The Pledge

"The Pledge" is Sean Penn's third directorial effort and his best film to date. It is not your conventional detective film and keeps its audience occupied throughout the entire two-hour duration. Having someone like Jack Nicholson in the lead role helps as well. It is a fine combination of quality writing, solid acting and proficient directing. \n The script is perhaps the film's greatest asset. It is the most original piece of writing that has come out of Hollywood so far. It is a moderately-paced story that captivates the audience throughout the film. Penn makes sure the film does not follow a fixed Hollywood formula. Instead he uses the script to manifest his innovative filmmaking. He uses an almost film-noir style of cinematography to accentuate the suspense and intrigue that the script is already full of. \nThe story consists of Detective Jerry Black (Nicholson) being called back into service after having just called it quits. His mission is to find the culprit responsible for the rape and murder of a young girl. He promises her parents that he will find the killer at all costs; this search becomes his lifelong obsession. \nThe film features an incredible ensemble cast with prominent actors in much smaller roles than they are used to. It is dominated by some fine acting, especially Nicholson's masterful rendition of Detective Black. It benefits from intriguing, original writing that is sure to captivate most arthouse audiences.\nThrough this film, Sean Penn, himself an accomplished actor, shows he has a knack of getting the best out of his actors. He has also proven that he has a genuine talent for setting up beautiful shots.\nBut mainstream audiences might find the film a bit slow. While the film is being advertised as a mainstream thriller, it really is about a man's dedication to fulfill his pledge. Hans Zimmer's original score adds an eerie element to the film that works to its advantage. \nIt all comes down to what the audience is looking for. If thrills and chills are what the audience wants, this is definitely the wrong film. But if people want an original film that will keep them occupied for two hours, this is an excellent choice.