First Reformed

Can God forgive us? Probably going down as one of the best films of the decade. First Reformed is such a special little intimate challenging piece of cinema. Shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio and forcing the viewer to lean in closer to see all the fine details Schrader has left on screen. It is bare in technicality, with a smaller scope and cast but appropriately so. So many instances of brilliance just happen to brim onto the scene. Most of this has to do with the stunning cinematography and color choices for the film. Coinciding that is how everyone is blocked in the film, and scaled. Some scenes will be full of people and others will be bare and alone with Ethan Hawke only to fill the screen. Speaking of which this might be one of Hawke’s best performances, its honest, nuanced, and subtle. I buy into his cause and the struggle of the character. A man dealing with everything being called into question, and what does one do with so much happening in such a short amount of time as everything continues to pile onto him. He seeks answers and change desperately clawing fragments of what the world once was to him. All of this is put onto display with Hawke being so quiet and reserved. It’s smallness if one wants to say that without coming across as though they are undermining the true philosophical beauty of the film might say that it is a film that forces the viewer to deal with the questions without an answer, or live by the contradictory lifestyle all human beings inhabit. These questions aren’t answered, they don’t need to be. They need to be thought upon for you the individual and how you deal with questions with multiple answers that are applicable to different facets of life. It being so bare and minimal only makes it more laser focused and sharp. As everything has become so big in scale First Reformed is one tiny character study you cannot miss.