Review of First Reformed (2018) by Glenn G — 09 Jun 2018

YOU PREACHIN' TO ME? - My Review of FIRST REFORMED (4 Stars).

I don't tend to discuss my UCLA Film School education in my reviews, as the references would tend towards the obscure for those who don't consider themselves cinephiles. One of my all-time favorite critics, the late great Roger Ebert, took a populist approach despite having a bottomless well of filmic knowledge. He kept his reviews conversational while still maintaining a stringency and a focus.

I've always aspired towards that approach, but there's no way to review Paul Schrader's latest film without mentioning Robert Bresson, whose DIARY OF A COUNTRY PRIEST from 1954 had an obvious influence on Schrader's new work. A major figure of the French New Wave, Bresson's films typically utilized non-actors and had a stripped-down minimalist style. He was known as the "Patron Saint of Cinema" and his work can be felt by such successors as Todd Solondz, whose last film WIENER DOG owes a huge debt to AU HASARD BALTHAZAR, and now with Schrader's FIRST REFORMED, which clearly has its through-line from the aforementioned film. Scharder literally wrote a book about Bresson as well, TRANSCENDENTAL STYLE IN FILM: OZU, BRESSON, DREYER from 1972, so the man clearly had him in mind while making this.

Like COUNTRY PRIEST, it centers around a local religious leader with tormented doubts about his faith. In FIRST REFORMED, Ethan Hawke plays Ernst Toller, the Reverend of a tiny congregation in Upstate New York that tries to carve out its niche in the shadow of a competing mega-church. The action begins when a pregnant local woman named Mary (Amanda Seyfried) requests that Toller meet with her husband Michael (Philip Ettinger). An environmentalist plagued by doomsday scenarios, Michael wants Mary to have an abortion rather than bring a child into a dying world. Ettinger deserves the "Beatrice Straight from NETWORK Oscar" for his blistering single scene monologue. HIs words and fears have an impact on the rest of the film, especially on Toller's thoughts and actions.

To say more would spoil the beautiful anguish of this story, superbly acted by Hawke, in what I think is a career best...and I LOVED him in BOYHOOD. Here, Hawke finds a quiet command to his voice and stature which perfectly embodies the hellfire swirling around inside. At times it feels like the Godly version of TAXI DRIVER (which Schrader wrote), descending into darkness and the promise of some pretty severe actions. At the risk of a terrible pun, instead of DeNiro sporting a mohawk, we have Hawke!

Cedric Kyles (aka Cedric The Entertainer), who impressed me so much in Chris Rock's TOP FIVE, does so again here as Reverend Jeffers, the leader of the giant Abundant Life church and who does his best to council Toller through his darkest days. Kyles is one talented actor who digs as deeply into dramatic roles as he does with his comedic turns.

Schrader and his Cinematographer Alexander Dynan, chose to shoot the film in the old school, square box Academy ratio, much like IDA from 2013, another film which challenges religious devotion. It adds to the beautiful spareness of this quiet, difficult film. Still, Schrader manages one surreal sequence, which helps bring us into Toller's state of mind and prepares us for an ending which will surely spark conversations. Without going into detail, the last scene, a love it or hate it moment, forces the viewer to question Toller's mental state and begs the question, "What actually happened?" At the screening I attended, many felt ripped off by it, but I loved its abruptness and its unexpected turn.

I can't say I enjoyed watching FIRST REFORMED, as it rips open some painful wounds, but its definitely worthy. By bringing in the real world to the world of religion, which relies on faith and hope more than it does what's right in front of you, it's a challenging, tough sit. As someone not fond of organized religion, I felt compassion for Toller while still thinking, "You do lead a bunch of people to believe in fairy tales, so there WILL be consequences!".