It's fascinating to see certain actors and actresses try their hand at writing or directing, because you never truly know what to expect from their first outing. This has been a very surprising year in that regard, seeing John Krasinski's masterful work on A Quiet Place and Bradley Cooper's upcoming rendition of A Star is Born. That being said, I truly don't believe an actor/actresses will be able to top Jonah Hill's film Mid90s for quite some time, in terms of going from acting to directing. When a film can come out of nowhere and be hilarious, shocking, heartfelt, and realistic, all at once, then it's an immediate winner in my eyes. Coupled with the numerous things that this movie has going for it on and off the screen, this is the movie of the year in my opinion. Although the year still has quite a few films to go, I have a hard time believing something will impress me more than this film has.
Not having the greatest Mother, being bullied by his older brother, and just wanting to fit in, Mid90s focusses on young Stevie (Sunny Suljic) as he strives to stay as far away from his home life as possible. Wishing to fit in with cooler kids than the people he has grown up with, he meets a group of older kids at a skate shop. They grow to enjoy his presence and an unlikely friendship sparks between him and this group, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Although he has a blast hanging out with them and cracking jokes, this film explores the harsh realities of being responsible and what drugs and alcohol can really do to someone, especially when you're young. The evolution of most of the characters throughout this film is really something to see, and at a mere 84 minutes, this film is pleasantly well fleshed out.
Going into this film, I expected certain things out of Jonah Hill's direction and I was not disappointed. Yes, those who have experienced his roles in movies knows that he can be the most hilarious person in a room, but also deliver dramatic performances that have now given him Oscar nominations, so I went into this movie hoping for him to have placed both of those extremes on-screen. Mid90s is one of the funniest movies I've seen all year, and while the first half of the movie is simply there to amuse audiences, there are many set-ups being made for a darker second half. The evolution of this film is absolutely fantastic from start to finish. The way Hill directs these performers is truly something else, but that's also due to the fact that this is a very well-cast film in general.
Sunny Suljic is a real force to be reckoned with. Having this much talent at such a young age is a very rare thing, but he resonated with me completely. The way the friendship between Stevie and Ray forms is absolutely brilliant. Na-kel Smith brings a lot more to the table than what I expected after his first few scenes, but that was clearly intentional. His character is the most mature of the group that Stevie hangs out with, which works in favour of giving life lessons throughout the course of the movie. When looking back on this movie as a whole, from the comedic first act, to the character development throughout the second act, and even to the dramatic moments throughout the third, I found myself in awe that this was directed by a first time director.
In the end, I truly hope Mid90s receives the attention that it deserves this year. I can see this movie getting a lot of love from critics and tons of buzz when awards season kicks into high gear. From the very raw and real screenplay to the incredible score by the great Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, to the overall messages throughout this film, Mid90s is as entertaining and funny as it is dramatic and eye-opening. I loved every second of this film and I can't recommend it enough. This is easily my favourite film of 2018 and one of the most memorable theatre experiences in quite some time. Saying that about an independent film that only lasts for 84 minutes may seem crazy, but I couldn't be more honest about that statement. See this film.
Not having the greatest Mother, being bullied by his older brother, and just wanting to fit in, Mid90s focusses on young Stevie (Sunny Suljic) as he strives to stay as far away from his home life as possible. Wishing to fit in with cooler kids than the people he has grown up with, he meets a group of older kids at a skate shop. They grow to enjoy his presence and an unlikely friendship sparks between him and this group, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Although he has a blast hanging out with them and cracking jokes, this film explores the harsh realities of being responsible and what drugs and alcohol can really do to someone, especially when you're young. The evolution of most of the characters throughout this film is really something to see, and at a mere 84 minutes, this film is pleasantly well fleshed out.
Going into this film, I expected certain things out of Jonah Hill's direction and I was not disappointed. Yes, those who have experienced his roles in movies knows that he can be the most hilarious person in a room, but also deliver dramatic performances that have now given him Oscar nominations, so I went into this movie hoping for him to have placed both of those extremes on-screen. Mid90s is one of the funniest movies I've seen all year, and while the first half of the movie is simply there to amuse audiences, there are many set-ups being made for a darker second half. The evolution of this film is absolutely fantastic from start to finish. The way Hill directs these performers is truly something else, but that's also due to the fact that this is a very well-cast film in general.
Sunny Suljic is a real force to be reckoned with. Having this much talent at such a young age is a very rare thing, but he resonated with me completely. The way the friendship between Stevie and Ray forms is absolutely brilliant. Na-kel Smith brings a lot more to the table than what I expected after his first few scenes, but that was clearly intentional. His character is the most mature of the group that Stevie hangs out with, which works in favour of giving life lessons throughout the course of the movie. When looking back on this movie as a whole, from the comedic first act, to the character development throughout the second act, and even to the dramatic moments throughout the third, I found myself in awe that this was directed by a first time director.
In the end, I truly hope Mid90s receives the attention that it deserves this year. I can see this movie getting a lot of love from critics and tons of buzz when awards season kicks into high gear. From the very raw and real screenplay to the incredible score by the great Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, to the overall messages throughout this film, Mid90s is as entertaining and funny as it is dramatic and eye-opening. I loved every second of this film and I can't recommend it enough. This is easily my favourite film of 2018 and one of the most memorable theatre experiences in quite some time. Saying that about an independent film that only lasts for 84 minutes may seem crazy, but I couldn't be more honest about that statement. See this film.