Rent First Reformed (2017)

Actors:: Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer et al.
Directors:: Paul Schrader
Runtime:: DVD: 113 min.
Availability:: DVD

Current Rating 3.6

3.6 of 5 from 56 ratings

Synopsis:: From Golden Globe Nominee Director Paul Schrader, 'First Reformed is a brooding, thriller-drama centred around Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke), a troubled priest of a small, historical church in upstate New York, who starts to spiral out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with Mary (Amanda Seyfried) and her husband Michael, an unstable environmental activist. Consumed by thoughts that the world is in danger and motivated by the church’s lack of action, Toller embarks on a perilous self-assigned undertaking with the hope that he may finally restore the faith and purpose he’s been longing for in his mission to right the wrongs done to so many.
Actors:: Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer, Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer, Victoria Hill, Philip Ettinger, Michael Gaston, Bill Hoag, Kristin Villanueva, Ingrid Kullberg-Bendz, Ken Forman, Christopher Dylan White, Frank Rodriguez, Gary Lee Mahmoud, Joseph Anthony Jerez, Sue Jean Kim, Miah Velasquez, Tyler Bourke
Directors:: Paul Schrader
Year:: 2017
Studio:: Universal Pictures
Genres:: Thrillers, Religious & Spiritual Dramas

The human face of the church - First Reformed review by WS

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You rated this film: 4

I was previously unacquainted with Paul Schrader's work, except for Taxi Driver (for which he wrote the screenplay). You can see the parallels, in that they both concern a hard-working, conscientious loner who is ill at ease both with himself and society.

I did not find Pastor Toller's descent into political radicalism in the second half of the film wholly convincing, but Ethan Hawke is wonderful in the role - his performance conveys just the right blend of spirituality and suppressed anger, and even in his character’s heavy, over-emphatic gait as he walks from one room to another you can sense his inner turmoil. Some of the best scenes are the meetings between Pastor Toller and his mentor, Pastor Jeffers (Cedric the Entertainer), who is concerned about Toller's intense and erratic behaviour as the church's 250th anniversary celebration draws near. Both are strong-willed men who are passionately devoted to serving God and their local community, but have very different visions of how to achieve this goal.

Further dramatic interest is provided by the ambiguous relationship between Pastor Toller and Mike's widow, Mary (Amanda Seyfried) – does she see him as a spiritual guide or a potential lover?

The film is does not reach any firm conclusions about the value of Christianity in modern society, but illustrates one of the key lessons in any religion - that it’s no good trying to save others if you can’t save yourself!