I wanted to like this film. Ethan Hawke is an underrated actor. It is a well made film that is let down by the lack of plot and depressing theme. Could of been better.

The opening shot of the film will make you stay a bit longer, with it's vivid and bleak cinematography the film will hunt you and will creep to your skin until it reaches your fears and nightmares. A piece about the study of a pastor's depression on this crucial and not environmental friendly world we created today. Every frame in the film is great to look at it paints a beautiful, yet doomed sceneries. It opens up a character that we rarely talk or meet in real life which is the pastor. In this film we explore their own insight in this world.First Reformed is about a pastor of a small church in upstate New York who spirals out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife. Her husband wants to kill their baby, because he doesn't want his child to experience the end of the world that is bound to happen because of climate change. His wife played by Amanda Seyfried asks help from Reverend Ernst Toller played by Ethan Hawke to cure her husband's depression, but as he goes deeper to the relationship of this couple his mind is getting eaten by their beliefs.The pacing of the film is the only thing I am concerned about because I did not like it for this kind of genre film which tells a hunting tale. It shows static shots which makes the film slow, and with the mix of its pacing it gets boring in the middle. I wish there's more intense editing moments like in the third act of the film. The cinematography is the best part of the film because it really paints the the whole feel of the church and its people. The use of silence and minimal sound scoring is great because it makes you immerse to the characters.There's no doubt that Ethan Hawke is the star of this film. He conveys the whole attitude of a pastor who is private and secretive in his nature. He gives a compelling performance with the character, he let's us in his mind. In the other hand, Amanda Seyfried is believable as a housewife, her star power did not shine on this film which is great because it is needed for her role as someone who is just a suburban housewife. She have complete control with her character.The film tackles a great issue about environment which asks the question are we doing anything to save this planet or we need a little more push or an unforgiving one to open our eyes.The film is flawed with its storytelling pacing, but the whole concept is well-thought of and the casting is on point. First Reformed did not reach my expectations, but there are still brave and amazing moments in the film that will make you wish it was re-edited with more intensity which it lacks.

I went to see this movie because it was the highest rated movie playing in the nearby theater. The movie itself was extremely hard to sit through. The plot was weak, incredibly slow, and the characters were unrealistic in the worst way.

Begins as a seemingly great movie with good acting and filming. As the plot unfolds, the political agenda becomes increasingly forceful and painful.