The Promise's reviews
Media reviews
Chicago Sun-Times
Yes, 'The Promise' veers into corny territory, and yes, it?s derivative of better war romances ? but it?s a solid and sobering reminder of the atrocities of war, bolstered by strong performances from Isaac and Bale, two of the best actors of their generation.
The Guardian
There?s something rather dusty about The Promise as George pushes his characters through a string of soapy machinations that feel incredibly familiar.
Empire
Undeniably effective, in its own blunt way, this deserves credit for shining light on a crime that?s ? unbelievably and controversially ? still denied to this day.
Entertainment Weekly
Even lush set pieces and a raft of prestige players (including Shohreh Aghdashloo, James Cromwell, and Jean Reno) can?t fulfill the movie?s pretty, ultimately empty promise.
Rolling Stone
The actors do what they can to keep their heads above the sudsy script. No go. It?s distressing to see a great subject go wrong in the right hands.
Los Angeles Times
With seemingly all the right pieces, it's a disappointment that The Promise lacks the energy and originality needed to sustain itself. It might be fresh material, but the approach is decidedly stale.
The Hollywood Reporter
An earnest but much too formulaic attempt to humanize this historic atrocity.
The Washington Post
Attempting to make an atrocity palatable to a mainstream audience, The Promise delivers the history, but undercuts its impact.
Variety
(...) this fictional love story is an epic bore.
The Playlist
Didactic yet generic, The Promise endeavors to educate about a period of recent history that is still unacknowledged by the Turkish government, but curiously manages to be anonymous in form nonetheless.
Festival Internacional de Cine de Lanzarote