The Pledge

  • 2001


MOVIE IS important sickening oblique superior artistic
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Positive Reviews 41
Negative reviews 9
Average Rating 3.4/5
important sickening oblique superior artistic

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  • Positive
  • Negative
3.5
Damned if Penn doesnt draw you inside this labyrinth of existential murk. EW
4.4
Penn and Nicholson take risks with the material and elevate the movie to another, unanticipated, haunting level. Rogerebert
3.0
It understands the relativism of right and wrong and takes a kind of perverse pleasure in reminding us that there are some things well never know.
5.0
Nicholson rules over The Pledge with a shaky hand, and thats the source of his power here. E Film Critic
3.8
Moviegoers who dont mind wrapping their minds around ambiguity will get a buzz from The Pledge. San Francisco Chronicle
3.0
Other than re iterating the well known fact that life sucks, I didnt really get much out of this movie. JoBlo
3.0
When his superior rejects all the work hes done and asks why hes not enjoying his retirement, Black answers: I made a promise. Spirituality And Practice
4.2
A moody, satisfyingly oblique tale that reaches a truly shattering conclusion. One Guys Opinion
3.8
The Pledge will cause many viewers to walk out of the theaters grumbling, since there is no traditional closure. But the way in which things turn out .. ReelViews
3.5
Smart, somber, characteristically understated and altogether chilling. Tv Guide
3.8
The film should have either toned down the procedural factor or given it a satisfying close (I am reminded of and highly recommend a 1997 Norwegian fi .. Mark Reviews Movies
4.5
Penn has clearly taken the artistic high road here, and while he doesnt always succeed, hes created a haunting piece of work.
2.5
A fisherman, Black has set the bait and hes patiently waiting for a bite. Lariat
2.8
Though Nicholson and company are stellar, the dreary film makes promises it doesnt deliver on, pulling the rug out from under us without really lettin .. Eric Ds Nider
4.5
Yet, something doesnt sit right with Jerry, and instead of heading off on a post retirement fishing vacation in Mexico, the former detective starts sn .. Screen It
1.5
Those looking for a feel good movie are advised to go elsewhere unless watching artists working near their peak leaves you soaring. News Day
1.5
Theres 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 view .. Film Journal International ..
1.5
The whole thing comes undone in the second half, with a series of sketchy character developments and plotting that gets more ludicrous by the minute. Deseret News (Salt Lake Ci ..
3.5
Nicholson searches deep down within himself and comes up with a character whose furrowed brow says it all. Internet Reviews
4.4
Mystery thriller buffs, promise yourselves that youll see The Pledge. And while youre at it, be sure to invite along Jack Nicholson fans and anyone wh .. Star Tribune
1.5
Everyone involved should be ashamed, though, for when the film doesnt elicit unintentional laughter, it provokes waves of sheer revulsion.
3.5
After two honorable failures, Sean Penn makes quantum leap forward with an intriguing murder mystery thats also effective as a psychological character .. Emanuellevy
3.8
It is a story that is designed to frustrate those looking for easy answers and a neat wrap up. Q Network
1.5
Penns direction is given to flat, self conscious realism. He has no feel for pacing, no cunning, no natural flow. Salon
3.0
As enthralling as it sometimes is, there isnt any point to the relentless grimness. Bbc
3.1
Ashes of Time doesnt follow a traditional narrative but, rather, carefully unspools a number of interconnected plot threads. Mr Brown Movies
4.4
Beginning as the story of a murder investigation, it isnt long before the films true, insulated aspirations emerge. The Movie Boy
3.0
Actress Jameela Jamil uses drama over Kim Kardashians maternity shapewear to remind us to second guess everything tabloids write about women. Calendar Live
1.5
Despite the talent involved in front of and behind the camera, this flick doesnt bring anything new to the party, and the ending winds down like a che .. Cnn
4.4
Penn, unafraid, strategically uses visuals that hack directors dont even know how to approach. Movie Habit
4.4
Penns past directing gigs...are the work of a tortured soul; The Pledge was guided by a tortured artist. Film Freak Central
4.0
Penns task is well served not only by a superb cast but the efforts of first rate collaborators. Boxoffice Magazine
4.0
Penn has moulded a patient but deeply unsettling character study, leaving the viewer with more questions than answers. Raidió Teilifís Éireann
1.5
let my viewing of The Pledge save you a disappointing evening out. Ross Anthony
5.0
Jerrys crackup isnt instantly consumptive, as second act serenity seems like more than a postcard distraction. The Filmy Ap
3.1
It contains many great scenes that dont add up to a satisfying whole. Big Picture Big Sound
3.8
Or has he The Pledge doesnt concern itself with dogged police work. Flip Side Archive
4.5
An elegant rejoinder to a tired genre, a consummate work of screen adaptation, and further evidence that there is precious little Sean Penn cant achie .. Bfi
4.5
Penn as director shows how he can turn an ordinary movie scene how many times have we seen a jailhouse interrogation into something inventively, thril .. Denver Post
4.0
Existential terror is just one of the many layers that give The Pledge a sheen that is sickening and yet satisfying to watch. Filmcritic.com
4.0
Thanks to Nicholson, The Pledge hits viewers hardest as a superb character study, a poignant story of well intentioned obsession. Rochester Goes Out
1.5
So logy and doom laden that watching it feels like a hike through waist deep snow. Vulture
4.0
Penn intrinsically understands that there can be no epiphanies nor catharsis, as important portents and clues go unanswered as Black drifts into the m .. Patrick Nabarro
3.1
Ultimately, the payoffs just arent there, either psychologically or dramatically. Globe and Mail
4.0
The films stately pace emphasizes Jerrys slow transformation, and there are a number of wonderful scenes, both visually and structurally. Gost Dog
1.5
The problem is Nicholson. He sleepwalks through the part in a cloud of ubiquitous cigarette smoke, stiff, uncomfortable, and looking like he wishes he .. San Diego Metropolitan
3.0
Any opportunity to see Jack Nicholson when hes not on autopilot is exciting. eye WEEKLY
4.5
Breathlessly catapults us back to the taut German films in the 1970s. Sacramento Bee
4.0
Its one last ride for our leading character Jerry Black (Nicholson), until he abandons the case and retires. It examines a man trying to relinquish hi .. Graffiti With Punctuation
3.1
We left with a feeling of lethargy that made watching The Pledge hardly worth the effort. Cinema Sense
5.0
Provided, of course, that the killer isnt a figment of his guilt racked, paranoia fueled imagination. Moving Pictures How



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