First Reformed - 1 nomination

Original Screenplay - Written by Paul Schrader

Minister Toller spends his days being of service to the members of his congregation.  He consoles, he visits, he tends to his flock.  When a pregnant parishioner comes to Toller to counsel her clinically depressed husband, he comes to her aid.  Her husband Michael is suffering from despair, triggered by his sense of injustice as an environmental advocate.  The minister is surprisingly affected by these issues, and even jeopardizes a major donor who is bank rolling the renovation of his historic church, due to the donor's companies which are major environmental polluters.   But Minister Toller's emotional struggles become worse and worse until he contemplates an audacious and deadly act to be carried out at the church's anniversary event, attracting other high profile clergy, donors, and respected members of the community.  His insanity reaches a fever pitch and all you can do as an audience member is hold your breath.

This film is nominated for Original Screenplay, although there was some buzz about Ethan Hawke as a dark horse candidate for a Lead Actor nomination.  It is a quiet film and a tight story, but the quiet performance given by Hawke is what makes the film worth watching.  This is not the Ethan Hawke we know from other roles and it might be the first time I've seen him take himself out of the part and take on an entirely different person from who he seems to be in life.  In most roles, there is always a piece of the character that is Hawke himself (see, Boyhood).  Not so in First Reformed.

The name of the film is a subtle nod to the central dilemma of the film.  Yes, it is certainly a Christian reference and likely there are many churches around the country named First Reformed.  But with added layer of activism, the film is asking, who will be the first to change our ways and save the planet?  It is a religious question and a political one.  This won't be the most exciting film you see all year, but it is a good one.