In my movie reviews, I usually try to avoid any spoilers that are not in the trailer or the first half hour of the movie. You can watch the trailer at the end of this post.
First Reformed is written and directed by Paul Schrader and stars Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried and Cedric Kyles (AKA Cedric the Entertainer).
Reverend Ernst Toller (Hawke) is a pastor at the small 250-year old First Reformed church in Albany County in New York State. This is a small town apparently far from the capital city. Toller's church is a relic with very few people actually attending services. It is derogatorily referred to as a "souvenir shop," more of a tourist church that people visit while passing through town. The church is owned by the bigger modern Abundant Life church, led by Pastor Jeffers (Kyles).
Toller isn't taken very seriously as a reverend. He is divorced, a former military chaplain, grieving the loss of a loved one. He may have cancer. He tells his doctor he only drinks moderately. His doctor says he shouldn't drink at all. Like any "moderate" drinker, he continues anyway. He drinks whiskey. Two different brands are shown in one night. Did he finish one of the bottles? When a pair of environmental activists come to him for marriage counseling, he starts to ponder whether God can forgive us for what we've done to the world. The frustration of being able to do nothing leaves him brooding.
With his older more traditional church, Toller represents a more liberal social-justice oriented religious viewpoint in contrast to the newer megachurch complete with a media center funded by a local industrialist who is opposed to the church being involved in any environmental political speech. Edward Balq is an industrialist who is the biggest donor to the Abundant Life church, which in turn owns the First Reformed church. Does Toller serve God or Balq?
Mention is made of some churches embracing the prosperity doctrine, where wealthy people are seen as deserving of their riches. Is this the Abundant Life referred to in the church name? The Abundant Life church is racially diverse. The First Reformed church was part the of the Underground Railroad, helping to free slaves. It has a history of political action that Toller starts to feel he should continue.
The film is shot in a tight 4:3 aspect ratio. This doesn't allow for wide panoramic shots of the landscape. Instead we get tight shots of polluted lakes. The would be controversial but this is more an independent arthouse film that won't be shown in large theater chains. Writer and director Paul Schrader also wrote Taxi Driver. This has some of the same brooding darkness of people trying to figure out what they can do to clean up the filth.
I'll give it 4/5 starts. It's slow but engaging, as one wonders how far Toller might go. It's depressing and sad with some graphic scenes of violence. I liked it but I think I don't need a second viewing.
This trailer is the property of A24
