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 225 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 225 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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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

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

AugustKeller

Jun 4, 2018

First Reformed is solid gold. The film is striking on a visual level because every shot is rich with balance, depth and artful levels of symmetry; despite the fact that the film is presented in an unusual aspect ratio, it pulls its viewers in with nonstop beautiful photography. Meanwhile, aFirst Reformed is solid gold. The film is striking on a visual level because every shot is rich with balance, depth and artful levels of symmetry; despite the fact that the film is presented in an unusual aspect ratio, it pulls its viewers in with nonstop beautiful photography. Meanwhile, a thought-provoking story unfolds with some of the best acting we’ve seen from each elite performer. The entire cast (from Hawke to Seyfried to Cedric Kyles) delivers fantastic performances that are essential in bringing the chilling messages of the film home.

The story is expectedly spiritual and surprisingly political. The pace of the film is deliberate and switches seamlessly between snapshots and extended takes. The scoring slowly builds its ominous tone and the effects are tastefully done. Every aspect of First Reformed is built with intention that serves its sobering themes. Ultimately, First Reformed‘s elite qualities combined into an experience that is more than a movie, it is a piece of art. If you like technique, you will love First Reformed.

Writing: 9/10
Direction: 10/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Acting: 10/10
Editing: 9/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 10/10
Effects: 8/10

Overall Score: 9.1/10

Original Article: https://thefilmguys.blog/reviews/augusts-reviews/first-reformed-2018/… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Kwp1039

Mar 25, 2019

‘First Reformed’ is a 2018 Drama/Mystery film by director Paul Schrader. With exceptional use of the ‘long shot’, which is executed to evoke a vast array of emotions from the viewer; ‘First Reformed’ offers a deep look at spirituality, moral convictions, and disillusionment. Ethan Hawke’s‘First Reformed’ is a 2018 Drama/Mystery film by director Paul Schrader. With exceptional use of the ‘long shot’, which is executed to evoke a vast array of emotions from the viewer; ‘First Reformed’ offers a deep look at spirituality, moral convictions, and disillusionment. Ethan Hawke’s performance, and the development of his character, not only keeps the audience engaged, but keeps them questioning at every turn. ‘First Reformed’ ends with a beautifully shot, yet ambiguous ending, that leaves the audience constructing their own ending in a truly original way.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AndrewBurge

Aug 22, 2018

Bleak, patient and narrative, 'First Reformed' is one hell of a tough film to review. It hides away from you in an attempt to elevate its art to near poetry. And it succeeds. Writer/director Paul Schrader teams up with Ethan Hawke, who gives the performance of his career as Reverend ErnstBleak, patient and narrative, 'First Reformed' is one hell of a tough film to review. It hides away from you in an attempt to elevate its art to near poetry. And it succeeds. Writer/director Paul Schrader teams up with Ethan Hawke, who gives the performance of his career as Reverend Ernst Toller, a small town priest whose faith is put to the test, having his doubts manifested in a riveting, albeit tame manner.

The script is dominated by a beautiful narrative. Toller indulges in an experiment to keep a journal for a year and then destroy it. We get the impression he is looking for closure, and very soon we find out why. He suffers from a disease which is never fully shown to us, but given the fact that he urinates blood and that he can barely stand, it must be bad. This is the weird but brilliant structure of the narrative. It says a lot, but it never disclosures more than it needs to. Schrader does not use it to advance the plot, but rather to engulf us deeper into the mind of Ernst Toller, who constantly grapples with faith, isolation, regret and despair in the modern world.

Despair, most of all. One of the very first scenes includes a captivating discussion between him and Michael (Philip Ettinger), a troubled environmentalist who lost his faith in society. He babbles continuously about an environmental fallout and his wife, Mary (Amanda Seyfried) called the reverend to help him. This scene is especially captivating as it is the first one where we witness Schrader's incredibly bleak and silent cinema. It is too quiet in there. A quiet which is brilliantly maximized by the beating of the clock.

This bleakness spreads through the entire picture, which is accompanied by no music, except occasional crescent rumbles, often accompanied by beautiful and depressing shots of industrialism. It also helps that this film was filmed in a classic 4:3 aspect ratio which, at first, I found irrelevant, but it offers some truly picturesque imagery.

So, while 'First Reformed' might be a bit controlling and chastised, it is mind bending, slightly shocking and purgatorial.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Zenflar

Sep 6, 2021

B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+B+… 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 2 users found this helpful02

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71	#71 Most Discussed Movie of 2018
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