‘First Reformed’ Trailer: Ethan Hawke Has A Troubling Crisis Of Faith
A24 has become one of those names that always has your attention. We sometimes don’t hear about their movies much until the trailers start rolling in, and then we’re totally on board. And that’s exactly how we feel about their forthcoming release fromPaul Schrader, best known for writingTaxi Driverand directing a slew of dark and often deranged thrillers.
First ReformedfollowsEthan Hawkeas a priest who is becoming more and more disillusioned with humanity as his congregation dwindles and the world around him becomes more and more troubling. The clergyman suddenly finds himself taking matters into his own hands as he grows impatient waiting for God to do something.
Watch the First Reformed Trailer
When A24 teased the arrival of today’s trailer online yesterday, they touted it as a movie that “might be the unholy lovechild ofA Ghost StoryandTaxi Driver.” We definitely get theTaxi Drivervibes from this trailer, but the elements that bringA Ghost Storyto mind aren’t quite so evident unless they’re merely talking about the existential perspective that Ethan Hawke’s character appears to be taking on as he becomes more concerned about civilization.
This certainly looks like it’s going to be a haunting performance from Ethan Hawke, who has become one of the finest actors of his generation without much pomp and circumstance. Plus, evenCedric the Entertaineris getting deadly serious in his turn as a fellow preacher. If you don’t believe me, he goes by the nameCedric Kylesto make sure you understand as much.
First Reformedwill undoubtedly be a quiet, slow burn of a thriller, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from Paul Schrader. It appears the visuals alone will be enough to keep the movie engaging, especially with shots like that Pepto Bismol swirling into a glass of whiskey. For those who aren’t super pumped about the blockbuster fare coming in May, this should serve as perfect counter-programming.
