My Opinion : Encapsulating the concept of despair which is this idea of worthlessness and powerlessness is as ridiculously complex as accurately interpreting an abstract painting, but the 2017 drama/thriller film First Reformed attempts nonetheless, with relatively soul-stirring ways of doing so. The film is director Paul Schrader at his most matured, purified. Self-centering around the ironic premise of a church pastor suffering from clinical depression and a brooding sense of despair, whose life has been ripped apart, and all our protagonist wants is to save someone. It’s a film that doesn’t reveal its beauty in its watch, but rather in what we think of it, how we interpret this film. The film is more than a character study, its a study on humanity itself and how we deal with grief, as well as living in a climate-changing world that only enhances this sense of dread we all should feel. The film is in actuality a beautifully eloquent abstract painting of the silenced parts of our spirit, especially when one’s spirit has been crushed entirely. If First Reformed does not break you in its first watch, it will in its second, and if it doesn’t at all, then perhaps it’s because of the film’s lack of overall memorability, as there are no legitimately great scenes, all are equally good by their measure, and insanely easy to interpret. The aspect ratio also plays along with its themes and to demonstrate the personality of our protagonist, but the real question is if I’d watch this film again, and my answer is, I don’t quite know, and I prefer that lack of answer anyhow. 86/100