FIRST REFORMED (2018) - Movie Review

[mrrrl]

I felt the same way about the film. The scene where he talks with the environmentalist about hope vs despair and reason vs irrationalism is the best scene in the movie. Paul Schrader makes amazing films

[motility]

"the ecstasy that is bleeding through the blackness" // excellent, quality review for a truly extraordinary film~ you are amazing! Thank you for sharing your gifts of insight and for your ability to succinctly convey that remarkable intellect and empathy.

[TJ]

I noticed that the camera moves almost exclusively during scenes where Mary is present (the only exceptions being the opening shot of the church and scenes shot from inside a moving car). It was too much of a coincidence to not be intentional. She represented hope to a man who was living a very bleak existence.

[markrobertparker]

this is probably the best commentary on relevant movies I /we have ever viewed or heard - support intelligent adult female voices vs mainstream advertisements?**** block edit delete comment as needed keep up the solid focus on modern health issues*** satire is dead dyed hair is passe and tattoo culture leads to European film festival failures+

[dylanthrillmour]

It was weirdly refreshing to watch a film that addresses the horror that we’re doing to the planet, & how terrifying it is that it’s not going to get any better.

[leobergmiller]

From the look and the general set up being very similar to Diary of a Country Priest, it looks like Bresson is the biggest influence on this film and that is FINE BY ME because Bresson is one of ly favorite filmmakers ever (as well as Dreyer lol). I’ve very excited to see this film especially thanks to your great review!

[binaryg]

I rushed to the theater to see 'First Reformed' because I didn't want it to get away so we can see another marvel or cartoon. It delivered a punch of 'reality'. Schrader is an excellent writer and director. I needed to see it and was rewarded in my viewing. The acting was excellent.
Thanks for being on top of this film.

[jashshah]

Reverend Toller to me represented and embodied the despair part of the hope vs despair debate throughout the film. His ideals are just as rigid and old as the 250 year old church he is in. But the older the traditions the more bleak they feel. And the church's walls seem to cave him and his thoughts in just like the hidden door in the church. To him his life as a reverend seems to be as claustrophobic as those black people hiding under that door and you can see it in his eyes when he talks about that. He tries to repair himself by talking to his boss and Esther but just like the organ in the church, even if it is fixed it still played the same old melody written in an outhouse. He searches for answers but has lost hope in God so he doesnt even pray anymore. But God does answer with Mary. She is the Hope he was looking for. Hope is not the ignorance or denial of the current crisis. But the will to overcome it or live through it knowing how difficult it will be. Mary is an activist herself and knows how helpless the world is but still wants to bring a child into it. She has hope that the child will get a better life.
And God answers Reverend Toller when he sends Mary to the reconsercation just when he was about to let despair consume the church which was his world. He shows him that there are people like Mary who give hope to the world and even a deeply despaired person like Toller cant bring himself to kill that hope.

[spence_robert]

I also thought it was one of the very best of its year and much enjoyed your analysis of it.
I was wondering if it was Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend that introduced that liquid immersion shot—i. e. the camera doing a nosedive into a jigger of rye to the Siren call of a theremin in that instance.
I was also trying to think of any films that employed that zoom-in between The Lost Weekend and Taxi Driver, but nothing comes to mind.

[blinkzone]

I really want to see this film. Paul Schrader is one of my fav filmmakers

[ritwikmishra]

As much as I adore this film and feel like I'll remember it, rewatch it throughout my life, it just kept bothering me how much of the plot is directly borrowed from 'Winter Light'. Almost every major plot point in the set-up was borrowed from the Bergman film. But then it can be excused because First Reformed takes all that build and completely brings it down it's own solitary, personal path- the one where Schrader treads. Do you feel the same way?

[zulumoonshine]

An excellent review, and thank you. I felt the same way about the ending.As frustrating as they may be, ambiguous endings leave a little of the heavy lifting to the viewer, and I'm fine with that.

[richardsantanna]

5:00 Isn't that why we enjoy watching movies?

[mint]

taxi driver is more inspired from Dostoevsky's notes for underground over crime and punishment

[RedWolfy]

Rolling thunder is one of his best and Auto Focus is so underrated.

[ericanthony]

Great review. I loved this film and think Schrader has grown as a screenwriter and not become derivative as some critics seem to think. I wonder what you think of Affliction which is one of my favorite flicks from the 90s.

[john.k.flores]

Nice review, Maggie!

I agree that it's one of, if not the best film of the year so far. Have you seen Bergman's "Winter Light?" If so, I'd hope it'd become one of your YT reviews one day, as it's a personal favorite and a major inspiration to Schrader when crafting "First Reformed."

[TheEternalOuroboros]

A good remake of Bergman’s superior “Winter Light”.

[DuckingAround]

I just finished this film. Not sure how to feel about it but I liked the ending.

[Myhighconstitution]

First Reformed is definitely Schrader's best film since Affliction in 1997. This might be an odd comparison, but aside from the Taxi Driver parallels some of the imagery in First Reformed reminded me of The Exorcist. The theme of the priest struggling with his faith also stood out as an Exorcist parallel. Did you notice any Exorcist parallels in First Reformed?