First Reformed | SXSW 2018 Film Review

Welcome to the First Reformed Church of the Eco Aware.

The Ethan Hawke-led arthouse film First Reformed is about a minister of a small, struggling church on the cusp of its 250th anniversary. The historic church has had a long history or importance until lately, where it does well to have ten people show up for Sunday service. Hawke’s character, Father Toller, is asked to counsel a young couple in regards to their marital differences. When the husband kills himself, Father Toller becomes embroiled with the husbands convictions, his growing flirtations with the widow, and preparations for the ceremony being assisted by the megachurch and it’s pastor , Cedric Kyles (Cedric the Entertainer).

Ethan Hawke is one of the more underappreciated actors in the industry, and unfortunately, his strong performance in this will go unnoticed outside of film connoisseurs. He brings equal amounts of strength and weakness to a man fighting with idealistic principles, his faith, and his desires for the widow Mary (Amanda Seyfried). The message her husband was championing was eco-responsibility. Global warming, rising ocean levels, and more were the flags he was flying. However, plastic explosives were his message delivery system of choice. After his death, Mary finds a suicide bomber vest all ready to go. His message strikes a chord with Father Toller, and Toller picks up the gauntlet as his eyes are suddenly open to the corporate greed of both the local power company and the megachurch.

Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) writes and directs this testimony to how poorly we are treating this big blue marble we call home. The film is shot in the old 4:3 ratio, as opposed to the standard 16:9 ratio. A lot of movies may start out in this fashion and expand out early in the film, but Schrader kept it old school which helped create an intimacy, and eventually, more intensity. Also contributing to this was the absolute lack of score throughout the film. These two stylistic choices were brave departures from what has become traditional storytelling in film these days. We, as the audience, have become accustomed to audible cues foreshadowing what is to happen next. First Reformed steers very far from traditional in this case.

Unfortunately, these artistic choices and a talented cast cannot overcome the languished pace at which the entirety of the film unfolds. The setup is enticing, yet the screenplay’s follow-through at times feels like an eternity before giving the story any forward momentum. Also, while the message is strongly important, it felt very… well, “preachy”. Which is weird to think that a movie that involves not one, but two churches, is preachy, but not about what one would imagine. The message was received loud and clear, yet it is the opinion of this writer that anybody that would be drawn to this movie is likely to share the same beliefs that are expressed. Hopefully, they will not be as extreme in the measure they take.

May the warmth of Saint Harambe of Greenpeace wash over us and protect us from the ecologically negligent. For thine is the ozone, the carbon, and the recycled. Forever and ever. Amen.