Aside from a couple minor issues I had with this film, I loved it. It just felt incredibly real. I didn't feel like I was watching actors. I felt like I was watching the lives of these kids unfold, and that those lives would just continue unfolding even when the camera wasn't rolling.
371 Reviews
Entertaining- kids with heart
theethinethou11 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Say what you will, even if Hill was trying to live life through the movie, so what? He did a great job. One reviewer mentioned a ten yr old boy and a 16 yr old girl would never hook up. What? All sorts of "interesting" things go on during this age, especially in the lives of, no offense man, hood skater rats.
Don't take the movie too seriously, chill out and let it entertain you.
There's too many people in these reviews trying to be professional movie reviewers, damn. It was a fun trip. After I rented it I turned around and bought it.
Hill gave these kids big hearts, something that seems to be missing in teens in today's society. Lay off the serious, man. Chillax lol
Mr Hill, More please
Don't take the movie too seriously, chill out and let it entertain you.
There's too many people in these reviews trying to be professional movie reviewers, damn. It was a fun trip. After I rented it I turned around and bought it.
Hill gave these kids big hearts, something that seems to be missing in teens in today's society. Lay off the serious, man. Chillax lol
Mr Hill, More please
Jonah Hill presenting life in 90 minutes.
Aktham_Tashtush26 December 2018
As Jonah Hill debut ... bravo ,, he aced it both ways,, directing and writing ,, the movie has solid plot ,, as i was a 10 years old kid, Back in the mid 90's, even though i wouldn't say i relate to the events per say "smoking and drinking and all" but I have just felt it through the lingo, trying to fit in , find your group of friends and the music, Oh my!! the music was and emotional captivation. .. anyway , the script was really good ,, so balanced ,, when it gets somewhat slow, just for a second it picks up real fast..
The cast was amazing ,, don't know how these kids are or how they found them but they did one perfect job,, first time seeing Sunny Suljic ,, wow ,, his face and acting skills we really good,, as for Lucas Hedges "the brother" i mean i knew him ,, i think he was nominated for an Oscar some years back ,, he was good too.. the other kids , F#ck-sh!t, Fourth Grade, Ray they were a perfect fit for the roles. and Na-kel Smith first movie ,, and his emotional scene was wow.
Final say,, I don't think the movie is specifically about skateboarding as much as it's about friendship/ family/ trying to fit in and about life, Just life, so Recommended.
The cast was amazing ,, don't know how these kids are or how they found them but they did one perfect job,, first time seeing Sunny Suljic ,, wow ,, his face and acting skills we really good,, as for Lucas Hedges "the brother" i mean i knew him ,, i think he was nominated for an Oscar some years back ,, he was good too.. the other kids , F#ck-sh!t, Fourth Grade, Ray they were a perfect fit for the roles. and Na-kel Smith first movie ,, and his emotional scene was wow.
Final say,, I don't think the movie is specifically about skateboarding as much as it's about friendship/ family/ trying to fit in and about life, Just life, so Recommended.
Like the 90's if you were there
b-suhr0113 May 2019
This movie was the 90's skate scene to a T. The music, a mix of punk, indie and hip hop, the clothes, baggy pants and 2XL tees, drugs, underage drinking, and of course street skating.
If you were there, you know, if not you can experience a time that will never come back. Skating is not the outlaw thing you do to escape your sh!tty life anymore, it's city built skateparks and X games.
That's why this film hits hard. Everyone who was around then had their crew and every crew had the jokester, the pro, the poor kid and the hanger-on who wasn't really good but a nice dude so you kept him. That's what Stevie is in this film and that's why you feel for him.
Jonah Hill has made an authentic time capsule into the mid 90's that feels real and not forced.
Our time "was" up
kyosgod-393859 May 2019
If you grew up through the 90s, this would be a nostalgia fest
ronakkotian28 March 2020
The reason I wanted to check this film out was because of Jonah Hill. It's interesting to see actors give a shot at directing, writing or even both and for a first feature, Hill doesn't disappoint.
Mid90s follows Stevie, a young kid with a troubled family life, and finds a group of friends at a skate shop during the... mid 90s obviously.
If there is one thing that's executed extremely well, then it's the authentic feeling of the 90s when you watch it. The film has 4:3 aspect ratio and revolves around skateboarding, teenagers, drugs and many more aspects which attribute to the 90s feeling. This film is clearly very personal to Jonah Hill because of how realistic it looks. I really liked the music choices since it amplified the 90s atmosphere even more. It's blatantly targeted towards people from that time period and I'm sure that group of people will find this movie extremely nostalgic. Hill's script is very enjoyable and quite humourous at times. The characters were really fun to watch and what made them believable were the performances by the actors.
