Critic Reviews
Pledge, The (2001) Rank 3 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (219) reviews
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MovieMaze (Thomas Straßer)
San Francisco Chronicle (Bob Graham)
DVDActive (Warwick Gaetjens)
This is what you would probably call a "slow movie", which can usually be translated as "boring". And although I wasn't all that blown away by the plot, I was more than captivated by the many commanding performances given by the ...read the complete Pledge movie review at DVDActive (Warwick Gaetjens)
Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)
Although Nicholson, Wright, and Roberts are all quite convincing in their roles (and, in fact, the cast list is peppered with impressive names like Helen Mirren, Vanessa Redgrave, and Sam Shepard in supporting roles), Penn's direction sometimes gets too ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)
SF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
Sean Penn first made a name for himself in his classic role as the stoner in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and thereafter established himself a role in the gossip magazines as a bad boy, fostered by his penchant for punching paparazzi and a ...read the complete Pledge movie review at SF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
That Cow (Andrew Bradford)
Sometimes the difference between a good movie and a bad movie is a delicate line. The setup in The Pledge is nothing new, starting from one of the longest running themes of a retiring cop who has one last case to put away. We know from the outset that ...read the complete Pledge movie review at That Cow (Andrew Bradford)
Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)
The Pledge stars Jack Nicholson ( Chinatown ) as Detective Jerry Black. Jerry is about to retire from the police force but decides to take on one case, a case that haunts him and keeps him from enjoying his retirement because of a promise he made with ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
THE PLEDGE follows an aging Nevada homicide detective, days from retirement, who investigates a child murder in the snows of the nearby hills. He vows to find the murderer to the parents of the little girl, and a suspect is caught but kills himself shortl ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Entertainment Ave! - The Movie Theater
Jarrette Moats - www.guerilla-film.com - review
Swimming to Casablanca - sprint reviews
Variety (Todd McCarthy)
Nicholson is outstanding as he gradually but tellingly sketches in aspects of a man driven by a mission that outstrips his instincts as a professional lawman. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Variety (Todd McCarthy)
New York Magazine (Peter Rainer)
If Penn really lets these actors sing, his watchful camera also knows how to respect their silences. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at New York Magazine (Peter Rainer)
Empire Magazine (--)
Dallas Observer (Robert Wilonsky)
It's not hard to see why actors love working with Penn, even in the smallest roles; he lets them speak monologues even when they're saying nothing at all. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Dallas Observer (Robert Wilonsky)
The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Not a pleasant film, but it is deeply, scarily rewarding. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
LA Weekly (F. X. Feeney)
Penn's own gifts as an actor seem, in turn, to bring out the best in Nicholson, as well as the rest of the cast. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at LA Weekly (F. X. Feeney)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
In crafting a fierce, fragmented, downbeat film about a character who makes the wrong decision as a man by being right as a cop, Penn flies in the face of what sells in Hollywood. Godspeed. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
A fierce, fragmented, downbeat film. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Not a pleasant film, but it is deeply, scarily rewarding. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at New York Times (Stephen Holden)
RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) (Tom Grealis)
Penn has moulded a patient but deeply unsettling character study, leaving the viewer with more questions than answers. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) (Tom Grealis)
Film Threat (Susannah Breslin)
Emotionally powerful film of rare and grave subtlety. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Film Threat (Susannah Breslin)
UTK Daily Beacon (Beau Johnson)
MovieFreak.com (Dennis Landmann)
Moovees.com (Jay Tierney)
Reel Criticism - The Pledge Review
filmcritic.com makes a Pledge
Film Monthly (Hank Yuloff)
DVD Review e-zine
ninth symphony films
JoBlo's Movie Emporium reviews "The Pledge"
DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton)
Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)
Palo Alto Weekly (Jeanne Aufmuth)
Mark Reviews Movies (Mark Dujsik)
Review by Mark Dujsik
After years of over-the-top performances, it is difficult to remember Jack
Nicholson as a serious, subtle actor. In Sean Penn’s new film The
Pledge, Jack the character actor is back, and it’s been well worth the
wait. First, I ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Mark Reviews Movies (Mark Dujsik)
Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Sean Penn's The Pledge is about a man named Jerry Black who is absolutely sure that he is right about something, but is never able to prove it. There is a kind of terrible grandeur to Penn's vision of Jerry because Penn ensures that we see he is right, ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Mr. Showbiz (Lawrence Terenzi)
Jack Nicholson passes on the ham, delivering a subtle, weighted performance that neatly complements Sean Penn's growing confidence as a director. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Mr. Showbiz (Lawrence Terenzi)
Mr. Showbiz (Larry Terenzi)
Works best as a mood piece — the mood, however, is grim. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Mr. Showbiz (Larry Terenzi)
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
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. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
kvikmyndir.com
Film Written Magazine (Jaime N. Christley)
The entire team - in front of the camera and behind - pulls together for this one, and the rewards of giving this film your patience are plenty. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Film Written Magazine (Jaime N. Christley)
Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)
When a young boy's snowmobile is stuck in an open field near the woods, he notices Toby (Benicio Del Toro), a slow-witted local, running and acting panicky as he takes off in his pick up truck. The boy walks to the clump of trees where Toby came from ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
The Pledge is clever in the way that it gradually reveals things, but never gives us too much information at one time. The red herrings don't seem as cheap as they often do in murder mysteries, and Jerry is far from the infallible, ...read the complete Pledge movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Reel.com
But as The Pledge reaches its denouement, putting Jerry Black's sanity on the line, the story turns away its sympathetic eye for the sake of depicting the disease over the diseased. There's one critical, closing, transitional moment which rivals Lars ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Reel.com
Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
It is understatement to say that Nicholson does some of the finest work of his career here, easily equaling "The Shining" for gargoyle monstrousness and "As Good as It Gets" for tortured humanism. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
Penn is a true talent, but there's just enough languid pretension to The Pledge to make you wonder if he's ultimately more interested in parading his promise as a director than in fulfilling it. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
Jack Nicholson in a performance that ranks among his best, yet leaves you feeling unfulfilled as never before. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
San Francisco Chronicle (Bob Graham)
Sets off depth charges of the psyche. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Bob Graham)
JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
Other than re-iterating the well-known fact that "life sucks", I didn't really get much out of this movie. Was it a mystery, was it an existential drama about what life is like after an all-consuming career or was it simply about giving Mickey Rourke a ...read the complete Pledge movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
Cinema in Focus (Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin)
Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
With The Pledge, his third turn in the director's chair, Sean Penn has cemented his reputation as a voice in bum-out cinema. While his first behind-the-camera effort to not be taken from his own writing, The Pledge fits squarely in his dark, moody ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
DVD Talk (Chuck Arrington)
Nicholson's performance is nothing short of incredible. While the subject matter is pretty hard to take, his mastery of the craft of acting, makes it an entertaining, if not chilling experience. I would have liked to have seen more in the way of extras ...read the complete Pledge movie review at DVD Talk (Chuck Arrington)
Detroit News (Susan Stark)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
From the beginning, it's apparent that The Pledge is not going to be a happy motion picture. The oppressive atmosphere carefully crafted by director Sean Penn oozes from every frame, infusing even scenes of simple innocence with a grim undertone. Paradoxi ...read the complete Pledge movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Susan Granger
In this dark psychological drama, Jack Nicholson delivers a wrenching performance as a stressed-out Reno police detective facing retirement. On his last day at work, there's a grisly homicide. An eight year-old girl has been found slashed, raped and ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Susan Granger
Steve Rhodes
As the story begins, Black leaves his retirement party to help investigate the rape and murder of a second grade girl. Later, much to the consternation of his replacement, Stan Krolak (Aaron Eckhart), Black insists that they've got the wrong man. This ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Steve Rhodes
