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First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

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Old 03-29-18 | 08:07 AM
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First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried



<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hCF5Y8dQpR4" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Reverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke) is a solitary, middle-aged parish pastor at a small Dutch Reform church in upstate New York on the cusp of celebrating its 250th anniversary. Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, the church is now a tourist attraction catering to a dwindling congregation, eclipsed by its nearby parent church, Abundant Life, with its state-of-the-art facilities and 5,000-strong flock. When a pregnant parishioner (Amanda Seyfried) asks Reverend Toller to counsel her husband, a radical environmentalist, the clergyman finds himself plunged into his own tormented past, and equally despairing future, until he finds redemption in an act of grandiose violence. From writer-director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver; American Gigolo; Affliction) comes a gripping thriller about a crisis of faith that is at once personal, political, and planetary.

First Reformed – Coming May 18.

Last edited by dex14; 05-14-18 at 10:28 AM.
Old 05-14-18 | 10:27 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

I saw this trailer again the other night. Looks really great to me.

I'm guessing this weekend's opening is limited. I hope it comes around me soon. Reviews are very positive. Currently 97% on RT: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/first_reformed
Old 05-14-18 | 04:33 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

This looks awesome. Paul Schrader is due for a really good movie.
Old 05-14-18 | 05:23 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

There’s a screening in NYC on Saturday with Hawke and Schrader doing a Q&A after I’m considering checking out.
Old 05-15-18 | 11:47 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Wow. This looks like his magnum opus. It’s got every one of his major themes. And Breson and Tarkovsky to boot.
Old 06-09-18 | 07:44 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

This was top tier Schrader. Go and see it if you can.
Old 06-09-18 | 07:48 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Yeah, I hear this thing is a masterpiece and it's getting great reviews.
Old 06-09-18 | 08:21 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Cool, hadn't heard about it, looks good. Worth me going with a few colleagues? Will we need a drink afterward?
Old 06-12-18 | 11:07 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Saw this last Friday night. It's tremendous, maybe the best movie I've seen in months.

Here is a very good spoiler-iffic discussion of the ending:

Let’s Talk About the Ending of First Reformed
Old 06-12-18 | 03:31 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Saw this the other night. Wow. Bleak as hell. But so damn good. Paul Schraders best film is 30+ years. The muse is a strange thing. From DTV hogwash like Dying of the Light to a near masterpiece on the flip of a coin.
Old 06-12-18 | 11:30 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Saw this earlier tonight.

Really enjoyed it. Hawke's performance was fantastic and the many layers of tension throughout the film had me rattled.

The audience that I saw it with was very much uncomfortable throughout the film and vocalized it during a few points in the film.

As an added bonus, it was great to see one of my favorite musicians, Lustmord, provided the soundtrack to this film, which I thought was very effective.
Old 06-22-18 | 01:17 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Just saw it. Excellent film. Hawke is fantastic, but I felt like Seyfried was a bit out of step... hard to explain. That first reveal... And the third act... Wow.

Has Schrader said why it's a 4:3 aspect ratio?
Old 06-22-18 | 08:38 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Originally Posted by Dan
Just saw it. Excellent film. Hawke is fantastic, but I felt like Seyfried was a bit out of step... hard to explain. That first reveal... And the third act... Wow.

Has Schrader said why it's a 4:3 aspect ratio?
Evoking the likes of Bresson and such...
Old 08-05-18 | 06:40 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Paul Schrader shows all the haters that he’s still got it by channeling the ghosts of metaphysical master filmmakers Carl Dreyer, Robert Bresson and Ingmar Bergman. One of the best films of 2018.

4.5/5
Old 08-05-18 | 06:46 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Originally Posted by inri222
Paul Schrader shows all the haters that he’s still got it by channeling the ghosts of metaphysical master filmmakers Carl Dreyer, Robert Bresson and Ingmar Bergman. One of the best films of 2018.

4.5/5
Old 08-05-18 | 08:02 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Who hates Paul Schrader? His financiers maybe. I know he has a hard time getting funded. I like pretty much every film he puts out.
Old 08-26-18 | 06:01 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

In the bonus features Shrader said one of the producers wanted Seyfred in the movie so maybe she was not his first choice.

Cedric the Entertainer changed his name to Cedric Kyles for this movie.

Anybody disappointed with the ending?

Spoiler:
Maybe it could have been a lot worse or better if he actually went through with the explosives?
Old 08-27-18 | 08:01 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Ugh...don't get all the praise for this at all. I will chock this one up as not for me. And yea
Spoiler:
he should have blown himself up it would have made the ending more powerful. If you are going to go this gonzo it makes no sense for him not to.
Old 08-27-18 | 08:48 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

^ 100% disagree with your comment on the ending. It's exactly what it needed to be.
Old 08-27-18 | 08:49 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Originally Posted by Dan
^ 100% disagree with your comment on the ending. It's exactly what it needed to be.
Old 08-27-18 | 08:52 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Originally Posted by inri222
Paul Schrader shows all the haters that he’s still got it by channeling the ghosts of metaphysical master filmmakers Carl Dreyer, Robert Bresson and Ingmar Bergman. One of the best films of 2018.

4.5/5
Wow, are you Ethan Hawke?

https://www.theguardian.com/film/201...verrated-logan

"The actor Ethan Hawke has questioned the quality of superhero films, saying that even the most praised are “not Bresson ... not Bergman. But they talk about it like it is”.



FWIW, I saw this movie this past weekend. Good, but I've never been a huge fan of Schrader, so I see this movie as par for the course for him.
Old 08-27-18 | 10:30 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

I didn't care for this one at all. As I posted in the Last Movie You Watched thread, I actually found some of the scenes to be unintentionally funny. The memorial scene alone looked like something that could've come out of an episode of Portlandia.
Old 08-27-18 | 11:08 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Originally Posted by Dan
^ 100% disagree with your comment on the ending. It's exactly what it needed to be.
I interpreted the "ending" as
Spoiler:
simply Toller's final dying vision after he drank the Drano.
Old 08-27-18 | 11:24 AM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

^Same.
Spoiler:
Just like Taxi Driver, I view the ending as a dying fantasy.
Old 08-27-18 | 05:32 PM
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Re: First Reformed (2018, D: Schrader) S: Hawke, Seyfried

Originally Posted by E Unit
Wow, are you Ethan Hawke?

https://www.theguardian.com/film/201...verrated-logan

"The actor Ethan Hawke has questioned the quality of superhero films, saying that even the most praised are “not Bresson ... not Bergman. But they talk about it like it is”.



FWIW, I saw this movie this past weekend. Good, but I've never been a huge fan of Schrader, so I see this movie as par for the course for him.

I like comic book movies but I don't go crazy for them but I agree with Hawke.


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