Sunny Suljic did an incredible job especially as a child performer. He had a lot of range in his acting and played the role to the best of his ability. Na-kel Smith, Olan Prenatt, Gio Galicia and Ryder McLaughlin all gave terrific performances especially considering that fact that all of them haven't acted much before this. Even Lucas Hedges did well as I thought he suited the role.
Whilst watching the movie, it reminded me a lot of Larry Clark's KIDS and I'm sure that film was a huge inspiration to Jonah Hill but it kind of made Mid90s lose some of its originality. Also towards the end, the editing became messy. There was a scene that included somewhat of a jumpscare that I didn't like at all.
Mid90s is nowhere near flawless but I respect the amount of work Jonah Hill put into his directorial debut. It's a fun, nostalgic and personal trip coming from someone who's lived through that time and wants to share his love for that period to everyone.
Mid90s follows Stevie, a young kid with a troubled family life, and finds a group of friends at a skate shop during the... mid 90s obviously.
If there is one thing that's executed extremely well, then it's the authentic feeling of the 90s when you watch it. The film has 4:3 aspect ratio and revolves around skateboarding, teenagers, drugs and many more aspects which attribute to the 90s feeling. This film is clearly very personal to Jonah Hill because of how realistic it looks. I really liked the music choices since it amplified the 90s atmosphere even more. It's blatantly targeted towards people from that time period and I'm sure that group of people will find this movie extremely nostalgic. Hill's script is very enjoyable and quite humourous at times. The characters were really fun to watch and what made them believable were the performances by the actors.
Sunny Suljic did an incredible job especially as a child performer. He had a lot of range in his acting and played the role to the best of his ability. Na-kel Smith, Olan Prenatt, Gio Galicia and Ryder McLaughlin all gave terrific performances especially considering that fact that all of them haven't acted much before this. Even Lucas Hedges did well as I thought he suited the role.
Whilst watching the movie, it reminded me a lot of Larry Clark's KIDS and I'm sure that film was a huge inspiration to Jonah Hill but it kind of made Mid90s lose some of its originality. Also towards the end, the editing became messy. There was a scene that included somewhat of a jumpscare that I didn't like at all.
Mid90s is nowhere near flawless but I respect the amount of work Jonah Hill put into his directorial debut. It's a fun, nostalgic and personal trip coming from someone who's lived through that time and wants to share his love for that period to everyone.
Very well-made indie cinema deifying the 90s.
Johnny-the-Film-Sentinel-21873 September 2020
Mid90s is Jonah Hill's love-letter and confronting examination of a decade we now look back upon with incomparable admiration and respect. It's got everything: skateboards, VCRs, Super Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, Ren and Stimpy t-shirts and gangsta-culture. It's a time-capsule movie that truly doesn't feel like it was made in 2018 at all: its setting and characters are that convincing in making us Belgrave we're back in the 90s. Sure it's not all sunshine-and-bunnies in the story: the main character suffers physical abuse from his older brother and his mother isn't the most accepting person on the planet, but the movie's exploration of camaraderie, sex and drugs and rock and roll, VidCam filmmaking, skateboards and no longer feeling like an outsider makes Mid90s quite the visual and story-based treat.
This film is a short and ridiculously sweet nostalgia trip for anyone wanting something simple, relatable and honest.
This film is a short and ridiculously sweet nostalgia trip for anyone wanting something simple, relatable and honest.
Jonah Hill has something special here.
havoke-741212 April 2021
Where "Jonah Hill" places his characters, the way they speak, his direction. All of this speaks to me, cus a lot of us lived through moments like this. The love on display, carrys through any contrivances that you expect from a film like this.
Excellent Film
dogmaticdogs27 October 2018
First off, the soundtrack is amazing. Second, the acting is superb. So good in fact, it actually feels like a documentary.
I grew up with the skater kids, and it was an honest portrayal. Often misfits and somewhat broken, but usually loyal and just searching for a place where they can fit in and escape from some of their problems in life. Very few writers and directors can portray human psychology accurately. Usually characters are just portrayed as good or evil, rather than a product of complex genetic and environmental conditioning with both a good side and a dark side. People are not born and raised on the same playing field in terms of health, love, wealth, support, intelligence, attractiveness and opportunities. Most try their best but often fail or make mistakes. As a result, judgement of others is absurd. This movie captures all of that beautifully.
Sunny Suljic is going to be a superstar. At age 13, he exudes both genuine kindness and humbleness, as well as being able to simultaneously convey an edgy darkside. He has already surpassed many actors 30 years his senior.
