Das Versprechen (2001)

Das Versprechen: Directed by Sean Penn. With Patricia Clarkson, Beau Daniels, Benicio Del Toro, Dale Dickey. A retiring police detective pledges to catch the killer of a young child.

“I have been an admirer of Sean Pennu0026#39;s previous directorial efforts (u0026#39;The Indian Runneru0026#39; and u0026#39;The Crossing Guardu0026#39;), 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 (u0026#39;Five Easy Piecesu0026#39;, u0026#39;Last Detailu0026#39;, u0026#39;Cuckoou0026#39;s Nestu0026#39;, u0026#39;Marvin Gardensu0026#39; 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 u0026#39;As Good As It Getsu0026#39;. u0026#39;The Pledgeu0026#39; has obviously recharged his creative batteries. He is simply stunning in this film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNicholson is supported by a superlative array of actors, ranging from Aaron Eckhart (u0026#39;The Company Of Menu0026#39;) and Sam Shepard (u0026#39;The Right Stuffu0026#39;) to British vets Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgrave, to Nicholsonu0026#39;s old cronies Lois Smith (u0026#39;Five Easy Piecesu0026#39;) and Harry Dean Stanton (u0026#39;The Rebel Rousersu0026#39;). 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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026#39;The Pledgeu0026#39; sticks out like a sore thumb in todayu0026#39;s climate of wall to wall action movies, dumb comedies, and contrived u0026quot;blockbustersu0026quot;. 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!”