First Reformed

First Reformed (2017) has been heralded as a return to form by director Paul Schrader and a career best acting performance from Ethan Hawke. Hawke does put in a memorable performance, as for Schrader I haven't seen his most recent full-length features, but I suspect this is probably more along the art film line of film making, than the most recent films-calling to mind his treatise on transcendental film making. I think Diary of a Country Priest by Robert Bresson is the film that clearly has inspired Schrader the most here. To be honest, the film came across as dour and portentous, but not without some interesting ideas and themes being considered.