I grew up with the skater kids, and it was an honest portrayal. Often misfits and somewhat broken, but usually loyal and just searching for a place where they can fit in and escape from some of their problems in life. Very few writers and directors can portray human psychology accurately. Usually characters are just portrayed as good or evil, rather than a product of complex genetic and environmental conditioning with both a good side and a dark side. People are not born and raised on the same playing field in terms of health, love, wealth, support, intelligence, attractiveness and opportunities. Most try their best but often fail or make mistakes. As a result, judgement of others is absurd. This movie captures all of that beautifully.
Sunny Suljic is going to be a superstar. At age 13, he exudes both genuine kindness and humbleness, as well as being able to simultaneously convey an edgy darkside. He has already surpassed many actors 30 years his senior.
Worth seeing but keep your expectations low
dmasursky28 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
There is a lot to love about this film. The actors are very natural and very engaging. The star, Sunny Suljic, is quite a find. There are a number of very moving scenes between the characters - we all have our burdens to bear.
The skating is great, but there isn't tons of it - don't go to the movie expecting it to be Lords of Dogtown or something like that. These boys hang around, talk smack, and do a bit of skating.
I have a major and a minor complaint about the movie. The minor one is what I thought was a really gratuitous scene between an older girl and the main character, Stevie (who is supposed to be 13 years old, but he looks younger, and the actor playing him IS younger) - we don't actually see them fooling around, but he talks about it (graphically) afterward. I thought the actor (and the character) was awfully young to include that. Why not something more sweet, more appropriate? It definitely affected my feelings about the film and my willingness to recommend it to others.
The major complaint is that there's just not enough "there" there. The movie isn't even 90 minutes long. I think if you're going to ask your audience to spend $12.50 at the multiplex, you should give them something substantial. It feels like the first HALF of a great movie. Jonah Hill introduces so many relationships and characters that never really get addressed: the mom, for example, and especially the brother - what's his deal? And the tension between the two friends who are moving in different directions seems defused by a terrible car accident caused by the one character's drinking. Are we supposed to think that all is forgiven? It just felt very unfinished, very unaddressed. I felt a bit cheated and I almost felt like Jonah Hill was just lazy, or couldn't be bothered to flesh out the film and do the work to complete it. I would certainly have a hard time heartily recommending the film, though it has some powerful moments. A fine first effort, I suppose, but not quite what I was hoping.
The skating is great, but there isn't tons of it - don't go to the movie expecting it to be Lords of Dogtown or something like that. These boys hang around, talk smack, and do a bit of skating.
I have a major and a minor complaint about the movie. The minor one is what I thought was a really gratuitous scene between an older girl and the main character, Stevie (who is supposed to be 13 years old, but he looks younger, and the actor playing him IS younger) - we don't actually see them fooling around, but he talks about it (graphically) afterward. I thought the actor (and the character) was awfully young to include that. Why not something more sweet, more appropriate? It definitely affected my feelings about the film and my willingness to recommend it to others.
The major complaint is that there's just not enough "there" there. The movie isn't even 90 minutes long. I think if you're going to ask your audience to spend $12.50 at the multiplex, you should give them something substantial. It feels like the first HALF of a great movie. Jonah Hill introduces so many relationships and characters that never really get addressed: the mom, for example, and especially the brother - what's his deal? And the tension between the two friends who are moving in different directions seems defused by a terrible car accident caused by the one character's drinking. Are we supposed to think that all is forgiven? It just felt very unfinished, very unaddressed. I felt a bit cheated and I almost felt like Jonah Hill was just lazy, or couldn't be bothered to flesh out the film and do the work to complete it. I would certainly have a hard time heartily recommending the film, though it has some powerful moments. A fine first effort, I suppose, but not quite what I was hoping.
Hill doesn't disappoint with his debut film, Mid90s.
hollyrclemens10 September 2018
Jonah Hill's directorial debut is an instant classic that is daring, heartwarming, and a visual masterpiece. The film follows Stevie, a 13 year old boy, who is searching to belong. He finds his place in a group of neighbourhood skateboarders, and learns that the life he imagines they live is much different than it seems. Hill's writing skillfully ensures that there are no details unnecessary to the story, and that no strings are left untied. Perfectly capturing the essence of finding family, love, and brotherhood, Hill's debut feels raw and perfectly balanced throughout. There are moments to laugh, moments to cry, and moments to feel an overwhelming nostalgia and joy. Hill's writing is clearly influenced by his own experiences growing up as a skateboarder in the middle of the 90s. The soundtrack to this film is the best I have heard for 2018. Although this film is somewhat niche due to it's subject matter, there will be something for every movie lover to enjoy. The cast of this film feel real and perfectly portray the characters they represent. This film will rejuvenate your youth, reminding you of conversations you've had as a teen. Jonah Hill ignited the Toronto International Film Festival with an unexpected- yet incredible, first film. I was left stunned, and you will be too.
