27.3.24
It’s weird how this was my first time watching The Pledge, but feeling like I’ve seen it all before. Although Jack Nicholson delivers a haunting and committed performance in Sean Penn’s neo-noir thriller, the film suffers from an all too familiar setup with poor editing, making it a long film that stretches patience.
As Jerry Black, a retiring police detective who becomes obsessed with solving the brutal murder of a young girl, Nicholson showcases his immense talent by portraying a man consumed by his demons and the weight of his pledge to the victim’s mother. The film’s unsettling tone and score both convey the psychological toll of Black’s relentless pursuit of justice. Some great moments remind us what a great leading man Nicholson used to be, such as his warm interactions with the young actors in the film, as well as some of his sleuthing moments, such as when analysing the children’s drawings with Aaron Eckhart’s Detective Krolak.
The cast is strong, which also includes Robin Wright, Helen Mirren, and Benicio del Toro. It also has a great but short scene involving Mickey Rourke, who I have always liked as an actor and want to prioritise rewatches of The Wrestler and Sin City. But that’s all for nothing if the mystery isn’t as compelling as director Sean Penn thinks it is. The central mystery sometimes feels convoluted, relying on convenient coincidences and unlikely connections that undermine the film’s realism. While Penn’s direction is competent, the pacing regularly drags, causing the narrative to lose momentum and leaving the audience yearning for a more engaging storyline.
The Pledge’s ending, while ambitious, fails to deliver a satisfying payoff for the viewer. The film’s climax feels abrupt and leaves several plot threads unresolved, leaving the audience with more questions than answers. Largely due to Nicholson’s commanding presence and the film’s atmospheric qualities, it’s worth watching if you love old Jack’s work, but it’s ultimately a letdown which squanders the abilities of its cast.