First Reformed (2017)

A minister of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy, worldly concerns and a tormented past.

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writer:

Paul Schrader

Stars:

Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 62 wins & 103 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ethan Hawke	...	Toller
Amanda Seyfried	...	Mary
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Jeffers (as Cedric Antonio Kyles)
Victoria Hill	...	Esther
Philip Ettinger	...	Michael
Michael Gaston	...	Balq
Bill Hoag	...	Elder
Kristin Villanueva	...	Nurse
Ingrid Kullberg-Bendz	...	Middle-Aged Tourist
Ken Forman	...	Middle-Aged Man (as Ken Foreman)
Christopher Dylan White	...	College Student
Frank Rodriguez	...	Sheriff
Gary Lee Mahmoud	...	Doctor
Joseph Anthony Jerez	...	War Vet in Wheelchair (as Joseph Jerez)
Sue Jean Kim	...	Suriya

Storyline

Forty-six year old Reverend Ernst Toller is the pastor at the historic First Reformed Church in upstate New York. It is seen as the "tourist" church or the "souvenir shop" (its historical significance partly it being a stop on the underground railroad before the slaves crossed into Canada) by Abundant Life, which owns the church and which operates a modern self-named five thousand seat church overseen by Reverend Joel Jeffers. First Reformed is celebrating its two hundred fiftieth anniversary this year, for which a major event is planned, modest in size only at First Reformed itself although the dignitaries like the governor and mayor will be at attendance there, while the event will be simulcast at Abundant Life. Most of the speech-making will be done by local industrialist Ed Balq, a major benefactor of Abundant Life and who is the major donor for the necessary upgrades at First Reformed to be able to hold the event there, and for the event itself, while Toller's participation will ...

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Plot Keywords:

priest as protagonist | church | suicide | christianity | reference to god | 

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Taglines:

Forgive us, for we have sinned.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing violent images

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first movie in which Cedric the Entertainer is credited under his real name, Cedric Kyles.

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Goofs

In each of the cafe scenes at the mega church, the coffee cups still have the manufacturer stickers on the bottoms.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Reverend Ernst Toller: I have decided to keep a journal. Not in a word program or digital file, but in longhand, writing every word out so that every inflection of penmanship, every word chosen, scratched out, revised, is recorded. To set down all my thoughts and the simple events of my day factually and without hiding anything. When writing about oneself, one should show no mercy. I will keep this diary for one year; 12 months. And at the end of that time, it will be destroyed. Shredded, then burnt. The...

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Josh Brolin/Cedric the Entertainer/Dave Itzkoff/Chvrches (2018)

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Soundtracks

Onward, Christian Soldiers
Written by Sabine Baring-Gould
Composed by Arthur Sullivan
Performed by Brian Williams (as Lustmord)

User Reviews

A Critique of Man

First Reformed is a movie about religion. It is about big business and the environmental destruction of which they are to blame. It is about a willingness of the Church to turn a blind eye in the face of sin. It is about love. It is about hope. But these subjects fall away as Paul Schrader tightens his focus onto a detached pastor. An unnerving and bleak look into the despair that can envelope the most faithful or the most hopeful, Ethan Hawke's brutally honest presentation of an unsure and resentful man along with foreboding gray scaled cinematography leaves the audience asking: But what of man? What of this broken man in particular? Why does man fear their own destruction so greatly that they are willing to end their life before that destruction could take them? Paul Schrader's newest film may be shrouded in politics, religion, or the philosophy of love, faith, or hope, but behind the obvious horror lies the subconscious dread. Not the existential dread of living in an imperfect and devastating world, but the fear of how oneself will react to the overwhelming despair of a reality with little hope.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

First Reformed

Filming Locations:

Hicksville, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$97,562, 20 May 2018

Gross USA:

$3,448,256

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,862,498

Company Credits

Production Co:

Killer Films, Omeira Studio Partners, Fibonacci Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1