By Robert Yaniz Jr.

DAY 22 OF THE 2018 HOLIDAY BINGE

An Ethan Hawke showcase and a half-baked meditation on religion appear to be at odds.

THE HYPE

Seeing as writer/director Paul Schrader wrote the screenplay for Martin Scorsese masterpiece Taxi Driver, the comparisons between Travis Bickle’s tale and his latest film, First Reformed, were inevitable. The latter blazed a trail of critical acclaim on the festival circuit, with many claiming that Schrader had created one of his best films to date and praising Ethan Hawke’s intense performance. However, First Reformed has since developed something of a divisive response, no doubt due to its direct take on so many controversial themes.

THE STORY

Reverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke) is saddled with the fairly prosaic job of leading a dwindling congregation at the historic church that gives First Reformed its name. But he finds his stoic, passive life radically shifts when he meets a pregnant young woman (Amanda Seyfried) and her troubled husband (Philip Ettinger) during a routine sermon. The events that follow threaten to undermine his very existence and send Reverend Toller on a dark, potentially deadly path at odds with his proclaimed faith.

THE CAST

Regardless of what viewers think of the twisted directions that First Reformed takes, Hawke is hands-down the best thing about it. His character undergoes such a drastic change due to his interactions with the above married couple, and though Schrader’s script might not create such a smooth transition between who Toller is upfront and where the film takes him, Hawke channels his character’s inability to reconcile his faith with the world around him through a bubbling undercurrent of rage and cynicism.

THE PRODUCTION

What undoes First Reformed, at least in part — it offers both an intriguing bit of social commentary and a focused character study in its first half — is its shift into the surreal. As Toller’s path unravels, so does his apparent grasp on reality. Yet, where Schrader takes him never feels logical or earned. Instead, the film plays more like a calculated game of boundary-pushing for the sake of shock value, capped off by an ending that will either leave you falling to your knees in admiration of Schrader’s craft or decrying its falsity.

THE VERDICT

As a religious parable, First Reformed might function well, seeing as it dips into Christian doctrine and contrasts it with some of today’s most timely social issues. But as a piece of entertainment, it emerges more uneven as it goes along. Buoyed as it is by strong direction and one of Hawke’s best roles in years, Schrader’s film is still worth seeing. Just be careful not to let all the mountain of hype influence your expectations. Viewers unwilling to accept its flaws may balk at how First Reformed plays out well before the credits roll.

First Reformed stars Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried and Cedric Kyles and is directed by Paul Schrader.