376 reviews
Mid9/10
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.
- ryansalamence
- Oct 25, 2018
- Permalink
Entertaining- kids with heart
- theethinethou
- Feb 10, 2019
- Permalink
If you grew up through the 90s, this would be a nostalgia fest
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.
- ronakkotian
- Mar 27, 2020
- Permalink
Like the 90's if you were there
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
Just incredible mixed feelings after watching: sadness for time passing by, melancholia for those ages and of course, joy for being part of them...Well done Jonah!
- kyosgod-39385
- May 8, 2019
- Permalink
Jonah Hill has something special here.
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.
- havoke-74121
- Apr 1, 2021
- Permalink
Very well-made indie cinema deifying the 90s.
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.
- Johnny-the-Film-Sentinel-2187
- Sep 2, 2020
- Permalink
Worth seeing but keep your expectations low
Excellent Film
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.
- dogmaticdogs
- Oct 26, 2018
- Permalink
Jonah Hill the filmmaker delivers
- Horst_In_Translation
- May 8, 2019
- Permalink
Hill doesn't disappoint with his debut film, Mid90s.
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.
- hollyrclemens
- Sep 9, 2018
- Permalink
Teleporting to a new era
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.
- obinnaokonkwo
- May 12, 2021
- Permalink
Things happened. I wasn't bored. There, I've said everything positive that I can about this film.
- TheUserIDYouEnteredHasAlready
- Oct 26, 2018
- Permalink
Jonah Hill presenting life in 90 minutes.
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.
- Aktham_Tashtush
- Dec 25, 2018
- Permalink
Must see!
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!
- trevord-68114
- Oct 25, 2018
- Permalink
THE SKATEBOARDERS ARE COMING, THE SKATEBOARDERS ARE COMING...!
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.
If you grew up in the mid 90s skateboarding...
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!!
- huntforpickles
- Feb 7, 2019
- Permalink
Good, but not good enough.
A Home Run for Director Jonah Hill
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.
Oh, Boy.
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
- Pjtaylor-96-138044
- Apr 12, 2019
- Permalink
Embrace the nostalgia / cliches
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).
- jsph_calabrese
- Sep 12, 2018
- Permalink
Brilliant Jonah Hill debut. LA in the mid 90's is positively romantic for a street kid.
- JohnDeSando
- Oct 31, 2018
- Permalink
A good insight into a foregone time
Jonah Hill is a master at reinventing himself. From his changes as an actor to his transition to a writer and director, there is a lot to praise about the man behind this movie.
More so, he managed to actually put out a good movie. The atmosphere feels extremely 90s and the main conflicts of the movie are well flushed, if a little over the top.
On the negative side, the movie sometimes seems to drag out, as if it didn't have enough content to fill its runtime.
However, the acting is pretty good, with Na-Kel Smith getting ahead with a jaw dropping performance in a simple and natural way, delivering some very touching moments.
A good movie with some flaws that left me anxious for some more Hill.
More so, he managed to actually put out a good movie. The atmosphere feels extremely 90s and the main conflicts of the movie are well flushed, if a little over the top.
On the negative side, the movie sometimes seems to drag out, as if it didn't have enough content to fill its runtime.
However, the acting is pretty good, with Na-Kel Smith getting ahead with a jaw dropping performance in a simple and natural way, delivering some very touching moments.
A good movie with some flaws that left me anxious for some more Hill.
- lucasespindola-91322
- Apr 7, 2021
- Permalink
Cringe worthy depiction of sex deserves a bigger discussion
- SunriseSong
- Feb 18, 2019
- Permalink
Absolutely Brilliant!