The Pledge (2001)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Sean Penn

Writers (WGA):

Friedrich Dürrenmatt (book)
Jerzy Kromolowski (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 January 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Detective Jerry Black has made a promise he can't break, to catch a killer he can't find.

Plot:

A retiring police chief pledges to catch the killer of a young child.

Plot Keywords:

Girl | Pledge | Police | Porcupine | Search

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Patricia Clarkson	...	Margaret Larsen
Beau Daniels	...	Rudy
Benicio Del Toro	...	Toby Jay Wadenah
Dale Dickey	...	Strom
Wendy Morrow Donaldson	...	Resort Owner
Adrien Dorval	...	Sheriff (as P. Adrien Dorval)
Aaron Eckhart	...	Stan Krolak
Shawn Henter	...	Bus Driver
Kathy Jensen	...	Store Clerk
Taryn Knowles	...	Ginny Larsen
Nels Lennarson	...	Hank
Costas Mandylor	...	Monash Deputy
J.J. McColl	...	Real Estate Agent
Gordon May	...	Criminologist #1
Gardiner Millar	...	Deputy #3 (as Gardinar Millar)
Helen Mirren	...	Doctor
Adam Nelson	...	Deputy #1
Jack Nicholson	...	Jerry Black
Tom Noonan	...	Gary Jackson
Michael O'Keefe	...	Duane Larsen
Tony Parsons	...	TV Anchorman
Robin Wright Penn	...	Lori
Robert Popoff	...	Prisoner
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Annalise Hansen
Nicole Robert	...	Flea Market Sales Lady
Mickey Rourke	...	Jim Olstad
Pauline Roberts	...	Chrissy
Eileen Ryan	...	Jean
Lucy Schmidt	...	Alma Cage
Sam Shepard	...	Eric Pollack
Lois Smith	...	Helen Jackson
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Floyd Cage
John R. Taylor	...	Grey Haired Man
Theodore Thomas	...	Rest Home Resident
Brittany Tiplady	...	Becky Fiske
Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan	...	Crime Scene Reporter
Françoise Yip	...	Bartender at Airport (as Francoise Yip)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andrew Hedge	...	SWAT sniper (uncredited)
Brock Johnson	...	Lori's Husband (uncredited)
Peter Madsen	...	Detective at Retirement Party (Interaction) (uncredited)

Directed by
Sean Penn

Writing credits (WGA)
Friedrich Dürrenmatt		(book)
Jerzy Kromolowski		(screenplay) &
Mary Olson-Kromolowski		(screenplay)

Produced by
Brian W. Cook	....	associate producer (as Brian Cook)
Michael Fitzgerald	....	producer
Sean Penn	....	producer
Elie Samaha	....	producer
Andrew Stevens	....	executive producer
Don Carmody	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Klaus Badelt
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
Chris Menges

Film Editing by
Jay Cassidy

Casting by
Don Phillips

Production Design by
Bill Groom

Art Direction by
Helen Jarvis

Set Decoration by
Lesley Beale

Costume Design by
Jill M. Ohanneson		(as Jill Ohanneson)

Makeup Department
Shannon Coppin	....	second assistant makeup artist
Jayne Dancose	....	key makeup artist
Michael Germain	....	makeup artist: Mr. Nicholson (as Mike Germain)
Gerald Gibbons	....	assistant hair stylist
Rick Glassman	....	prosthetic dentist (as Dr. Rick Glassman, DDS.)
Michelle Hrescak	....	assistant makeup artist
Harlow MacFarlane	....	special makeup effects artist
Ryan Nicholson	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Roy Sidick	....	key hair stylist
Christ Stanley	....	special makeup effects artist
Joy Zapata	....	hair stylist: Mr. Nicholson
Bill Terezakis	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Richard Bullock	....	production manager (as Richard A. Bullock)
Cathy Gesualdo	....	production manager: additional photography
Susan E. Novick	....	post-production supervisor
Jefferson Richard	....	production manager: additional photography
Joyce Kozy King	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Bitonti	....	trainee assistant director (as James A. Bitonti)
Brian W. Cook	....	first assistant director (as Brian Cook)
Warren Hanna	....	third assistant director
Tracey Poirier	....	second second assistant director
Andrew M. Robinson	....	second assistant director (as Andrew Robinson)
Jon C. Scheide	....	first assistant director: additional photography (as Jon Scheide)

