First Reformed

⭐8.5/10

In this movie, Ethan Hawke is a reverend at a church who is confronted with a depressed parishioner who defeats him in a 1 on 1 counselling session as the counsellor becomes depressed rather than the parishioner getting better. It's a super bleak movie that kinda asks the question, how do we not despair when everything is going to shit and society could likely collapse during our lifetime? 

This was a super relevant movie because I too deal with these thoughts, more now than ever with fascist dictators popping up everywhere and AI going unchecked and summer temperatures being broken every year and the income gap widening with a recession on the way. I'm also like, the person who is supposed to have some answers on how not to give in to despair?

Well if I wanted to find some answers for myself, this movie was not providing them. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that this is a pretty much all bleakness. Not only in its content but it's stylings, taking place in a dreary winter, in an empty town, a movie with slow pacing, no music, and no joy. I actually love how this movie is shot, or at least it's super effective at communicating what it wants to communicate. I also thought the performances were terrific across the board, and I kinda loved the performance by the villain. I thought Seyfried was the other highlight, but it was all good. 

It's a movie that will make you feel smart, even if it's not one that's fun to watch. You kinda see how all of this works, the helplessness, and the hypocrisy of those destroying the world. This movie fills you with sadness and rage both, and gives you little to cling to. 

So it's nice to watch this movie and get into your feelings, but equally rewarding to watch the credits roll and then step into a world with a sun, warmth (wait...), human relationships, laughter, good food and all that. It's a great movie, but it did not defeat me!!