dvd report from florida

[jbrooks]

Blunted,

I wouldn't want to suggest that one shouldn't interpret any film in any way one wants. And though, I've seen The Pledge a few times, I'm sure I could be missing something. That said, I really don't see any way that Nicholson could be the killer. What's the basis for Mrs. Blunted and Steve's belief that Nicholson is the killer.

I wonder if there is some nuance or ambiguity that I am missing. If Nicholson were the killer, wouldn't that negate the whole film? Isn't the point of the film that Nicholson "pledge" to find this killer grows into an obsession which ultimately destroys him? Is there some alternate reading of the film that I am just missing? And what is the point of the revelation of the minister dead in the car at the end if he (the minister) is not the killer?

I'm interested to hear your thought (or Mrs. Blunted's) because, as I said, I really admire that film. Ambiguities aside, how did you enjoy it?

[blunted by community]

i liked the film.

mrs blunted said a few points that jived for jack being the killer, and you made some points that jived for the crispy monk being the killer. i was left hanging.

she said the girl was found near where jack was fishing, jack was insistent on going to tell the parents. the crispy monk had several opportunities to snatch the girl and didn't, jack was convinced the guy that confessed was not the one when all the others were convinced it was. only the killer would know it was not the confessor, even though he was seen leaving the scene of the crime, and there were chocolate wrappers in the truck.

means different thing to different people. mrs blunted and steve agreed that it was very cold, jack in the bushes with a pistol, the little girl like live bait tied to a tree waiting for the tiger. only some one that had no regard for the little girl would do that.

who knows. i liked the film. i have no answer. the filmmakers certainly didn't hand us the answer. by killing the preacher they robbed us of the answer.

oh shit, the porcupines! i just remembered the porcupines! didn't the crispy monk's mother make porcupines????

wait till i hit mrs blunted and steve with this one.

[jbrooks]

Yes, the crispy monk's mom made porcupines and I believe that when we see the burning wreck of the car (or maybe before the car crashes) we see that he has a small porcupine piece hanging from his rearview mirror (though I may be misremembering that). For me, that piece provides the answer. But Mrs. Blunted has made some interesting observations. I'll have to give it another look someday soon.

[Sir Bygber Brown]

I thought The Pledge was fairly clear in its denoument - Nicholson has driven himself mad trying to keep the pledge, which he could not possibly keep, because how can he find a man who is dead? This is why it is haunting, this is the entire point of the film. If he was the killer, the ending makes no sense. None of it makes sense. Yes, some films are open to interpretation, but in this case, one interpretation makes sense.

[blunted by community]

one of the things that swayed mrs blunted was that nicholson wanted the red dress for the little girl. i just told her about the porcupines, and she had forgotten about them also.

yeap, the crispy monk did it, and jack was driven insane by not being able to close the case for the parents, and keep his pledge.

i liked the movie.

the frank dvd is excellent. princess kelly introduced the concert, then frank came out and did his thing. only compaint is that he sang SOMETHING by the beatles. other wise he kicked butt. singing SOMETHING is nowhere near as bad as THE ULTIMATE EVENT where he sang BAD BAD LEROY BROWN. who the hell is going to tell frank sinatra that he should not sing that song. it's like hendrix, no one could tell him that the DOLLY DAGGER, and EASY RIDER tunes sucked.

everything about THE ULTIMATE EVENT was excellent, then i see frank up there, snapping his fingers, singing BAD, BAD, LEROY BROWN, BADDEST MAN IN THE WHOLE DAMN TOWN, and i cringe. "no, frank, no. why didn't Jilly tell him?"

Jilly was Frank's pal and body guard for years, he's the big meatloaf guy with the groovy shades that walks with Frank to the stage in a lot of the shows.

[Sir Bygber Brown]

Not princess Grace Kelly of Monaco by any chance? When was this concert from?