First Reformed

Name: First Reformed
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: May 18, 2018
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Bill Hoag, Cedric the Entertainer, Elanna White, Ethan Hawke

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 48 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 191 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 191 Ratings

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First Reformed

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: May 18, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Bill Hoag, Cedric the Entertainer, Elanna White, Ethan Hawke, Frank Rodriguez, Gary Lee Mahmoud, Kristin Villanueva, Krystina Alabado, Mahaleia Gray, Michael Gaston, Michael Metta, Philip Ettinger, Ronald Peet, Satchel Eden Bell, Van Hansis, Victoria Hill

Summary: Reverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke) is a solitary, middle-aged parish pastor at a small Dutch Reform church in upstate New York on the cusp of celebrating its 250th anniversary. Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, the church is now a tourist attraction catering to a dwindling congregation, eclipsed by its nearby parent church, AbundantReverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke) is a solitary, middle-aged parish pastor at a small Dutch Reform church in upstate New York on the cusp of celebrating its 250th anniversary. Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, the church is now a tourist attraction catering to a dwindling congregation, eclipsed by its nearby parent church, Abundant Life, with its state-of-the-art facilities and 5,000-strong flock. When a pregnant parishioner (Amanda Seyfried) asks Reverend Toller to counsel her husband, a radical environmentalist, the clergyman finds himself plunged into his own tormented past, and equally despairing future, until he finds redemption in an act of grandiose violence. [A24]… Expand

Director: Paul Schrader

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 113 min

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Awards & Rankings

37	#37 Best Movie of 2018
69	#69 Most Discussed Movie of 2018
85	#85 Most Shared Movie of 2018

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Josh Larsen

Feb 6, 2019

First Reformed manages to be ascetic, poetic, and prophetic. It’s at once centering, thrilling, and disturbing. Read full review

100

RogerEbert.com Godfrey Cheshire

May 18, 2018

A stunning, enrapturing film, a crowning work by one of the American cinema’s most essential artists. Read full review

David Sims

May 21, 2018

The result is an embittered look at our world through the eyes of someone who’s increasingly horrified to be a part of it, and a film that’s one of the most searing cinema experiences of the year. Read full review

Michael Phillips

May 24, 2018

An act of spiritual inquiry, a coolly assured example of cinematic scholarship in subtly deployed motion and one of the strongest pictures of 2018. Read full review

Consequence of Sound Randall Colburn

Mar 15, 2018

Hawke is too committed for Toller’s humanity to not shine through. It’s a layered, transformative performance, his gritting, introverted Toller bearing no traces of the rambling, loose-limbed Hawke of Richard Linklater’s canon. Read full review

Tim Grierson

Thoughtful, moving, overreaching and uncompromising, First Reformed is a tremendously tormented work from writer-director Paul Schrader. Read full review

Mike Scott

Jun 14, 2018

Admittedly, I'm in the minority here, with many other critics swooning over First Reformed and the big questions it raises. Regardless, the biggest question I had after watching it was simple: What the hell did I just witness? Read full review

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User Reviews

The3AcademySins

May 27, 2018

First Reformed is a near perfect offering from cinematic master Paul Schrader, and another notch on the belt for the impressive studio A24. Despair, hope, faith, isolation, and social decay are all explored to their fullest depths in a manner that is perfect for audiences in 2018. ThisFirst Reformed is a near perfect offering from cinematic master Paul Schrader, and another notch on the belt for the impressive studio A24. Despair, hope, faith, isolation, and social decay are all explored to their fullest depths in a manner that is perfect for audiences in 2018. This might be Ethan Hawke's best performance as an actor. Amanda Seyfried is also incredible, and Cedric the Entertainer also busts out some fine acting chops. There truly is not a weak link in the cast, even among the minor characters.

The script is a slow-burning engine that drives it's way home. You'll be really emotionally effected by First Reformed. If you are a fan of serious film, this is a must-see. I'll be genuinely surprised if Hawke and Schrader don't get nominations at this year's Academy Awards.… Expand

6 of 7 users found this helpful61

blisteredhogg

Feb 24, 2020

Deep and dark, moral & psychological thriller. Weeks later I can't stop thinking about it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imdoingmypart

Jun 8, 2018

"Will God forgive us?" This question sits at the center of First Reformed, Paul Schrader's latest film dealing with faith, devotion, grief, morality, hypocrisy, and a general feeling of existential crisis. Ethan Hawke stars as Reverend Toller, a Catholic priest at a dying church in upstate"Will God forgive us?" This question sits at the center of First Reformed, Paul Schrader's latest film dealing with faith, devotion, grief, morality, hypocrisy, and a general feeling of existential crisis. Ethan Hawke stars as Reverend Toller, a Catholic priest at a dying church in upstate New York. Toller is given the task of counseling a young married couple, more specifically the husband, who is becoming reclusive and radical according to his wife (played by Amanda Seyfriend). Toller does not offer judgment but rather wisdom and comfort, sometimes successfully while other times at a distance. While almost exclusively patient, calm, and well-intended, Toller is isolated and removed from the world around him.

