia Clarkson. Great group of actor's in a slow mystery thriller. The story has disturbing images that were (the murder scene) hard to look at. The ending really surprised me. The middle of the film is a build up for this finale that you know is coming, but it's not the ending you thought you would get. Once again, Jack Nicholson, so good in this. Also Sean Penn directing, what a great job by him. Really like his directing."
  • fb619846742
    September 24, 2010
    fb619846742
    A solid, well-aimed look at a cop (Jack Nicholson) who is finding it hard to enjoy retirement after a case that popped up on the evening of his last day made him pledge to the family of a murdered child that he would find her killer. While this movie isn't anything spectacular (s... read moreome predictability creeps in), it is a competent look at a man driven to fulfill a promise, with Jack Nicholson turning in one of his finest, most nuanced performances yet. One of the complaints you could make is that it's too populated with stars, seeing Benicio del Toro, Aaron Eckhart, Helen Mirren, and Mickey Rourke (who brings the house down in his two minutes or so of screen-time), are barely in the movie and serve as a little bit of a distraction to give some excitement to a sometimes slow-moving story. However, when you consider how taut the last 1/3 of this film is, as well as getting to see what Nicholson's character becomes after watching him for 2-plus hours, the somewhat open-ended finale actually works wonders, and in the end one should end up respecting this movie - despite its obvious flaws.
  • ironclad1609
    May 10, 2010
    ironclad1609
    Inspired by Friedrich Dürrenmatt's story that already triggered a couple of good German adaptations of the murder hunt, this is Hollywood's take on it. Not only does it focus on the search for a child murderer but also the grieve the families have to deal with after losing a belo... read moreved child. Vanessa Redgrave deliver's the most touching scene of the film as the victim's grandmother. Nicholson is great as cop that promised to solve the case and gets in more deeply than is healthy for his mental state. It's a slow movie that takes its time getting the pieces together, but really well done at any time. The solution is nothing one expects of Hollywood films but the more powerful. Respect, Mr. Penn
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    Eerie and suspenseful. Jack Nicholson goes down a path of duty into obsession. It's very original and unconventional, which was refreshing. Great early performance from Aaron Eckhart and Benicio Del Toro at his creepiest.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    Nicholson is great and Penn proves that he's not just a good actor! Brilliant!
  • superclerk25
    February 26, 2009
    superclerk25
    It's been years since I watched this one and I still haven't figured out if I liked it or not. Jack is excellent as the cop trying to fulfill a promise but the movie turns in directions I wasn't expecting and the ending just left me feeling confused as to if I was satisfied or not.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    January 30, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Nice little thriller, Nicholson is actually a much better actor when he plays more restrained characters.
  • 76Majikat
    January 29, 2008
    76Majikat
    A much better film than I'd thought first time around, the haunting music throughout sets the atmospheric mood with a subject that is not easy to tackle.

    VERDICT: A definite watch if it comes on tv.
  • tsigur
    December 10, 2007
    tsigur
    Nicholson and Penn have a great actor director relationship. And look at the supporting cast.

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Critic Reviews

Jeff Strickler
November 6, 2002
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

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. Full Review

Peter Rainer
September 26, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

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. Full Review

Rick Groen
March 22, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

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

Joel Siegel
February 9, 2001
Joel Siegel, Good Morning America

This is one of Nicholson's finest performances and that's saying one hell of a lot.

Peter Travers
February 1, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A fierce, fragmented, downbeat film.

Peter Howell
January 19, 2001
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

A movie of impressive performances and intriguing visuals that are worth the effort needed to let the tale roll out. Full Review

Susan Stark
January 19, 2001
Susan Stark, Detroit News

It's the rare -- and rewarding -- police drama that cares more for character than plot. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 19, 2001
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Breathlessly catapults us back to the taut German films in the 1970s. Full Review

Jay Boyar
January 19, 2001
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

A moving and unmannered motion picture -- a convincing portrait of a man at the end of his rope.

Steven Rosen
January 19, 2001
Steven Rosen, Denver Post

Penn as director shows how he can turn an ordinary movie scene -- how many times have we seen a jailhouse interrogation? -- into something inventively, thrillingly singular. Full Review

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The Pledge Trivia

  • Name the film that has this funny line "Not so fast, you ingrates. Public News Team is taking a break from its pledge drive to kick some ass. No commercials; no mercy. "  Answer »
  • what actor has been in the folowing films; Batman Anger Management About Schimdt the pledge the departed  Answer »
  • Which film is this quote taken from?..."I pledge allegiance... to the band... of Mr. Schneebly... and will not fight him... for creative control... and will defer to him on all issues related to the musical direction of the band."  Answer »
  • In what movie did Jack Nicholson promised on his soul's salvation to find a killer.  Answer »
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