Make a `Pledge' not to see this movie
By LIAM DACEY
Scene Movie Critic
The crime thriller "The Pledge," directed by Sean Penn, stars Jack Nicholson as a retiring cop in Northern Nevada whose last case involves the murder of a young girl. Based on Friedrich Durenmatt's 1957 book, Nicholson makes a histrionic "pledge" to the victim's parents to capture the murderer of their child. The lead suspect, a mentally challenged Native American (Benicio Del Toro) who was seen near the area of the murder, is subsequently apprehended. After this suspicious character commits suicide in a rage behind bars, the case is closed and Nicholson leaves for retirement.
If the movie had ended there it could have saved some sense of decency. However, before Nicholson leaves for retirement he "gets a feeling" (as characters often do in these situations) that the killer is still at large. From here the movie's cliches grow exponentially as it loses all credibility in its increasing outrageousness.
Nicholson becomes completely obsessed with the case and believes (after hearing the account of a 17-year-old girl) that there may be other similar killings committed in the same area.
Nicholson bases this hypothesis on the circumstantial evidence that there were three blonde-haired, 8-year-old girls who were killed within the same proximity. Coincidentally, they were all wearing red dresses. Nicholson moves to the town of the killings and shortly thereafter meets a mother (Robin Wright Penn) and her young daughter.
Of course, Nicholson and Wright Penn fall in love, and the daughter is put in danger of being killed by the serial killer, who only Nicholson believes is still at large. For the rest of the film, the daughter is seen only in a red dress to heighten the suspense. The movie takes unnecessary, laughable twists and introduces characters who have no relevance to the overall plot.
For example, Nicholson is "thrown off" the hunt by a Christian preacher believed to be the killer. This sidetrack only leads to an unfulfilling dead end that does not relate to the rest of the film in the least.
Another example of "The Pledge's" lack of cohesiveness occurs when Nicholson finds a link behind the killings that consists of the porcupines given to the victims by a "Wizard" prior to their deaths. These pieces of the mystery are juxtaposed in a laughable manner. It fits together like a bad episode of "Murder, She Wrote."
Surprisingly, the ending is atypical for a crime thriller, but it fails to add closure at a time when it is much needed. At the end of a long journey, the film only brings out Nicholson's personal failure. Is he more upset that he could not fulfill the pledge to the victim's parents, or is he disappointed with his own inner self?
The film should have focused on this question more and avoided the unnecessary plot twists. The opportunity was sorely missed to make this a much more profound movie.
The only bright spot in the movie is Nicholson's vivid performance, which some could argue is one of his best. It is unfortunate that it had to go to waste on such a disappointing film.
Sean Penn tries to go into the mind of an obsessed man who is struggling with his inner demons. Sadly, "The Pledge" is too uneven and embellished to accomplish Penn's goal. Perhaps he should stick to acting.
- One and a half shamrocks (out of five)
All Scene Stories for Thursday, February 1, 2001
