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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Jeremy S

@RT61123228 2d

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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McKenna M

@mayfield05 Feb 22

This was most terrible movie i have ever seen. It ruined my day. I can’t even express myself fully. Horrible. I think it was well made i guess, but i’m never watching it again and i will never recommend this to anyone (unless they want to be depressed for the rest of the day.) I mean what kinda sad person made the ending!? Oh my goodness

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Daniel F

@RT14036283 Jan 21

Always had a mixed feeling about this movie. On one hand, Jack was amazing in this, just like he always is. The plot was intriguing and had a lot of potential. But I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking that the ending was just unnecessarily grim, had zero redemption arc and felt half stupid, half cheated (as in the viewer felt cheated). I get they were trying to do a non-Hollywood "controversial" angle, but there's still a way to do that well and this wasn't it.

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Per S

@RT83737705 Jan 11

Building so immensly up only to collapse in the end.

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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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