2001
Genre: Thriller/drama
Cast  &  Crew
Director  Sean Penn
Producer:  Michael Fitzgerald, Sean Penn, Ella Samaha
Screenplay:  Jerzy Kromolowski & Mary-Olson Kromolowski
Based on a novel by Friedrich Durrenmat
Cinematography: Chris Menges
Starring:
Jack  Nicholson  as  Jerry Black
Aaron Eckhart as Stan Krolak
Helen Mirren as Doctor
Benicio Del Toro as Toby Jay Wadenhah
Rodin Wright Penn as Lori
Vanessa Redgrave as Annalisa Hansen
Mickey Rourke as Jim Olstad
Pauline Roberts as Chrissy
The  Plot
Det. Jerry Black is on his last day  of his job. His is retiring in 4 hours and has a flight tickett to fishing from his friends on the force. However he goes out  to a murder scene which involves the rape and murder of a little girl. He takes it on himself to tell her parents. He swears an oath to the little girls mother on the cross to catch the little girls killer. With a suspect in custody Jerry is not happy with it, he thinks there is alot more to the murder. he discovers two other similar cases and he embarks on finding out himself.
Running Time:  119  Minutes
My  Review
No words can describe how powerful this film is.  In  1995  Penn & NIcholson made one of the most provocative films of the 90's with The Crossing Guard. They touched on the subject of thew loss of a loved one.  In this film not only do they hit the target but they kick the living shit out of it.

  The  Pledge is a disturbing tale of muder, obssession and dedication. Nicholson gives his one of best performances outside of his devilish Jack roles.  The last time he did a role like this was again with Penn in The Crossing Guard.  Everything in the techincal  stakes  of  this  film  is  superb. I of course speak off  Sound, Cinematography, editing etc. 

  Outside  of  the  that  the  cast  are  excellent. Mrs. Wright-Penn gives another stunning  perfomance  as the long suffering single mother Lori.  She  is  definetely  the  best  actress he has starred with  since  IRONWEED. Aaron Eckhart  is  also  top  class as  the cocky Det.  who  has  respect  for  Jerry  but not enough for him to believe  or search  for  any truth  in  what's  being  said.  There  is  also  Benicio Del Toro  as  the  retarded  suspect who despite not being in the film gives one of the films stunning  performances.  This  backed up by great cameo's from Mickey Rourke, Helen Mirren & Vannessa  Redgrave. 

  With  Penn,  Nicholson has found something of a reincarnation  of  Bob Rafelson,  a  director who does not want the devilish Jack Persona but the Conventioanl  actor  who  is  restrained. This is definetely  one of my favourite films of all time.  And  personally I  think  it's  one  of  Jacks  best  too. Any NIcholson admirer should not be without this film in his or her video collection.
Jack as Det. Jerry Black
Trivia
1. This is  Jack's second Collabouration  with Director/Actor  Sean Penn. They previoulsy made The Crossing Guard in 1995.
2. The book from the screenplay was adapted was based on two actual child murders, however these murders were not related.
3. Jack Nicholsons character was based on  the  detective that investigated the real murders, he did not come to the same  sad  end that Jacks  character comes to.
4. Jack's secetary  in  the  film  is  Sean Penn's mother.
5. Although the film is based in the state of Nevada  none  of  the  place  names  exsist.
6. The  boat that Jacks fishes on is called " Sweet Lorraine ".  This  is  the  name  of  Jacks real mother.
7. The film is dedicated to Michael Haller & Jack Nitzsche. Both worked with Penn on his previous Directorial outings.
8. Penn's wife Robin Wright stars in the Movie
9. Penn, Dennis Hopper & Nicholson are great friends outside of their professional  lives. Penn has a son that he named after his two friends called Hopper Jack.
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1