First Reformed: A Mesmerizing Drama

First Reformed is a mesmerizing drama about a pastor who counsels a husband and wife. Reverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke), a former Army chaplain, is a pastor at the First Reformed Church in the fictional town of Snowbridge, N.Y.  The Dutch Reform church has grown some fame by having been a station on along the Underground Railround.  However, as the church approaches 250 years, it doesn’t contain the magic that used to be there.  While…

"First Reformed: A Mesmerizing Drama"

CCFF 2018: First Reformed

First Reformed is a mesmerizing drama about a pastor who counsels a husband and wife. Reverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke) is a pastor at the First Reformed Church.  The Dutch Reform church used to be a station on along the Underground Railround but as it approaches 250 years, it doesn’t contain the magic that used to be there.  The congregation is small even as tourists continue to stop by.  This isn’t helped by Abundant Life…

"CCFF 2018: First Reformed"

Tribeca 2018: Stockholm

Stockholm is the film that tells the absurd 1973 story that became the basis for the phrase, “Stockholm Syndrome.” Budreau wisely doesn’t wait around as the film quickly gets right down to business when Lars Nystrom (Ethan Hawke) walks into the Swedish bank.  Lars does so to the tune of a Bob Dylan song.  Lars is very demanding of what the police do.  He wants them to release his best friend, Gunnar Sorensson (Mark Strong), from…

"Tribeca 2018: Stockholm"