MID-90s - Jonah Hill
Even if skateboarding was never your scene, Jonah Hill writes and directs a film with a neat focus on angst, awkwardnessand trying to fit in, without ever really messing any of those qualities up
This coming-of-age film.is made by first time director Jonah Hill. You can definitely sense his comedic style influencing the way the characters speak but as a debut role behind the camera, doesHill and‘Mid90s’excel?
13 year old Stevie (Sunny Suljic) lives at home with his bully-big brother Ian (Lucas Hedges) and mum Dabney (Katherine Waterston). After witnessing some older teenagers having fun skateboarding, Stevie decides to try his hand at the activity and in turn he makes friends with the crew, even if it does mean he starts skating down some dodgy roads.
Jonah Hill writes and directs with a keen eye onensuringStevie’srite of passage is lovingly documented and the 90’s setting is pretty much the perfect, grungy backdrop to tell the story.As if on its own wheels, this film shuttles by and with Nick Houy’s editing you really feel as if his life is injected with a dangerous spurt of energy.
‘Mid90s’ isn’t all fast paced masculinity though, there are a couple of touching moments portrayed in the bond between Sunburn and group leaderRay. They have a well written connection, especially in a silent and sunlit exchange where Ray fixes Stevie up with a new board.
It is a mostly solid bolt out of the gates from Hill, aside from one iffy scene at a house party that sees the li’l lead getting hit on by an older gal. Their age difference and subsequent sexual tryst are met with applause but it’s aweird scene, and if things were the other way around, with an older lad sexually advancing on a younger female then it’d be torn apart, but here it’s treated as a celebration.
Suljic is a fantastic actor with his youth shining through in the desired places. He has this puppy dog loyalty whichhe acts wonderfully as he plays in a new gang. These sunnier parts are contrasted by some darker elements of his personal life which he attacks with no reserve.
Even if skateboarding was never your scene, Jonah Hill writes and directs a film with a neat focus on angst, awkwardnessand trying to fit in, without ever really messing any of those qualities up.
7/10
