Most reviews praising _First Reformed_ have labeled it Paul Schrader's finest work since _Taxi Driver_ (1976) or _Raging Bull_ (1980). While that might be an oversimplification, overlooking strong screenplays like _The Last Temptation of Christ_ (1988) and _Bringing Out the Dead_ (1999), as well as superb directorial efforts such as _Affliction_ (1997) and _Auto Focus_ (2002), there's no denying that *First Reformed*…

It’s rare to encounter a movie so consciously composed. The framing of practically every shot feels meticulously planned and purposeful, evoking comparisons to a Wes Anderson film stripped bare of any lightheartedness. Certain camera setups hold on scenes for an extended duration, a technique more commonly associated with horror when the goal is to create suspense that the people in the story are oblivious to. _Final…