Vet cop (Nicholson) makes solemn promise to the mother of a murdered little girl to find killer. Even after retirement, Jerry's haunted by the hunt. He's determined to show that police arrested wrong man (del Toro) for the crime. But determination begets obsession begets--insanity?
The merits of this fine movie, I think the most intense drama I've seen in 10 years, could rest on story alone or on the cadre of excellent actors. Sean Penn has achieved something really remarkable here: so many actors playing against type; so many nonstereotypical scenes.
Nicholson's character reads bedtime stories to little girl, even as he suspects she's being stalked by killer. Mickey Rourke as grieving father? Yes, & also driven mad. Vanessa Redgrave as grandma.
Everybody's perverse here: mother who forces Nicholson to "pledge" on cross that dead daughter made. Aaron Eckart & del Toro turn your standard interrogation room scene into one of sexual seduction: Eckart stops short of sticking his tongue in del Toro's ear.
Mesmerizing & unnerving. This is what "adult drama" should be.
The merits of this fine movie, I think the most intense drama I've seen in 10 years, could rest on story alone or on the cadre of excellent actors. Sean Penn has achieved something really remarkable here: so many actors playing against type; so many nonstereotypical scenes.
Nicholson's character reads bedtime stories to little girl, even as he suspects she's being stalked by killer. Mickey Rourke as grieving father? Yes, & also driven mad. Vanessa Redgrave as grandma.
Everybody's perverse here: mother who forces Nicholson to "pledge" on cross that dead daughter made. Aaron Eckart & del Toro turn your standard interrogation room scene into one of sexual seduction: Eckart stops short of sticking his tongue in del Toro's ear.
Mesmerizing & unnerving. This is what "adult drama" should be.