Jonah Hill the filmmaker delivers
Horst_In_Translation9 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
"Mid90s" is an award-winning American movie from 2018. Writer, director and producer is two-time Oscar-nominated actor Jonah Hill. I must say I am not really big on him as an actor at all admittedly, but he did a really decent job with this one that I am almost tempted to say that he may very well be a better filmmaker than actor. The next years (and projects) will tell. It is far from his first effort as writer really, but this was his first "real" movie as a director. What he directed before were mostly music videos and definitely not too many at all. You will not really recognize many actors in his film here. The biggest name in the cast is without a doubt Lucas Hedges, a pretty young actor himself, but also already an Oscar nominee. He plays the protagonist's brother. The main character himself is played by Sunny Suljic. And while Suljic has received some accolades for his portrayal and certainly done a good job with a character that is in basically every scene here from start to finish, it almost never feels like a character study. It is a bit of everything. First of all, like the title says it is about depicting the 90s and what happened back then. There are many references to this decade that started almost 30 years ago already now. Man how time flies. The references include t-shirts and a lot of other stuff. There is a Mr. Burns Simpsons mention. I really liked the Guile Streetfighter shirt early on. Beavis & Butthead are included as well. And there is a lot more. I won't go that much into detail now. But you will recognize it when you see it. However, the longer the film went, the less frequent these inclusions were which I thought was a bit of a pity. Still Hill did a fine job without a doubt in making this film look extremely 90s. I mean if you showed it to an unsuspecting crowd and tell them this was made back in 1990, they probably would believe it.
Then there is of course the story of the main character, a boy struggling with violence from his brother and lack of a future somehow too during his puberty and there is certainly a coming-of-age component in here, not only because he makes his first sexual experience. It is also about friendship as these people he meets during the most uncommon introduction sequence that includes sexual references about parents and if you think that was a lot already wait till you hear what direction it is heading. But the friendship component also includes the slightly older boy that Stevie initially is friends with, one who is also fairly insecure (the "thank you" part) and who quickly becomes jealous of Stevie's rising popularity with the cool older guys. The T-shirt part is the best moment. Another would be if you look at his face when Stevie's mom shows up. By the way, it is absolutely not racist to ask if Black people can get sunburn! In general, Hill did a very good job with the casting and with making each and every character memorable in his own right. Even the silent guy with the camera has his moment in the spotlight when he keeps talking about his film ambitions that were pretty hilarious. There are many funny moments in this movie, you will laugh a lot watching it, most of all in these sequences when Stevie tries to seem all mature and grown-up, like when he tells his story with the girl from Disneyland. Overall, I quite liked the use of shades in this movie. The violent brother who is at the end at the protagonist's bedside is just one example here. No matter which character you pick, you will find realistically flawed people in here. Addiction is a subject for many. Or the mother who is caring, but also does not care much about her son recognizing how promiscuous she is. And while there are always conflicts between characters, especially the "gang", they always somehow stick together like when in the end they are all at the hospital. Sadly, there are at least 3 crucial moments when Hill messed up a bit. One would be the fact that they let the really drunk guy drive. I am not talking about how they should not have let him, this is obvious of course. But I am talking about how they would not have let him realistically. Maybe the two younger ones weren't self-confident enough already, maybe even the camera guy was not confident enough already, but I am 100% sure Ray would have interfered. Then there is the scene with the controller cable that is really painful to watch actually and I am saying this as somebody who generally does not mind violence in films. But to me this reaction did not feel too realistic honestly, just over-the-top to shock the audience. Other people may see it differently perhaps. And finally that the mother after the gang almost killed their son because of the alcohol does not mind them being around and still lets them see him. This felt especially unrealistic with how she acted earlier. There's just no way she would have changed her mind. And finally in the end with the closing credits the bridge Hill builds between the silent camera guy and this film we have here also felt a bit clumsy to me actually. But these criticisms do not destroy the film. Far from it actually. Maybe they just keep a good film from becoming a great one.. I was genuinely entertained from beginning to end here and I think this relatively short movie at 85 minutes certainly deserves to be checked out. It has some great comedy moments, some edge-of-seat drama moments and you can see from Hill's camera work that he has worked with some great directors in his career and learned quite a bit. Not one of the best movies of 2018, but definitely among the better. I give it a thumbs-up!
