#mid90's

[k1ssk1ss-b8ngb8ng]

THIS MOVIE IS STRESSING ME OUT OH MY FUCKING GOD

[cupidseternallove]

There are no words to describe how much I want this guy. Holy moly. Why do all hot dudes have to be twice as older, taken and live across the globe?😭

[sickrey3]

I just want to say thank you Jonah Hill

I just watched mid 90's and this is the most realistic movie I have ever seen. My life growing up was very similar to what they showed and they really hit the nail on the head. So thank you for making this.

[cinemafucker]

[artschoolreviewz]

This is California

By Caitlin Summerson  //  28th February 2019

Nostalgia. Melancholy. Zeitgeist. Jonah Hill’s directorial debut ‘Mid90’s’ will awaken your soul to memories of a simpler time. Like the sweet smell of freshly brewed coffee early in the morning, first a gentle nudge, and then a redolent overwhelming jolt to the senses.

‘Mid90’s’ takes us through a portal back to Los Angeles mid 1990’s, where we find thirteen-year-old Stevie, a teenager growing up on the west coast. He spends his summer navigating between his tumultuous home life and a new group of friends whom he meets at a Motor Avenue skate shop. Stevie is slowly welcomed into the cult of skateboarding, gradually developing deep friendships with its long-standing leaders Fuckshit and Ray. No, Fuckshit is not his given name, apparently that doesn’t fly even in LA.

This film is a cathartic experience from beginning to end, exploring the disorientating teenage experience you may have just forgotten. The transition from blissfully ignorant childhood to merciless adult existence is set to a dreamy soundtrack made up partly of an original score, alongside evocative 90’s classic recordings from The Pixies, Morrissey, Nirvana as well as some good old quintessential hip-hop.  

It is reminiscent of ‘This Aint California’, a fellow coming-of-age film from 2012, and an unmistakable source of inspiration for Hill. Similarly following a group of teenagers and their passionate love for skating, however, as the title so kindly states, this ain’t California, it’s the German Democratic republic in the 70’s and 80’s, so their issues are not only personal, but national, but most poignantly, un-apologetically human.

Both films are quests for freedom, from suppression, from harsh realities, from shitty families, and you’re rooting for all of them. You can almost feel the wind flowing through your own hair while watching the skating mob cruise down a wide west coast road, away from life’s brutal punches and into the arms of a warm sunset.

A directorial debut triumph for Hill, it is a true tale of friendship, belonging, dedication and lust for life. This film will transport you to a time you didn’t realise you missed, make you want to call old friends more and maybe even dust off that old skateboard.

[cupidseternallove]

Guys I want Olan Prenatt do bad it's actually starting to worry me.

[hollyedwards01-blog]

Mid90′s (2018)

Director: Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill’s 2018 directorial debut is a surprisingly heartfelt and well-crafted coming of age film with some important things to say. Starring Sunny Suljic, Lucas Hedges and an impressive cast of young actors, the film follows Stevie, a troubled yet sweet 13-year-old who takes up skateboarding as a way of escaping his toxic home life and finding friends.

Shot on 16mm, the aesthetic of the film adds to the sense of nostalgia created by Hill. The gorgeous, long takes of kids in oversized tees and baggy jeans, gliding on their boards in the Los Angeles sunset are truly impressive. The writing reflects the time - the casual use of homophobic and racial slurs and intentionally awkward moments are a way of communicating how far we’ve come. Though ultimately a simple story, it has a lot to say about important societal issues like race, mental health, and class; a lot of the time the film comes across as an observational piece - sequences of the narrative are interchanged with scenes that feel more like a documentary on the 90′s era. 

Though undoubtedly well directed, the film would not be what it is without believing the connections between these kids. The chemistry between all the young actors is outstanding and Hill has done a great job of casting a group with what feels like a genuine connection. Perfectly timed editing and a top-notch soundtrack frequently add to well-directed sequences that build tension, solidify relationships and depict blissful youth and innocence. The opening shot of the film should be used as an example of how to introduce a primary character; in the space of a few minutes, we learn all we need to about Stevie, resulting in a likeable, sympathetic character that is easy to root for. 

Though well received by critics, Mid90′s seems to have slipped under the radar, though I’m sure in the years to come it will be appreciated and reflected on as one of the great directorial debuts. 

4.5/5

[germ-t-ripper]

Currently watching: Mid90's