Early in the film, Toller reveals that his son was killed in Iraq after joining the military due to family tradition.Though he does discuss the pain and grief following his son's death, Toller does not physically demonstrate his pain beyond his stoicism. It seems impossible that a man could remain so faithful and reverent after the loss of his child and the dissolution of his marriage. Make no mistake: though he keeps it subdued, Toller's grief is central to First Reformed and its exploration of multiple individuals' characters and beliefs. The film does not take jabs at some of the obvious forces present in the film - military, religion, activism, capitalism - but rather sits back and lets the audience form its own judgments.

First Reformed is most exciting in its ability to navigate its many ideas and emotions in near fluidity. While often a dramatic and tragic character study, the film, at times, is a horror film at heart. At other times, it is a study and comparison of faith and religion. Sometimes its characters are distant while at other times their actions can be completely justified. The same steady, patient camera captures one shot of personal outburst and another shot of a still wine glass just a couple scenes away. Few filmmakers can even attempt to cover the before-mentioned topics of personal faith, religious devotion, overwhelming grief, and morality and its justification all within a two hour time frame, but Schrader, the screenwriter of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, not only exceeds expectations but also manages to fit in creative camera work, quiet moments of speechless physical performance, comedic relief, and pointed questions that do not leave the audience unsatisfied but rather motivated to begin asking introspective questions that are too personal to be answered on screen. In many ways, First Reformed is difficult to discuss due to its piercing, personal nature. In other ways, it merits some of the most interesting discussion in film this year. First Reformed does not seek to ties its events and ideas up into a neat package but rather to quietly explode on screen and draw the audience not only to seek discussion with other viewers but also to open an internal discussion and personal exploration that only the masters of filmmaking can inspire.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

RainDog_45

Feb 2, 2019

Deliberate pacing suits the foreboding material. Great performances by Hawke and Seyfried. My biggest gripe is with the ending— not sure where I would’ve liked it to have gone, but where it went felt incohesive.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GrantD243

Jun 1, 2018

First Reformed wasn't marketed at all around where I live, and I don't believe I ever even watched a trailer for it, so going into it all I knew about it was that it was an A24 film with Ethan Hawke about a reverend. Naturally, I assumed it was a horror film, or at least something dealingFirst Reformed wasn't marketed at all around where I live, and I don't believe I ever even watched a trailer for it, so going into it all I knew about it was that it was an A24 film with Ethan Hawke about a reverend. Naturally, I assumed it was a horror film, or at least something dealing with the supernatural. Boy, I was in for a surprise. First Reformed is a slow burn drama, and a damn good one at that. The story of First Reformed is about Reverend Toller, who oversees First Reformed Church, which is a church that is almost 250 years old and is more of a tourist destination than a church at this point (although he does still hold Sunday sessions). There is nothing supernatural, and this isn't an in-your-face religious film, either. This film is about a lot of things. It has A LOT to say about the current state of the environment, and it even touches on politics and the power of corporations. But there's more than that, it's about the personal struggles of Reverend Toller, who has lived a life filled with isolation and sorrow ever since his son was killed in Iraq. We get a lot of insight into the character of Reverend Toller through personal journal entries that he makes and then reads for the audience, and it's made clear that while he may initially appear like a well kept together man, he is nothing of the sort. He is sick with what appears to be cancer, and he is a man filled with despair. When he finds something that makes him question everything (the current state of the environment), he slowly becomes engulfed by it, to a point that frankly I found quite shocking. This film is a very slow burn. It's very serious as well. You won't find much, if any, humor, so it relies purely on the story to keep the audience engaged, and it did just that. I was captivated until the very end, which I must say is something I've been thinking about all day. The acting is excellent, the script is fantastic, and the story kept me intrigued despite being very slow. First Reformed really is one of the best overall films of the year, and I'm sure it'll get some recognition when the award shows swing around. However, you might notice that I only gave it an 8, and really it came down to the fact that this isn't a film that I'm just gonna pop into the Blu-Ray player on a Saturday night when I wanna watch a movie. The re-watchability is just not super high, which inevitably brought down its score. That doesn't mean it's not a great film, though.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

imthenoob

Aug 8, 2018

After the first viewing, I didn't like it but it kind of stuck with me and made me think. Soon after a second viewing, I really appreciated it more and consider it a pretty good indie film. Hawke does an amazing job as the lead here and really didn't get the love he should have come awardAfter the first viewing, I didn't like it but it kind of stuck with me and made me think. Soon after a second viewing, I really appreciated it more and consider it a pretty good indie film. Hawke does an amazing job as the lead here and really didn't get the love he should have come award time but it is what it is. This movie isn't for everyone but I still recommend it highly.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wrightpict

Jun 30, 2019

anti christian propaganda to push abortion and global warming. while the polar bear thrives and cold countries pray for a warmer winter. socialism rises again like in 1917 to take away religion without a fake dooms day UN 12 year prediction and hedonism and narcissism reigns for a priest whoanti christian propaganda to push abortion and global warming. while the polar bear thrives and cold countries pray for a warmer winter. socialism rises again like in 1917 to take away religion without a fake dooms day UN 12 year prediction and hedonism and narcissism reigns for a priest who should be about love and caring for children not killing them. total crap. bad actors too.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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