Then there is of course the story of the main character, a boy struggling with violence from his brother and lack of a future somehow too during his puberty and there is certainly a coming-of-age component in here, not only because he makes his first sexual experience. It is also about friendship as these people he meets during the most uncommon introduction sequence that includes sexual references about parents and if you think that was a lot already wait till you hear what direction it is heading. But the friendship component also includes the slightly older boy that Stevie initially is friends with, one who is also fairly insecure (the "thank you" part) and who quickly becomes jealous of Stevie's rising popularity with the cool older guys. The T-shirt part is the best moment. Another would be if you look at his face when Stevie's mom shows up. By the way, it is absolutely not racist to ask if Black people can get sunburn! In general, Hill did a very good job with the casting and with making each and every character memorable in his own right. Even the silent guy with the camera has his moment in the spotlight when he keeps talking about his film ambitions that were pretty hilarious. There are many funny moments in this movie, you will laugh a lot watching it, most of all in these sequences when Stevie tries to seem all mature and grown-up, like when he tells his story with the girl from Disneyland. Overall, I quite liked the use of shades in this movie. The violent brother who is at the end at the protagonist's bedside is just one example here. No matter which character you pick, you will find realistically flawed people in here. Addiction is a subject for many. Or the mother who is caring, but also does not care much about her son recognizing how promiscuous she is. And while there are always conflicts between characters, especially the "gang", they always somehow stick together like when in the end they are all at the hospital. Sadly, there are at least 3 crucial moments when Hill messed up a bit. One would be the fact that they let the really drunk guy drive. I am not talking about how they should not have let him, this is obvious of course. But I am talking about how they would not have let him realistically. Maybe the two younger ones weren't self-confident enough already, maybe even the camera guy was not confident enough already, but I am 100% sure Ray would have interfered. Then there is the scene with the controller cable that is really painful to watch actually and I am saying this as somebody who generally does not mind violence in films. But to me this reaction did not feel too realistic honestly, just over-the-top to shock the audience. Other people may see it differently perhaps. And finally that the mother after the gang almost killed their son because of the alcohol does not mind them being around and still lets them see him. This felt especially unrealistic with how she acted earlier. There's just no way she would have changed her mind. And finally in the end with the closing credits the bridge Hill builds between the silent camera guy and this film we have here also felt a bit clumsy to me actually. But these criticisms do not destroy the film. Far from it actually. Maybe they just keep a good film from becoming a great one.. I was genuinely entertained from beginning to end here and I think this relatively short movie at 85 minutes certainly deserves to be checked out. It has some great comedy moments, some edge-of-seat drama moments and you can see from Hill's camera work that he has worked with some great directors in his career and learned quite a bit. Not one of the best movies of 2018, but definitely among the better. I give it a thumbs-up!
Must see!
trevord-6811426 October 2018
I was a little nervous when I read that Jonah Hill was writing and directing a skateboarder drama. Being a skateboarder myself all my life, I really focused on how this movie was. Was it gonna be a wacky comedy or something serious? I walked out of the movie theatre with a massive smile on my face! This movie had the perfect tone to it. You really do feel for the characters and you really feel for Stevie. Growing up a skater, I really related to Stevie in the movie. while it focuses on a little kid becoming a skateboarder, it also deals with a lot of real life problems. Future, health, how hard some people's lives are. And this movie portrayed that beautifully! Hat tipped to Jonah hill! This is a must see not just for skateboarders for for everybody!
If you grew up in the mid 90s skateboarding...
huntforpickles8 February 2019
If you grew up in the mid 90s skateboarding, you will relate to this film. It was nostalgic AF. The soundtrack was on point. The skateboards, clothing, posters, CDs, and most of the set props were all as I remember in the mid 90s. It was so good. So much like we remember growing up. Skateboarding, hip hop, 40s and weed. If you know, then you know. I loved this film! Those little actors were incredible and totally believable. I felt like I was back in high school. Remembering how fun it was to be young and free. If you never lived that life, you'll never understand it. 10 stars!!
Teleporting to a new era
obinnaokonkwo13 May 2021
This film was well done. It takes you to a trip to experience life in the 90s and skater culture. The movie was filmed and all the actors did a good job. This movie is kind of short I wish it was a little longer. The ending was a little abrupt and didn't have a full conclusion. If you have the time I'd give this a watch.
A Home Run for Director Jonah Hill
kjproulx20 September 2018
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.
THE SKATEBOARDERS ARE COMING, THE SKATEBOARDERS ARE COMING...!
masonfisk6 November 2018
Jonah Hill's debut film as writer/director is an admirable piece of awakening. Feeling like an offshoot of Larry Clark's seminal 1995 film Kids, Hill takes a page from their playbook to chart the fascination of a latch key kid from a broken home (his brother beats him & it seems there is no father figure while the mother is off doing something) who falls in w/a gang of skateboarders who take him under their wing & give him a crash course on the bad things in life (drinking, smoking & of course skateboarding) which gives him a sense of purpose & belonging. An impressive list of needle drops are heard on the soundtrack (I picked out The Pixies, Bad Brains & The Mamas & the Papas to name a few) coloring the background of this low res effort which is a nice stepping stone for future efforts. Good work.
