Directed by Sean Penn Writing Credis Friedrich Dürrenmatt (book) Jerzy Kromolowski (screenplay) Mary Olson-Kromolowski (screenplay) Cast Patricia Clarkson as Margaret Larsen Benicio Del Toro as Toby Jay Wadenah Dale Dickey as Strom Wendy Donaldson as Resort Owner Adrien Dorval as Sheriff Aaron Eckhart as Stan Krolak Costas Mandylor as Monash Deputy Helen Mirren as Doctor Jack Nicholson as Jerry Black Tom Noonan as Gary Jackson Michael O'Keefe as Duane Larsen Robin Wright Penn as Lori Vanessa Redgrave as Annalise Hansen Mickey Rourke as Jim Olstad Pauline Roberts as Chrissy Eileen Ryan as Jean Sam Shepard as Eric Pollack Lois Smith as Helen Jackson Harry Dean Stanton as Floyd Cage Brittany Tiplady as Becky Fiske Genre : Drama / Crime / Mystery / Thriller Budget $35.000.000 Box Office USA $19,733,089 Opening Weekend $5,765,347 / 1,275 theaters / $4,521 average Widest release 1,410 theaters Release Date January 19, 2001 Filming Dates 14 February 2000 -April 2000 Filming locations Reno, Nevada, USA Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Plot The night he retires as a Nevada sheriff, Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) pledges to the mother (Patricia Clarkson) of a murdered girl that he will find the killer. Jerry doesn't believe the police arrested the right man; he discovers this is the third incident in the area in the recent past with victims young, blond, pretty, and small for their age. So he buys an old gas station in the mountains near the crimes in order to search for a tall man who drives a black station wagon, gives toy porcupines as gifts, and calls himself the wizard: clues from a drawing by the dead girl. Jerry's solitary life gives way to friendship with a Lori (Robin Wright Penn) and her small, blond daughter (Pauline Roberts). Has Jerry neglected something that may prove fatal? Awards and Nominations LINK