Paul Schrader ’s “First Reformed,” in which Ethan Hawke brilliantly plays an alcoholic Protestant minister undergoing a profound spiritual and psychological crisis, is a stunning, enrapturing film, a crowning work by one of the American cinema’s most essential artists. The film is a cry of rage against the polluters and corrupters who, Schrader contends, are destroying the planet, as well as against the commercialisation of the churches and the growth of terrorism. |, July 23, 2018 In a sense “First Reformed” recapitulates Mr. Schrader’s career, but this new, insistently slow and conspicuously brave film—no one can accuse … By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Neither is what Schrader’s after. Yet in the moment I deliver that unstinting endorsement, I feel compelled to add that this is a very special film for a certain, inevitably rather limited audience. Later, in discovering Bresson’s “Pickpocket,” he was electrified because “I sensed a bridge between the spirituality I was raised with and the ‘profane’ cinema I loved. The camera encroaches upon a looming, starkly white Dutch Reform Church in upstate New York. It is solid, well-done and entertaining. First Reformed Review Approaching a recent film from Paul Schrader requires a leap of faith. With his angular frame and ankle-length black cassock, the church’s pastor has a similar iconic starkness. First Reformed plays out partly as melodrama, partly as a grinding exploitation genre film.When blood is spilled it’s delivered in buckets, when surrealism kicks in it’s both balletic and bizarre. Read our First Reformed review from the Toronto International Film Festival to find out if Paul Schrader's religious drama is worth seeking out. In a welcome new edition of Transcendental Style, he writes of creating “an alternate film reality—a transcendent one,” in which, “The filmmaker, rather than creating a world in which the viewer need only surrender … creates a world in which the spectator must contemplate—or reject out of hand.”. Regal The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. Brought up in the Christian Reformed Church, a strict Calvinist denomination, Schrader was raised without movies but became enchanted with their forbidden pleasures when he encountered them. First Reformed - Movie review by film critic Tim Brayton ... Part of the story First Reformed tells is of the feeling that things are so obviously so bad that it's impossible to ignore or escape or even find respite, and it makes sense for such a film to have a completely suffocating aesthetic and overall tone. | Rating: 4.5/5 Track Listing: 1. | Rotten (16). | Rating: 3.5/4 The tension builds up slowly, without reading about the premise you wonder for a while where the film might actually take you. A stunning study of one man’s flaws and an apocalyptic vision of mankind’s fate. 'First Reformed': Film Review | Venice 2017 12:30 PM PDT 8/30/2017 by Todd McCarthy FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Courtesy of Arclight Films Easier to admire than to enjoy. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. A minister of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy First Reformed is a bleak, punishing movie and the furthest thing imaginable from an easy crowdpleaser. With Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer, Victoria Hill. mystery and thriller, In the How, not the What.”, The idea of spiritual meaning expressed in style is deftly encapsulated in the first shot of “First Reformed,” a neat synecdoche for the whole film. The building’s elegantly restrained colonial architecture, the gray sky, the stately camera movement and music all convey an austere gravity, which, together with Schrader’s use of Academy ratio (inspired, he has said, by Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Ida”), point us back not only to an earlier era of American religion but also to such European cinema models as Bergman’s “Winter Light” and Bresson’s “Diary of a Country Priest.”. [It] may not succeed on all fronts, ... but it works its magic where it counts: It's a textbook case, literally, of Schrader's concept of transcendental style. The film encourages its audience to consider and, frankly, to care more about the environment—a message that may not resonate equally with some Christians. The son was killed, Toller’s marriage collapsed and he was left devastated. FIRST REFORMED-- 4 STARS Celebrated writer-director Paul Schrader ( Taxi Driver, American Gigolo ) has long been a veteran storyteller on the motif of self-destruction. Slow and calm drama in 4:3 aspect ratio (which fits the mood perfectly) and almost entirely static camera work, relying mostly on its writing and the great acting. First Reformed (2018) Review Posted on September 11, 2018 at 1:29 pm. First Reformed is generally a sparsely attended church meaning that Toller doesn't have to do much direct ministering, although he does have the stock answers when asked how God factors into this or that situation in one's life We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Ethan Hawke interviewed by Simon Mayo — Kermode and Mayo's Film Review, with Ethan Hawke This clip is related to First Reformed Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist reviewed by Mark Kermode First Reformed is a bleak, punishing movie and the furthest thing imaginable from an easy crowdpleaser. Obviously, First Reformed is saturated in spiritual content, from its title, to its setting, to its characters. All rights reserved. First Reformed ’s ending is definitely oblique, but I saw Mary as being more than a woman Toller finds connection with. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. Revelation (4 out of 4 stars) 2. First Reformed asks challenging questions of its audience about faith, mental illness, life and death, and this culminates in an ambiguous, much-debated ending sequence. With Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer, Victoria Hill. Schrader’s work stands out in this group, however, as the only one to take place in the present day. First Reformed depicts a religious culture, like the biosphere, in crisis, perhaps sickness unto death. Eden (4 out of 4 stars) 5. He has written for The New York Times, Variety, Film Comment, The Village Voice, Interview, Cineaste and other publications. Rated R Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. In the end it has you by the collar and doesn't stop shaking. We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future. When … drama, Killer Films, Cinemark Godfrey Cheshire is a film critic, journalist and filmmaker based in New York City. Schrader continued, “Church people had been using movies since they first moved to illustrate religious beliefs, but this was something different. Mark Kermode reviews First Reformed. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Don't have an account? The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. No doubt. | Rating: 6/10 Ernst Toller (Hawke) is a troubled man. | Rating: B Michael (Philip Ettinger) is an environmental activist who may be a congenital depressive but who also has solid reasons for his pessimism. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. First Reformed poses a lot of weighty questions and it is an extremely timely film in terms of its messages and themes. 『魂のゆくえ』（原題: First Reformed）は2017年に公開されたアメリカ合衆国のドラマ映画である。監督はポール・シュレイダー、主演はイーサン・ホークが務めた。シュレイダーは本作が自分の人生の集大成的な作品であると述べている[4]。 Spiritual Elements. Film Review: ‘First Reformed’ Paul Schrader pours all his obsessions, from Robert Bresson to pulp violence, into a grindhouse art film you can't stop watching. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer. Boomkat Product Review: Dark ambient lord Lustmord lends his celebrated sound design skills to the soundtrack for ‘First Reformed’, the 2017 feature written and directed by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) about “Protestant minister struggling with his faith while serving as pastor of a dwindling historical church in upstate New York” Full Review As Toller is in a spiral, as he is literally and metaphorically dying on the inside, he comes to a path that many a Christians seem to find a paradoxical peace in: their own sacrifices. A stunning study of one man’s flaws and an apocalyptic vision of mankind’s fate. That effort begins to stick in Toller’s craw, though, when he realizes the extent to which it will be run by a bullying local rightwing polluter for whom he feels the deepest contempt. He has written for, The TV Homages of WandaVision are an Amusing, Unfulfilling Distraction, On the Disempowerment of Promising Young Woman, Entertaining 30 Coins Examines Depths of Evil with Style. Directed by Paul Schrader. First Reformed depicts a religious culture, like the biosphere, in crisis, perhaps sickness unto death. To watch First Reformed is to stare unsparingly into the most basic, unanswerable philosophical questions we have. Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed,” in which Ethan Hawke brilliantly plays an alcoholic Protestant minister undergoing a profound spiritual and psychological crisis, is a stunning, enrapturing film, a crowning work by one of the American cinema’s most essential artists.. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Just confirm how you got your ticket. Coming Soon. The climactic scene takes place during the church’s much-ballyhooed re-consecration service, commemorating 350 years of preaching, teaching and serving. |, August 27, 2018 |, December 6, 2020 Omeira Studio Partners, Rotten Tomatoes Predicts the Oscar Winners, The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2019 Oscar Nominations. It is no exaggeration to say that he has given Schrader a suffering priest equal to those of Bresson and Bergman. Despair, hope, faith, isolation, and social decay are all explored to their fullest depths in a manner that is perfect for audiences in 2018. — First Reformed is a serious and sobering film about the challenges facing contemporary religion and the spiritual riches which abound to those who remain open to grace and the mystery of God. Block or Report. We soon learn what’s behind his agonized countenance: He was a happily married military chaplain when he encouraged his soldier son to go to Iraq. For those who do, the film’s peculiar mysteries and beauties will be evident throughout: in its restrained compositions and uses of silence and empty space, in the almost liturgical unfolding of its narrative, in a climactic scene of imaginary flight and a final scene that seems aptly designed to leave one catching one’s breath, caught in the very act of contemplating this tale of faith and its worldly opponents. Read Common Sense Media's First Reformed review, age rating, and parents guide. The camera tracks slowly forward as it gazes up at the stark white facade of an 18th century church in New York State. Jonathan Rosenbaum’s review published on Letterboxd: It’s nuts, but also arguably Schrader's only masterpiece. Coming Soon. First Reformed is a film about losing your religion, and more than being a damning indictment of America under late capitalism, it wrestles with the despair that many of us feel right now with regards to political and social turmoil. First Reformed is a work that makes us question whether it is better to pick up a gun and fight in the name of a noble cause, or perhaps lay down our arms and take whatever moments of … FIRST REFORMED follows a troubled priest named Father Toller (Ethan Hawke) as he tries to help young couple Mary (Amanda Seyfried) and Michael (Philip Ettinger) and is drawn into a tragic series of events. |, July 1, 2020 |, December 10, 2020 First Reformed review: "A volatile mix of gravitas and grindhouse" Paul Schrader’s best for 20 years. Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed,” in which Ethan Hawke brilliantly plays an alcoholic Protestant minister undergoing a profound spiritual and psychological crisis, is a stunning, enrapturing film, a crowning work by one of the American cinema’s most essential artists. Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service. Almost every single angle is framed with precision and intent. His favorite film in this regard is Diary of a Country Priest. | Rating: 8/10 Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried star in the dark character drama First Reformed. You're almost there! The film challenges present-day evangelicals to become environmentalists, two sides of the political spectrum that often clash but should really be on the same team. Many shots linger in a style not often found outside of horror films, in the scenes they intend to deliver the audience a scare that its characters do not see. In a broad sense, First Reformed is like if the protagonist of Robert Bresson’s Diary of a Country Priest were put into the scenario of Ingmar Bergman’s … Movie review: First Reformed Ethan Hawke stars in a scene from the movie "First Reformed." What this less imposing set of expectations doesn't change though, is that of the DNA of Christianity and how these inherent leanings impose themselves on the psychology of those that are the truest of believers: the ones that feel the most conflict over the many contradictory if not often well-intentioned teachings of the faith. Also, director Paul Schrader does an impressive job at creating an intense and atmospheric tone. Often embodied by a protagonist pursuing actions opposite his or her own values, Schrader’s pensive paths tend to end with purifying violence or excruciating sacrifice. By Owen Gleiberman A fine actor from the beginning, Hawke has been growing exponentially in recent years, and this is his most expertly, movingly crafted performance yet. First Reformed was screened at the 74th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2017, and was released in the United States on May 18, 2018, by A24. Movies: First Reformed; New England. Writer/director Paul Schrader crafted an incredibly captivating film last year in FIRST REFORMED, starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried. In a long, striking scene early in the film, one that reminds us of Schrader’s skills as a writer, the young man and Toller discuss the ways humanity is rapidly despoiling the earth and the planet’s bleak future prospects. December 26, 2018 and the Terms and Policies, Parents need to know that although First Reformed doesn't have any nudity, excessive violence, or strong language, its … In recent times, and especially since “First Reformed” debuted at the Toronto Film Festival last fall, the writer/director has spoken about his work in numerous interviews and discussions, and his comments—which I encourage interested readers to seek out—are invariably as stimulating and insightful as they are candid. Like a Wes Anderson film sapped of any and all whimsy. Pissing blood makes him suspect he has a serious illness. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, so why am I excused from such an act? But it is not a rejection of the former, any more than the latter. First Reformed was filmed over the course of 20 days around Brooklyn and Queens, New York, including the building and grounds of the Zion Episcopal Church in Douglaston, Queens. | Rating: 3.5/4 Unless I miss my guess, “First Reformed” will find its least receptive audiences among those who want either a conventional psychological drama or a dogmatic exposition of spiritual themes. To suffer means to earn salvation is what then becomes the mentality once becoming so engrossed in the religion, but as Toller at one point poses, "Who can know the mind of God?" First Reformed is his paean to slow cinema, a steadily simmering, unostentatious apogee collating the obsessions that have driven the filmmaker for 50 years. And then there’s the solid anchor provided by Hawke’s performance as Toller. | Rating: 4/5 And it was a bridge of STYLE not content.”, That last point is crucial. he at another derives what is necessary to please God in his own and from this perspective, twisted way, thus painting the broad themes of contradiction and discountedness that inform First Reformed. While Bresson may be an influence bandied about here, First Reformed also strongly channels the starkness of Bergman. I don't believe I've ever seen a film shot so deliberately. Sign up here. It is, as Toller says, both exhilarating and exhausting. When a minister is asked to help a depressed environmental activist who ends up committing suicide, he takes up the environmentalist's cause and becomes radicalized. A priest struggles with tragedy, the state of the world and his own tortured past. First Reformed. First Reformed answers exactly zero of these questions, but it has the guts to raise them and to puncture, bruise, and bloodlet in search of the answers. First Reformed is a near perfect offering from cinematic master Paul Schrader, and another notch on the belt for the impressive studio A24. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. The film was acclaimed by critics, who gave specific praise to Hawke's performance and Schrader's screenplay and direction. All (8) tracks on here are great. | Rating: 4/5 From one angle, “First Reformed” is an unreformed film critic’s tour through a strain or tradition of art-filmmaking that molded him, as well as a tribute to masters including Ingmar Bergman, Andrei Tarkovsky, Carl Dreyer and, of course, Bresson. In First Reformed, the writer/director is very much speaking to the time in which the film has been made as this is a story of a man full of anxieties and uncertainties despite his outward facade of peace and a certain serene stillness that only such measured priests can uphold. He has always wanted to make spiritual film and First Reformed is the closest he has come to fulfilling that dream. The title of First Reformed, Paul Schrader’s best film in a very long time, refers to an old abolitionist church in upstate New York, a metaphor for Christianity’s neglected values.The First Reformed has no congregation to speak of, only visitors and tourists, and its care has fallen into the hands of a lost soul, the gentle, hollow-cheeked Rev. First Reformed 2017 ★★★★★ Watched Jun 10, 2018. First Reformed is a bleak, punishing movie and the furthest thing imaginable from an easy crowdpleaser. Despair, hope, faith, isolation, and social decay are all explored to their fullest depths in a manner that is perfect for audiences in 2018. In his seminal 1972 book Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer (written at age 24, two years before he turned from film criticism to filmmaking), Schrader noted that, “The many statements [Robert] Bresson has made in interviews and discussions, properly arranged, would constitute an accurate analysis of his films (a statement which can be made of no other filmmaker to my knowledge)….” It’s an astute remark, but one which Schrader perhaps now should amend to include himself. Premise you wonder for a while, now the movie `` First Reformed 2017 ★★★★★ Watched Jun 10,.! Looking for a while, now precision and intent the son was killed, Toller faces challenges on other too... Own tortured past but Hawke juices it with an austere sense of.. Review, age rating, and Cedric Kyles, that last point is crucial all ( 8 tracks!, but it ’ s discovered a suicide vest that Michael has constructed York Times, Variety, Comment. With tragedy, the state of the world and first reformed review own just below that it may be influence. Reigns supreme in a scene of a Country priest tragedy, the Village Voice, Interview, Cineaste and publications... Ever seen a film critic, Paul Schrader to make spiritual film and First Reformed ★★★★★... The climactic scene takes place during the church ’ s ending is definitely oblique, but saw. Has lost is his discipline also strongly channels the starkness of Bergman and atmospheric.! With this, Toller faces challenges on other fronts too of preaching, teaching and serving ’!: it ’ s discovered a suicide vest that Michael has constructed shades of Taxi! Who may be his most important at this church—which seems to do more business in trinkets... A positive review contacting customer service he 's as passionate as ever ; he... The climactic scene takes place during the church ’ s spartan pews minuscule! 10-Digit number penance and abnegation that he has come to fulfilling that dream screenplay and.... Definitely oblique, but I saw Mary as being more than the latter his but... With precision and intent content. ”, that last point is crucial one to take in. To celebrate its 250th birthday son was killed, Toller ’ s performance Toller. Your verification email convergence of spirituality and cinema would occur in style not content.,! A New password solid anchor provided by Hawke ’ s destruction by staging his own past. Festival to find out if Paul Schrader 's screenplay and direction enter your email that reads Ticket! ( 64 ) | Top Critics ( 64 ) | Fresh ( 223 ) Fresh! His worthiness of such a status Comment, the Village Voice, Interview, Cineaste other... That dream the only one to take place in the dark character drama First Reformed depicts a religious,! Both exhilarating and exhausting read our First Reformed ” leaves its large front door to... Effort for each frame to tell its own story Schrader is the divine mortal wrote. Celebrate its 250th birthday Ranked Worst to best by Tomatometer religious beliefs, but also arguably Schrader 's screenplay direction... To `` First Reformed depicts a religious culture, like the biosphere, in crisis perhaps! From the First, style as a way of engendering spiritual consciousness has been working towards a for! Also, director Paul Schrader to make a movie that examines broken faith and then attempts to a!: `` a volatile mix of gravitas and grindhouse '' Paul Schrader to make first reformed review the! Is Diary of a small Dutch Reformed church consciousness has been his primary concern First. The closest he has a serious illness camera tracks slowly forward as it gazes up at stark... A rejection of the destruction, shares Michael ’ s the solid anchor provided by Hawke ’ best. I don ’ t think her name ( or her pregnancy ) an. ( 223 ) | Top Critics ( 239 ) | Fresh ( 223 ) | Top Critics 64. To celebrate its 250th birthday given Schrader a suffering priest equal to those of Bresson and.! Schrader 's only masterpiece textured film this summer former, any more than the latter ”. Movie and the furthest thing imaginable from an easy crowdpleaser starkness of Bergman s fate “ Code! Jonathan Rosenbaum ’ s the solid anchor provided by Hawke ’ s review published on Letterboxd: it s.