Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Absolutely Fantastic

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I discovered that I earlier had given this film a lousy 3 stars, and after watching it again much later, I couldn't figure why I had been so harsh, because this time I quite enjoyed myself. Most of all I really like much of the acting and Nicholson fits the part as a retired crime inspector like a glove. More than anything I like the kids acting, and there's no doubt that Sean Penn is a brilliant director. Still, about the plot, there is a thorough and severe dramatic building up of the story that deserves a better ending. Yes, the ending is surprising, but after going through such a structuring of expectation, the ending almost feels like a collapse. It could have been 8 stars, but can't give more than 6.

I caught the second half of this flick and was engaged by its pace; it's well shot and enhanced by the soundtrack. Jack N is convincing and the rest do OK too, with some very (very, very) little cameos by such as Harry Dean Stanton and Micky Rourke. I saw the whole film a few days later and found I wasn't quite as enthusiastic about it. Some of the characters seemed less credible and a bit cliché. The story plays out like a suspense thriller/whodunnit, which is not really my thing, but there's just about enough interest to keep one watching (and there's always Jack) and the film's merits just about counteract its shortcomings (which are mainly plot-related and the fact there are too many lazy coincidences to serve its progression). The ending is a tad disappointing, plot-wise, as it seems a bit of a cop out to me, although the very final scene offers some form of redemption by refocusing our attention on the character study that I guess is its main aim/strength.

How does a fine actor direct a film where he elicits unforgettable performances from ten, or so, of the best actors alive on the planet in service of a compelling story, yet end up with a 5 star film? Start with a decent script in crying need of a final rewrite; proceed with cinematography that rolls from redundantly hyper-dramatic to b-roll mediocrity of a bad travelogue, then edit the film with disrespect for the pace that the characters are driving the action.If you like great acting you'll love this film; if you love great films, you'll hate it. I loved and hated "The Pledge." It a disaster of spectacular potential. 5/10

'The Pledge' works largely because so much of it is playing with the expectations and prejudices of it's audience.Nicholson stars as a retiring cop who has one last case. Sound familiar? It feels like a police drama for a lot of it until the last act which I think would have made a far more interesting film had it been expanded into a full length story. Nicholson's character is obsessed with finding a serial killer who may or may not exist. He comes to the point where he seduces a bartender to use her little girl as bait to catch the killer. This is where the movie turns and becomes fresh. It's an understated performance and a sad character Nicholson brings to life. One gets the feeling the movie is as much about aging and find a way to stay relevant.It also has an outstanding supporting cast loaded with top notch character actors. Aaron Eckhardt, Sam Shepherd, Helen Mirren, Costas Mandylor, Mickey Rourke, Patricia Clarkson, Tom Noonan all turn in memorable scenes. My one gripe is that it is far too clean looking a movie. It has that same pristine look that a lot of the thrillers from the early 00's have. There's no atmosphere in the lighting or cinematography. The main thing is it's color palette is so bland. This could have been a great stylistic noir film in the hands of Fincher.Sean Penn and Nicholson know what the beats of this kind of film and they play them until they reach the brilliant final act. The result is something fresh and frightening. While discussing the film I heard it referred to as a "meta movie". That term is dead on. It makes the last act of the film so much more interesting when it doesn't go through the motions of the cop thriller at all. I remember thinking that "Oh what a nice change of pace to see Nicholson play this character with a moral code" and then you see how cavalierly he uses the little girl as bait and you come to despise him. Jerry didn't get the memo that he wasn't supposed to be the hero. It's a unique film. Nicholson is as always masterful. The beginning has some slow areas but it ends up being an alienating thriller that haunts the audience expecting a standard story of a hero cop getting his serial killer.