Reel.com
But as The Pledge reaches its denouement, putting Jerry Black's sanity on the line, the story turns away its sympathetic eye for the sake of depicting the disease over the diseased. There's one critical, closing, transitional moment which rivals Lars ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Reel.com
CultureDose.net (Lee Chase IV)
Entertainment Insiders
Criminy Pete's Knee Jerk Spoilers
DVDTown (John J. Puccio)
CineScene.com (Sasha Stone)
THE WEEKLY MOVIE REVIEW
CineScene.com (Chris Dashiell)
Light Views, Reviews & Previews (John Larsen)
Christian Spotlight on the Movies
DVD Town (John J. Puccio)
The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
DVD Times review (Alan Daly)
DVD Verdict (Patrick Naugle)
Guess the Gross
filethirteen.com
Filethirteen Review
The Dual Lens (Ian Whitney)
Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Dual Lens - Review
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
THE PLEDGE follows an aging Nevada homicide detective, days from retirement, who investigates a child murder in the snows of the nearby hills. He vows to find the murderer to the parents of the little girl, and a suspect is caught but kills himself shortl ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
musicOMH (Michael Hubbard)
Almost Fabulous Movie Reviews
allesfilm.com (Markus Steiger)
Sean Penn ist noch sehr jung und hat schon ein bewegtes Leben hinter sich. Belächelt für die Ehe mit Madonna, sich langsam als Schauspieler hocharbeitend und schließlich beim Regiestuhl angekommen, ist der sanfte Rebell heute "Everybody’s Darling". ...read the complete Pledge movie review at allesfilm.com (Markus Steiger)
In Film Australia
TV Guide (Ken Fox)
Short on action but heavy on ambiance, and the cumulative effect packs a whopper if you're willing to stop and think about it. Penn, never one to opt for action over thought, clearly expects that his audience will. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at TV Guide (Ken Fox)
Film.com (Robert Horton)
Sometimes feels like an acting class gone berserk, with Penn indulging his high-powered ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Film.com (Robert Horton)
Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
A nervy as well as somber piece of work, not only for the way it confounds and even frustrates certain genre expectations, but also -- and especially -- for the way it confronts the viewer with the moral implications of that frustration. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents
Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Lobo Howls (Judith Wolfe)
TheWorldJournal.com (Giancarlo De Lisi)
Fantasticon.com
Friday & Saturday Review
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Movie-Vault.com (Timotei Centea)
The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
Though Nicholson and company are stellar, the dreary film makes promises it doesn't deliver on, pulling the rug out from under us without really letting us step on it in the first place. A little more deftness in the directing, and it could have been ...read the complete Pledge movie review at The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
Web icon Emily Blunt's wildly askew look at new movie and rentals. Lot's of fun!
Chart Magazine
The (Georgetown) Hoya
Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
PopMatters (Cynthia Fuchs)
CultureDose.net (Jeremiah Kipp)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (William Arnold)
It's unspeakably morbid, and never adds up to be something special. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Seattle Post-Intelligencer (William Arnold)
Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
CHUD Review - Nick Nunziata
Political Film Society
Philadelphia City Paper (Sam Adams)
Philadelphia City Paper (Sam Adams)
Flak Magazine (Clay Risen)
eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)
MediaCircus (Anthony Leong)
Harvey's Movie Review (Harvey O'Brien)
Wolf Entertainment Guide (William Wolf)
World Socialist Web Site
Jump Cut. Magazin für Film und Kritik
Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
The solemn, morose tone of The Pledge also guarantees a quick box office death: This is essentially a movie about bad things happening to good people, and if you have any interest in seeing this beautifully made bummer, don't wait too long. ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
mazzyboi's movie page (Angelo Aquino)
Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)
Despite its cast of powerhouse thespians and occasional touches of nervy hyperrealism, Sean Penn's The Pledge is a surprisingly uneven and perhaps even mediocre character drama. Director Penn, following up 1995's The Crossing Guard and 1991's The Indian ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)
Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
Someone needs to assure Sean Penn that he's a good filmmaker. Throughout his third film, "The Pledge," he still appears to be out to prove something the way a fledgling director would. Every shot is composed to within an inch of its life, every scene is ...read the complete Pledge movie review at Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
CinemaSense.Com: Movie Reviews of the Heart
FilmHead.com (Matt Heffernan)
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