Embrace the nostalgia / cliches
jsph_calabrese13 September 2018
Sure, it might not be the most original take on the coming-of-age story (Jonah Hill even admitted it is a movie built on tropes), but what makes it unique is the chemistry and exuberance shared between the 5 boys. It's also irreverent AF, which feels incredibly refreshing.
The easy comparison would be The Sandlot, a nostalgic tale of friendship formed over a shared passion, but this has a deeper emotional layer that feels at times like Short Term 12 (and also like that movie, I predict we'll look back at Mid90s in 5 years and realize this too was a breakout platform for numerous stars).
The easy comparison would be The Sandlot, a nostalgic tale of friendship formed over a shared passion, but this has a deeper emotional layer that feels at times like Short Term 12 (and also like that movie, I predict we'll look back at Mid90s in 5 years and realize this too was a breakout platform for numerous stars).
Good, but not good enough.
clarij14 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
For starters, it's an entertaining movie. I enjoyed it, it didn't bore me at all, and it's short. The acting is quite good, especially Sunny Suljic's. It's a good story, but it doesn't really deepen the characters.
Stevie's story more or less goes deeper but you don't really understand what happens in his house, why he goes with these new friends. It does not deepen the character of his brother, Ian, you do not understand why he is so resentful of him. Nor do you understand what the mother is up to, at times she worries but at other times you are given to understand that she is not (for example when the man comes out of her room).
As for Ray, he is a very good character for nothing deepened. You don't know why he worries so much about Stevie, but not about Ruben who is almost the same age. They don't tell you much about his life but what he wants is to get out of that neighborhood and make progress. They could have made a very nice bonding relationship between Stevie and Ray, but they didn't. One scene, they spend the night skateboarding together, you kind of see a bond but not beyond that.
In other words, it's a good movie, a good story, but it lacked depth. On the other hand, Lucas Hedges is an excellent actor who will go far, and in this movie he appears for two minutes and his character does not have much history.
In other words, it's a good movie, a good story, but it lacked depth. On the other hand, Lucas Hedges is an excellent actor who will go far, and in this movie he appears for two minutes and his character does not have much history.
Absolutely Brilliant!
reubenski4 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A young boy joins group of skater teens and sets off on a journey of drugs,sex,family and friendship. Academy award winning actor Jonah Hill has now began to write and direct films this being his first magnificent Motion picture. This movie is highly unique with its 1990s camera style and story . It's set During a pinnacle time in skateboard history being the 'mid1990s'. A completely new idea Jonah had brought to the big screen. I found if you aren't a skateboarding fan yourself it is still extremely enjoyable. This movie deserves so much more credit as it definitely lives up to its potential and could definitely be a all time classic film.
Brilliant Jonah Hill debut. LA in the mid 90's is positively romantic for a street kid.
JohnDeSando1 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
When Jonah Hill played the bright and nerdy stats guy opposite Brad Pitt in Moneyball, he was far more than the sclubby second banana that started his career. His mid90s, as writer/director, is one of the best coming of age story in recent memory.
Stevie (Sonny Suljic) is a teen whose abusive home life drives him in the mid 90's to the streets of LA into the friendship of older eccentric skateboarders who introduce him to a liberated life, whose conversation is free association and whose experiences can, among many adventures, lead this young teen to make out with an older girl, more an emblem of coming of age than sensuality.
This romantic young teen drama relies on discursive moments that don't seem to form a story line. Yet they do in ways we remember growing up, small moments that loom large in middle-aged memories. When the young Stevie (or Sunburn as his new buds like to call him), is asked by his new friends to fill a water jug, he is luminous with joy to be accepted even if in a go-fer moment.
The character arc will develop to where he can skateboard with courage, and his friends lovingly wait by his hospital bedside as he recovers from an auto accident. Hill keeps the innocence factor prominent while he incrementally exposes the growing ties between Stevie and new friends like "F**ks**t" (Olan Orenatt) and "Fourth Grade" (Ryder McLaughlin), strange but believably affectionate lower-class friends of Stevie.
Even though the coming-of-age motif has been overplayed in recent years, even in Disney productions, Hill has made sure not to devolve his story into cliché. Mid90's has an authentic feel and look to make you want to hear again "Dedicated to the One I Love" played over the tender growing up of a loveable and authentic kid of the mid90's.
Stevie (Sonny Suljic) is a teen whose abusive home life drives him in the mid 90's to the streets of LA into the friendship of older eccentric skateboarders who introduce him to a liberated life, whose conversation is free association and whose experiences can, among many adventures, lead this young teen to make out with an older girl, more an emblem of coming of age than sensuality.
