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User Comments for: First Reformed

2016moonlight says...
CONTAINS SPOILERS
5 years ago
This was.... interesting. It's one of those films that tries to do too much and ends up falling short. It was a bit all over the place for me in terms of not only style, but also storyline and characters. There are some really incredible dialogues, and the connection between [spoiler] the catholic religion and environmental activism was something that I had never thought about before and yet makes so much sense, so that was definitely my favourite part about this film: it touches a subject and a discussion through an original perspective, even if at times it felt a bit propagandistic. [/spoiler] The ending sure was something.. not particularly one I liked, though.

8/10
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nmahoney416 says...
6 years ago
"Will God forgive us?"

A very interesting film. It's slow and raises a lot of questions. The third act had me on the edge of my seat and left me wanting more. I went in hearing it had some Taxi Driver vibes and I can say that they do feel similar. It makes sense since the director, Paul Schrader, wrote Taxi Driver. Ethan Hawke was amazing. A very subtle performance but one of the best of the year so far. Amanda Seyfried was great too and even Cedric the Entertainer gave a fantastic performance in a serious role.
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Mr. Sackamano says...
6 years ago
Bye 2 hours...nice knowing ya ppphhhffrrrrttt
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Nancy L Draper says...
CONTAINS SPOILERS
5 years ago
Do not be deceived, this is an art film. Don't expect a clear cut plot with any attempt at a reasoned outcome. Paul Schafer is re-imaging two films (DIARY OF A COUNTRY PRIEST and WINTER LIGHT*) and when asked to comment on the possible explainations of his ending "during an appearance on the A24 podcast, Schrader admitted to Sofia Coppola that he isn’t sure, either — but he has some ideas"^. RANT - I'm getting very tired of pretentious art film - END RANT. [spoiler] I could have forgiven a heavy-handed political agenda film or a choreographed decent into insanity but this film was a waste of time [/spoiler]. It was all promise and no payoff. I give this film a 4 (fail) out of 10. [Surreal Drama]

Footnotes:
* https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/lets-talk-about-the-ending-of-first-reformed.html
^ https://www.indiewire.com/2018/05/first-reformed-ending-explained-paul-schrader-1201970200/
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Reply by outspoken
5 years ago
@nancy-l-draper Thank you so much for this write-up. I was utterly confused by the final phase of the film, unfortunately it sounds like that was not entirely the intention of the film which is a shame. If there was intent to confuse the audience they wen't about it poorly.
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Reply by The_Argentinian
one year ago
@nancy-l-draper your opening sentence made me think you got the movie but then you made the same kind of comments from someone who only watches big budget Hollywood movies. <br /> You never watched that Bresson and Bergman film you mentioned, did you? You just copied it from an article.
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Reply by NancyLDraper@gmail.com
one year ago
@the_argentinian If I can recall correctly, I watched the movie, was frustrated by it (hence the rating) then did some research to see if wiser minds saw something I didn't (hence the quote from the properly footnoted sources). I, personally, watch media from all mediums, blockbusters to hand held shot web TV series. Money does not make a film good or bad. I just have a low threshold for films that settle for pretense rather than content. Thank you for your reply, it could have done without your judgement of my character or experience, however, which came off as rather arrogant.
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JimDarko says...
5 years ago
Everything is terrible, the best is over and there is no use trying anymore. It sure feels that way sometimes, doesn't it? And I don't just mean your dumb, personal problems, we are talking about the death of Mother Earth and the doom and gloom on the horizon. That is what First Reformed is dealing with as we check in with Ethan Hawke as Reverend Toller a man that has been quietly struggling with his faith, illness and personal life. This is all amplified when he tries to counsel an expecting couple, the father is an environmental activist that adds an extra layer of despair and anxiety to Toller's plate. This movie is artsy as fuck, you can tell because it was released in 4:3 rather than the standard wide screen format because Paul Schraeder does whatever he wants as he should. I've been in the mood for films like this and it delivers, Ethan Hawke really kills it and for such a pessimistic movie I read the ending as rather hopeful.
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Lee Brown Barrow says...
5 years ago
Overall a good movie, with an intense, restrained performance from Hawke. Schraders best film in a while, though its marred by one of those copout endings with no real conclusion. Before then, however, this tale of faith, hypocrisy, doubt and anguish is worth watching, despite the unusual plot twists taking place near the end.
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outspoken says...
5 years ago
I'm not exactly sure what just happened there, would love to hear an explaination from Paul Schrader and those who understood it.
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TavoBernal says...
5 years ago
El final no es lo que me esperaba, pero sin duda es una historia a la cual deberíamos ponerle atención por su enseñanza.
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bondless says...
5 years ago
New England. A church. A changing environment. First Reformed can equally be read as a film set in 17th Century Puritan New England or a film set in our modern world. Regardless, it's puritanical in voice. We're constantly left asking the questions of the Puritans--are we really saved(?), can we be forgiven(?) and what is our role in the community(?). Pat answers won't due for Schrader and they probably won't due for you either after watching this film.
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