Art Department
Vaughan V. Baker	....	key scenic artist (as Vaughan Baker)
Derek Bobroff	....	on-set scenic artist
Craig Brisker	....	construction foreman
Noel Burke-Gaffney	....	paint foreman
Dale Ann Connery	....	assistant set decorator (as Dale Connery)
Greg Coombs	....	greens
Dean Eilertson	....	property master
Kendelle Elliott	....	assistant art director
JoAnn Ellis	....	art department coordinator (as Joann Ellis)
Brian Epp	....	assistant property master
Mark Haddad	....	head greens
Paul Jenkinson	....	lead person
Bill McMahon	....	set designer
Doug Poetker	....	construction first aid
Dorian Reese	....	greens
Glenn Woodruff	....	construction coordinator (as Glenn 'Woody' Woodruff)
Michael Dundas	....	lead painter (uncredited)
Laurie Edmundson	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Nancy C. Lee	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
Audra Neil	....	set buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Franklin Bergad	....	dialogue editor
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Andy Bishop	....	cable person
Kyrsten Mate Comoglio	....	sound effects designer
Piotr Filipowski	....	sound effects designer
Anna Geyer	....	assistant dialogue editor
Aura Gilge	....	sound effects editor
Chris Gridley	....	assistant sound effects editor
Mark Levinson	....	adr supervisor (as Mark A. Levinson)
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
John Nutt	....	supervising sound editor
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
Charles O'Shea	....	boom operator (as Charlie O'Shea)
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Rinella	....	foley mixer
Kevin Sands	....	sound mixer: additional photography
Patti Tauscher	....	foley editor
Hoku Uchiyama	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Chris Hokuala Uchiyama)
Rob Young	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
David Gauthier	....	special effects coordinator
Bill Mills	....	special effects co-coordinator
Jak Osmond	....	special effects assistant
Bruce Scott	....	special effects buyer
Bruce Scott	....	special effects driver
Barry Hebein	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Kerry Phillips	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Okan Ataman	....	sabre artist: ILM
Wenden K. Baldwin	....	digital artist: Pacific Title Digital
John Bartle	....	visual effects editor: ILM
Earl Beyer	....	film recording engineer: ILM
Ken Dackermann	....	digital artist: Pacific Title Digital (as Ken Dackerman)
Suni Dailey	....	CG technician: ILM
Natalee Djokovic	....	visual effects editor: ILM
Snow Dowd	....	computer screen design
Chris Flynn	....	digital artist: Pacific Title Digital
Mark Freund	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title Digital
Ryan Galloway	....	CG technician: ILM
Joanne Hafner	....	digital paint and roto: ILM
Pablo Helman	....	visual effects supervisor: ILM
Kela Hicks	....	sabre artist: ILM
Stephanie Hornish	....	visual effects producer: ILM
Dorne Huebler	....	digital compositor: ILM
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital artist: Pacific Title Digital
Matt Linder	....	3D effects animator
Aaron Muszalski	....	digital paint and roto: ILM
Josh Pines	....	film recording engineer: ILM
Anthony Pitone	....	visual effects editor: ILM (as Tony Pitone)
Robert Reinhardt	....	computer screen design
Leslie Safley	....	visual effects coordinator: ILM
Ken D. Smith	....	visual effects producer: Pacific Title Digital
Bruce Vecchitto	....	color timing supervisor: ILM
Wei Zheng	....	digital matte artist: ILM
Rita E. Zimmerman	....	lead sabre artist: ILM (as Rita Zimmerman)
Jesh Murthy	....	visual effects supervisor: Toybox (uncredited)

Stunts
Joe Doserro	....	stunt player (as Joe Desarro)
Bill Ferguson	....	stunt coordinator
Rick Pearce	....	stunt player

Camera and Electrical Department
Allison Beda	....	second assistant camera
Hans Bjerno	....	aerial camera operator
Kevin Black	....	key grip
Ken Decker	....	generator operator
John Dekker	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Garnet Durham	....	video playback operator
Bob Findley	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Bob Findlay)
Dan Henshaw	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Ronald Hersey	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Ron Hersey)
Burton 'Joe' Kuchera	....	chief lighting technician: additional photography (as Burton Kuchera)
George Majoros	....	second second assistant camera
Klaus Melchior	....	video playback operator
Paul Mitchnick	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Bill Molnar	....	best boy grip
Robert L. O'Hara	....	dolly grip (as Robert O'Hara)
Christopher Porter	....	chief lighting technician
Alastair Rae	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Noah Richoz	....	video assist
Patrick Stepien	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Gillian Stokvis	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Gillian Stokvis-Hauer)
Stewart Whelan	....	second assistant camera
Gary J. Williams	....	key grip: additional photography (as Gary Williams)
Enrique del Rio	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
George Ramage	....	best boy rigging electrics (uncredited)
John Rogers	....	grip (uncredited)
Pat Waller	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sandra-Ken Freeman	....	extras casting associate
Sandra-Ken Freeman	....	extras casting: additional photography
Jason Mundy	....	casting associate
Audrey Skalbania	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donna Christiano	....	costumer
Ruth Elke	....	costumer
Jana MacDonald	....	assistant costume designer
Karin Nosella	....	wardrobe supervisor
Debbie Travis	....	dresser: Mr. Nicholson