This romantic young teen drama relies on discursive moments that don't seem to form a story line. Yet they do in ways we remember growing up, small moments that loom large in middle-aged memories. When the young Stevie (or Sunburn as his new buds like to call him), is asked by his new friends to fill a water jug, he is luminous with joy to be accepted even if in a go-fer moment.
The character arc will develop to where he can skateboard with courage, and his friends lovingly wait by his hospital bedside as he recovers from an auto accident. Hill keeps the innocence factor prominent while he incrementally exposes the growing ties between Stevie and new friends like "F**ks**t" (Olan Orenatt) and "Fourth Grade" (Ryder McLaughlin), strange but believably affectionate lower-class friends of Stevie.
Even though the coming-of-age motif has been overplayed in recent years, even in Disney productions, Hill has made sure not to devolve his story into cliché. Mid90's has an authentic feel and look to make you want to hear again "Dedicated to the One I Love" played over the tender growing up of a loveable and authentic kid of the mid90's.
Oh, Boy.
Pjtaylor-96-13804413 April 2019
It might try to disguise itself as a sort of pseudo mood-piece, a visual poem driven by nostalgia, but there's no denying that it runs on a narrative like so many others. Little, to no, exposition doesn't excuse a weak story and it doesn't mean that there has to be a bevy of themes to take the place of a more rigorous one. See, 'Mid90s (2019)' is the sort of film where nothing really happens but where that just so happens to kind of be be the point, taking its cues from the recent 'Skate Kitchen (2018)' and, even more noticeably, its brother-piece 'Kids (1995)'. It tries to evoke a feeling through a sense of time and place. It's not necessarily all that successful - at least, not all the time - primarily because you don't really get a solid grip on its setting, especially for a flick named after it, and because the characters that we spend time with don't exactly exude the kind of camaraderie that's supposed to be oh-so enticing to us. Most of the movie is dedicated to candid scenes of kids behaving badly, which are engaging enough but don't evolve in the way you'd expect. Indeed, the entire affair ends just when you think its about to get interesting, abruptly cutting off several core-players' in-progress arcs with no real resolution. It doesn't help that it feels as though it's sometimes trying to be 'edgy' for the sake of it, even if it also has quite a few moments of pure authenticity. In any case, you often find yourself actually empathising with the parents and their very valid concerns. If you don't want to see drug-use depicted without judgement - and, essentially, consequence-free - maybe skip this one. It might sound like I didn't like it at all but there were certainly things to enjoy. The soundtrack, for one, is great; it evokes almost all the intangible feelings of youthful alienation and rose-tinted nostalgia that the movie itself can't quite crack. Most individual scenes also play out in rather entertaining ways. Na-Kel Smith's character is refreshingly mature and his performance matches - though, all the performances are pretty great, to be honest. It's just that the feature didn't feel as though it was really about anything. Was it about skating, the mid-90s, childhood, nostalgia or just friendship? The latter is the thing that shines through, being the most enjoyable aspect and most prominent theme. Still, as a whole, it sort of felt like there was something missing. I wasn't bored, but I didn't exactly care, either. 6/10
Things happened. I wasn't bored. There, I've said everything positive that I can about this film.
TheUserIDYouEnteredHasAlready27 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
What else can I say? Things happened and it was never boring. However what did happen was completely unbelievable and it left the audience with the nagging question: "Why?"
I will not echo other reviews except to say I agree that Hill tried a little too hard with the t-shirts and music and I really hate to get into nit picking - but as someone who was in my late teens and early 20s in the mid-90s, this film rang hollow. It's like Jonah Hill didn't even try for accuracy with the female characters, in behavior or how they dressed. Their mother was a total cypher. There was literally nothing memorable about her except that she was obviously a horrible parent with no sense of fashion or self-worth and with serious personal issues that went un-dealt with both in the film and in her fictional personal life. There is no way a 16 year old popular girl would want anything to do with a 10-year old prepubescent boy, or that on the off-chance she was drunk or high and they hooked up, there is no way she would ever openly discuss this with her female peers. Like "Hey guys, I just let a 3rd grader ____ me." Yeah. Right.
Then there is the fact that his mother drags him into the skate shop, screams at the other kids as though she's about to take a much heavier hand in her son's life and what happens next? Well, he spends two or three straight nights in a bum park and partying with his much older friends. Did I mention that the lead actor couldn't pass for 12 years old if he tried? And yet we're supposed to believe that he's just adopted by a group of guys in which only one person is even remotely near his own age, but about two feet taller than him.
The failure of this film to incentivize the audience to suspend disbelief was a common theme and it ultimately ruined it for me. It culminated in the post-drunken-driving accident in which a car full of boys was flipped on its side but nobody got seriously injured or arrested. Jesus.
