The Pledge2001

Penn and Nicholson take risks with the material and elevate the movie to another, unanticipated, haunting level.

An incredibly underrated gem directed by Sean Penn. Jack Nicholson delivers a flawless performance as a retired detective consumed by a solemn promise. The overall story is incredibly strong, and the narrative buildup keeps you completely gripped throughout its 2-hour runtime without a single boring moment. However, the film isn't perfect; the screenplay leaves too many plot holes that hamper the logical flow of the investigation, and some of the twists could have been executed better. Despite these flaws, the bittersweet ending will leave you feeling both sad and happy. A great watch for fans of psychological mysteries.

Why on earth didn't Warner Bros. release this movie in time for Oscar consideration? Sure, it's bleak, depressing, sometimes painful to watch. But it would have been one of the best pictures of the year, and Nicholson (who hasn't done work of this caliber since "The Crossing Guard") might have been on the podium again.