Pledge (2001)
AKA: –
Directed by: Sean Penn
Starring: Jack Nicholson (Jerry), Robin Wright Penn (Lori), Benicio del Toro (Toby), Pauline Roberts (Chrissy), Aaron Eckhart (Stan), Patricia Clarkson (Mother of victim), Vanessa Redgrave (Grandmother of Victim), Mickey Rourke (Father of other Victim), Tom Noonan (Pastor)
Country: USA
Language: English (Optional Eng Subs)
Runtime: 02:03:20
Genres: Detective-Mystery, Old-Young, Serial Killers
Plot – Spoilers:
Jerry is retiring from service as a detective. His colleagues have booked him on an exotic fishing trip, but Jerry isn’t ready to quit yet. A little girl is found murdered and Jerry’s convinced a serial killer is at work. He packs up his retirement plans and becomes obsessed with finding the killer, while his mind unravels under the stress.
By the end:
So was Jerry a principled man obsessed with following through on his pledge? Or was he an obsessive detective who could never retire from the job. Hard to tell.
it was ok in my opinion. some pretty good cinematography and directing, but thought it was a bit too conventional for the subject and mood it was portraying. music was great as well.
I have to say I’m just not impressed with Jeff Spicoli’s directorial style. This is the second movie where he has taken an otherwise compelling story and ruined it with needless panoramic camera shots for the sake of “artistic value” and, what I feel is an inappropriate choice of music at inappropriate times. He did the same thing with “Into The Wild”, only worse. There’s nothing wrong with the artistic shots of nature… but there comes a point where its just filler. Then comes the point where it’s totally overdone. And then here’s the montage of WTF was that about?! This seems to be an ongoing issue with this Spicoli’s style. I don’t know. I really like the movie, but I can’t help but feel disappointed. One thing is for sure and for certain – a more competent directer could have produced a much better film. Especially with the talent he had to work with. C’mon, Jeff…. stop trying so hard to make “art” and just make us a movie.
Obvious the angler was lining the kid up as bait when he encouraged her to choose the red dress and put her swing set out front instead of in the safety of the back yard.
So many famous people representing multiple generations of talent. Is it expecting too much thinking that this could be a good movie? I guess so.
Indulgently long. Penn has fully milked his prostate dry on this one. Literally an hour could be cut and the story would remain intact. If you watch the first 42 minutes then fast-forward to 1h 42 you would not miss anything of great importance apart from the buying of a red dress.
Overall a very lackluster movie. Had potential, poor execution.