Another challenging film distributed by the wonderful American Independent company known as A24. I would say that this company is by far one of the best out there for people who are passionate about cinema. They are distributing some of the most powerful cinema around. This includes films such as Enemy, Under the Skin, Ex Machina, Moonlight, Lady Bird and that is only a small few of the many I could choose to mention. First Reformed is another great addition to the A24 ranks.
Powerful cinema can sometimes involve a challenging viewing experience. Every now and then, I believe you should find a film that challenges you. It might sound odd, but some of the best experiences of cinema are ones where you are left feeling uncomfortable, scared or even just plain stunned. This was definitely a combo I felt after my encounter with First Reformed.
I would not normally find myself choosing to watch this, but I am glad I did. ‘From legendary writer-director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, American Gigolo, Raging Bull) comes a gripping new film that ranks among his very best work.
Reverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke) is a solitary parish priest at a small church in upstate New York, which is on the cusp of celebrating its 250th anniversary. Now more of a tourist attraction catering to a dwindling congregation, it has long been eclipsed by its nearby parent church, Abundant Life, with its state-of-the-art facilities. When a pregnant parishioner (Amanda Seyfried) asks Reverend Toller to counsel her husband, a radical environmentalist, Toller is plunged into his own tormented past and finds himself questioning his own future and where redemption might lie. With the pressure on him beginning to grow, he must do everything he can to stop events spiralling out of control.
With an outstanding cast that includes Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, Maggie’s Plan), Amanda Seyfried (Les Misérables, Twin Peaks) and Cedric Kyles (Larry Crowne, Barbershop), Schrader has delivered a thrillingly fierce film that features an utterly mesmerising performance from Hawke in the lead role.’
Trying to start this review is a tricky task, as there is a whole lot I want to talk about, but also a whole lot that I don’t want to spoil. The tone of the film is dark but never in an overbearing sense. At times it felt like I should have looked away but I could never bring myself to do so, I was too engrossed in the narrative.
Ethan Hawke definitely deserves the highest praise for his performance. It was so unbelievably fitting as if the role was crafted just for him. Amanda Seyfried also deserves similar praise for her performance as well. She manages to bring the only gleam of hope that exists in this movie and she does it so beautifully.
I also feel the need to mention the choice of 4×3 framing that was used. Similar examples of films that have chosen to use this are The Grand Budapest Hotel and American Honey. In First Reformed, this choice worked well with the cinematography and was personally one of my favourite parts. It captured everything with such grace and made every moment of the narrative just that little bit more compelling.
The narrative focuses on a lot of deep and heavy topics, mainly Christianity and the idea of keeping faith in a world without any. This leads to one of the other focuses which are the state of the planet and the environment. A conversation during the opening of the film between The Priest and Amanda’s husband leads to an interesting scene. One that really shows the strength of both the dialogue and the actors themselves. It portrays that the film doesn’t need to rely on much else.
This is also apparent in the journal entries that appear during the film, they stuck out to me as something else I admired. They shaped the story in a unique way. It was as if Reverend Ernst Toller was choosing to share his every thought with you. He was not hiding any of his feelings from the audience.
If I had to sum up First Reformed, I would say it is that feeling of driving past a car crash. Maybe not as intense in some ways, but that moment where you shouldn’t really be looking but you found yourself staring deeper into the void. The performances and dialogue are what drives this film. I am glad to have experienced it and I brave others to try it as well.
Check out this 30-second trailer below!
