When First Reformed was released in 2017, reviews were mixed, to say the least – and it could be argued that this reflects the position of this type of cinema within the context of modern film. This piece is written and directed by Paul Schrader, who burst onto the scene in 1974 – writing The Yakuza with his brother, Leonard, and Robert Towne – and followed that up with sole authorship of Taxi Driver in 1976. His filmography as a writer since then has come to include further legendary works, such as American Gigolo (which he also directed), Raging Bull, The Mosquito Coast, and The Last Temptation of Christ. Indeed, Schrader...

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