Editorial Department
Rob Bonz	....	second assistant editor
Cheryl Buckman	....	first assistant editor: Canada
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Sharon McGeeney	....	negative cutter
Dana Mulligan	....	first assistant editor
Shelly Theaker	....	second assistant editor: Canada (as Shelley Theaker)
Dale Jones	....	avid technician (uncredited)
Eric Rigney	....	avid technician (uncredited)

Music Department
Jason Alexander	....	music consultant
Slamm Andrews	....	score mixer
Slamm Andrews	....	score recordist
Michael Brook	....	composer: additional music
Craig Eastman	....	composer: additional music
Vicki Hiatt	....	music editor
Gretchen O'Neal	....	music production supervisor
Heitor Pereira	....	composer: additional music
Marc Streitenfeld	....	music editor
Martin Tillman	....	composer: additional music
Debra Baum	....	executive in charge of music (uncredited)
Craig Eastman	....	musician: violin, mandolin and slide guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Chet Badalato	....	driver: Mr. Nicholson
Greg Hamilton	....	transportation captain
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator: additional photography
James Lewko	....	transportation co-captain (as Jimmy Lewko)
Red Murphy	....	transportation coordinator
Dale Shaben	....	driver: Mr. Penn (as Dale Shabin)
Ian Thompson	....	picture car coordinator
Wally Watson	....	transportation co-captain
Rick Rasmussen	....	picture car wrangler: additional photography (uncredited)
Larry Tardif	....	driver: crane opperator (uncredited)

Other crew
Monty Bannister	....	location manager
Tommy Baratta	....	chef: Mr. Nicholson
Sara Barnes	....	craft service (as Samm Barnes)
Sara Barnes	....	first aid (as Samm Barnes)
Christina Bulbrook	....	production coordinator: additional photography (as Christina Margellos)
Dan Carr	....	assistant location manager
Jill Christensen	....	assistant production coordinator
Jill R. Cohen	....	production legal: Cohen & Reder LLP (as Jill Cohen)
Susan Crawford	....	production coordinator
Irena Dargenio	....	payroll accountant
Joe Depczynski	....	technical advisor (as Det. Joe Depczynski)
Debbie Derkach	....	assistant craft service
Debbie Derkach	....	assistant first aid
Tami DeSchutter	....	stand-in: Lori
Amy Edelson	....	staff assistant
Stacy Eyrich	....	assistant: Mr. Nicholson
Kristen Figeroid	....	assistant: Mr. Stevens
Jim Filippone	....	helicopter pilot
Lara P. Fox	....	script supervisor (as Lara Fox)
Jena Fraser	....	staff assistant
Tracey Gardhouse	....	animal trainer
Marci Graber	....	post-production accountant
John Hackett	....	stand-in: Mr. Nicholson
Rodney Itier	....	assistant: Mr. Samaha
Nathan Kay	....	trainee assistant location manager
Todd Lester	....	security captain
David Magee	....	staff assistant (as David MaGee)
Sato Masuzawa	....	assistant: Mr. Penn
Peter Munro	....	staff assistant (as Pete Monroe)
Rick Nicholson	....	security co-captain
Lou Phillips	....	production accountant
Benjamin R. Reder	....	production legal: Cohen & Reder LLP (as Ben Reder)
Kyle Riefsnyder	....	utility stand-in
Jaime Rigal	....	production financing: Imperial Entertainment Group
Mick Rochon	....	staff assistant
Dawn Sharpe	....	assistant accountant
Rhonda Taylor	....	staff assistant
James Thompson	....	assistant location manager
Richa Thorpe	....	second assistant production coordinator
Jared Underwood	....	production financing: Imperial Entertainment Group
Jared Valentine	....	extras wrangler
Tyrel Ventura	....	assistant: Mr. Penn
Danny Virtue	....	horse wrangler
Scott Walden	....	location manager
Ian Watermeier	....	finance coordinator
Gwen Wilson	....	assistant: Mr. Fitzgerald
Natasha Young	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Adam Barber	....	assistant: Mr. Zimmer (uncredited)
Ron Blecker	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Duane Bradley	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement (uncredited)
Kirk Jarrett	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Bonnie Judd	....	dog coordinator (uncredited)
Bonnie Judd	....	dog trainer (uncredited)
Jan Eirik Langoen	....	location scout (uncredited)
Wendi Laski	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Neil McDaniel	....	marine operator (uncredited)
Dennis Swartman	....	location manager: re-shoots (uncredited)
Tom Teotico	....	location scout (uncredited)
Gerry Therrien	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Lynn M. van Kuilenburg	....	location manager: additional photography, Los Angeles (uncredited)
Annie Wilkinson	....	set tutor (uncredited)