Less than 10% of what transpired was remotely plausible - and I think Jonah Hill must have been trying to craft some kind of memoir of the crazy life he wished he had. Why? I have no idea, but clearly there was also a desire to exercise some visual directorial chops with the silly, unoriginal montages that included the closing sequence of the movie. It's like he made this movie "Because he could."
And while I can definitely say I was "entertained" for an hour and a half, I wouldn't risk recommending this film to anyone else without serious qualification. If you have a hankering to see a group of kids do extremely stupid things with zero adult supervision, I would suggest "Kids" or even "Requiem for a Dream." This movie seemed like it might be trying for some kind of lesson, but it ended up being a total waste of time.
I will not echo other reviews except to say I agree that Hill tried a little too hard with the t-shirts and music and I really hate to get into nit picking - but as someone who was in my late teens and early 20s in the mid-90s, this film rang hollow. It's like Jonah Hill didn't even try for accuracy with the female characters, in behavior or how they dressed. Their mother was a total cypher. There was literally nothing memorable about her except that she was obviously a horrible parent with no sense of fashion or self-worth and with serious personal issues that went un-dealt with both in the film and in her fictional personal life. There is no way a 16 year old popular girl would want anything to do with a 10-year old prepubescent boy, or that on the off-chance she was drunk or high and they hooked up, there is no way she would ever openly discuss this with her female peers. Like "Hey guys, I just let a 3rd grader ____ me." Yeah. Right.
Then there is the fact that his mother drags him into the skate shop, screams at the other kids as though she's about to take a much heavier hand in her son's life and what happens next? Well, he spends two or three straight nights in a bum park and partying with his much older friends. Did I mention that the lead actor couldn't pass for 12 years old if he tried? And yet we're supposed to believe that he's just adopted by a group of guys in which only one person is even remotely near his own age, but about two feet taller than him.
The failure of this film to incentivize the audience to suspend disbelief was a common theme and it ultimately ruined it for me. It culminated in the post-drunken-driving accident in which a car full of boys was flipped on its side but nobody got seriously injured or arrested. Jesus.
Less than 10% of what transpired was remotely plausible - and I think Jonah Hill must have been trying to craft some kind of memoir of the crazy life he wished he had. Why? I have no idea, but clearly there was also a desire to exercise some visual directorial chops with the silly, unoriginal montages that included the closing sequence of the movie. It's like he made this movie "Because he could."
And while I can definitely say I was "entertained" for an hour and a half, I wouldn't risk recommending this film to anyone else without serious qualification. If you have a hankering to see a group of kids do extremely stupid things with zero adult supervision, I would suggest "Kids" or even "Requiem for a Dream." This movie seemed like it might be trying for some kind of lesson, but it ended up being a total waste of time.
Just Real
Zac_La_Porte18 February 2022
Through Mid90s, Jonah Hill actually teaches as he realistically depicts skatepark teenagers. There's obviously a lot of raunchy jokes and coarse touches of humour, but the drama genre also strikes deep when it comes and deals with mature subject matter such as abuse and teenage alcohol use.
In a way, it kind of feels like old classics like The Shining or descending-into-madness stories, except for 13-year-old Stevie, it's the descent into teenage life. He starts of as a naive child who doesn't know what black people are, to then ending up swearing to his mother, smoking and even confronting and fighting back at his abusive brother. As solidly stated in the movie, the teenage friends wouldn't change their rough home lives for each others, considering they're all dealing with the struggles of home life. Their own personal struggles are what make good sense with their behaviour around other teens.
The guys who enrol the teenage friends group definitely feel like low-budget cast members, but their performances are perfect and demonstrate stereotypical teenagers. However, Sunny Suljic and Lucas Hedges are easily the most memorable out of the whole cast. It's also very effective in the context that it's filmed with an old-fashioned ratio.
If you liked this review, check out the full review and other reviews at aussieboyreviews.
In a way, it kind of feels like old classics like The Shining or descending-into-madness stories, except for 13-year-old Stevie, it's the descent into teenage life. He starts of as a naive child who doesn't know what black people are, to then ending up swearing to his mother, smoking and even confronting and fighting back at his abusive brother. As solidly stated in the movie, the teenage friends wouldn't change their rough home lives for each others, considering they're all dealing with the struggles of home life. Their own personal struggles are what make good sense with their behaviour around other teens.
The guys who enrol the teenage friends group definitely feel like low-budget cast members, but their performances are perfect and demonstrate stereotypical teenagers. However, Sunny Suljic and Lucas Hedges are easily the most memorable out of the whole cast. It's also very effective in the context that it's filmed with an old-fashioned ratio.
If you liked this review, check out the full review and other reviews at aussieboyreviews.
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