Review of First Reformed (2018) by Robert M — 26 May 2018
SPOILER ALERT I am sure that First Reformed was trying to say something. In trying to say everything, it ended up saying nothing. As a preacher, I have learned that one-point sermons always work the best.
It might have worked if it had not been for that silly romance - flying in tandem over a decaying world - what the hell was that? But that last scene had the effect of negating everything the movie seemed to be saying: "If you can just find a passionate romance, everything else will be fine - the church, the environment, corporate treachery, disease and alcoholism.
Passion (not love) cures everything." The movie should have let him die like Christ as he had intended and pregnant Mary (the name no coincidence) could cradle him in his death like the Pieta. Some test audience must have said, "It needs a romantic ending," and thus ended the dark night of the soul they spent nearly two hours establishing.
PS: No clergyperson refers to the Book of the Revelation as "Revelations." They should have done enough research to know that. (2) Why were there no people at the mega-church except the pastor and his secretary, and a youth choir of six? (3) If you hug someone wrapped in barb wire, don't you get poked? I guess passion fixes that too.
Oh well!
This review of First Reformed (2018) was written by Robert M on 26 May 2018.
First Reformed has generally received positive reviews.
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