Thanks
Jack Groom	....	special thanks
Michael D. Haller	....	in memory of: our brother in arms (as Michael Haller)
Jack Nitzsche	....	in memory of: our brother in arms

Production Companies

• Morgan Creek Productions (present)
• Franchise Pictures (present)
• Clyde Is Hungry Films (producer)
• Pledge Productions
• Epsilon Motion Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cosmopol FD (2002) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Líder Films (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2001) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms A.I.E. (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• E Stars Films (2003) (China) (TV)
• Hollydan Works (2002) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2002) (Switzerland) (DVD) (as Medaria Home Entertainment)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (200?) (Australia) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects)
• Pacific Title Digital (additional digital effects)

Other Companies

• A. Testoni  footwear provided by
• Alpha Cine Service  processing by (as Alpha Cine)
• Bell & Ross  watch providers
• Cohen & Reder  production legal
• DGC  acknowledgment (as DGC Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario District Council)
• Deluxe  prints by (as Deluxe®)
• Edible Planet Catering  caterer (as Edible Planet)
• Flesh and Fantasy  special make-up effects (uncredited)
• Fujifilm Canada  motion picture products (as Fuji)
• Imperial Entertainment Group  production financing
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Jaffe Entertainment  production resources (as James Jaffe Entertainment)
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Kodak Canada  motion picture products (as Kodak)
• Media Ventures Santa Monica  score recorded and mixed at
• Molokai Productions  computer playback
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound post-production services (uncredited)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording (uncredited)
• Thompson-Nicola Film Commission  production services (uncredited)
• Union of B.C. Performers  acknowledgment (as Union of B.C. Performers - B.C. Branch of the ACTRA Performers Guild)
• Worldwide Film Completion  completion guarantee provided by

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language.

Runtime:

124 min | Argentina:123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hungary:14 | Italy:T | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Morgan Creek Productions

Trivia:

Although the film is set in Reno, Nevada, none of the other place names in the film (such as Becker and Monash Counties) exist in Nevada.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Jerry drives his SUV through the field and fences to the church, the brush guards on the front of the vehicle disappear and reappear.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jerry Black: She said it. She said it. She did.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Killing Floor (2007)

Soundtrack:

Poor Twisted Me

Superb drama. Top 5 of the decade so far without a doubt!

I have been an admirer of Sean Penn's previous directorial efforts ('The Indian Runner' and 'The Crossing Guard'), but he has really surpassed himself with this one. Re-teamed with Jack Nicholson he has helped that legendary actor create his best on screen performance since his 1970s peak ('Five Easy Pieces', 'Last Detail', 'Cuckoo's Nest', 'Marvin Gardens' et al). Nicholson has always been sensational but over the last ten years or so has sleepwalked his way through way too many movies, culminating in his irritating and mannered performance in the cliched and sentimental claptrap 'As Good As It Gets'. 'The Pledge' has obviously recharged his creative batteries. He is simply stunning in this film.

Nicholson is supported by a superlative array of actors, ranging from Aaron Eckhart ('The Company Of Men') and Sam Shepard ('The Right Stuff') to British vets Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgrave, to Nicholson's old cronies Lois Smith ('Five Easy Pieces') and Harry Dean Stanton ('The Rebel Rousers'). While the cast is packed with familiar faces, none are gratuitous, all are first rate, and contribute to the overall excellence of the movie. Special mention must be made to the memorable cameos of Benicio Del Toro, and an as especially compelling performance by Mickey Rourke. Long underrated and often ridiculed, Rourke once again shows just how compelling he is as an actor.

'The Pledge' sticks out like a sore thumb in today's climate of wall to wall action movies, dumb comedies, and contrived "blockbusters". This is a real movie, with outstanding acting and a haunting story. Sadly fewer and fewer movies of this calibre are hitting the big screen, so treasure it!