So, I Just Saw This Movie …

Millennials Talking Cinema|

‘Mid90s’

(Rated R)

It will come as no surprise that “Mid90s,” the directing debut of actor Jonah Hill (“Super Bad,” “Moneyball”), is set in the mid-1990s, in a suburb of Los Angeles, not so different from the one Hill (who wrote the script), grew up. In the film, 13-year-old Stevie (Sunny Suljik, “The House with a Clock in Its Walls”) is desperate for acceptance, his mother (Katherine Waterston) being preoccupied with her own problems, and his brother (Lucas Hedges, “Ladybird,” “Boy Erased”) frequently using him as a punching bag.

When he finds himself being tentatively welcomed by a group of older skateboarders, Stevie’s life changes drastically. But as shown through a series of alternately sweet, nostalgic and jarringly gritty scenes, Stevie finds himself taking bigger and bigger risks in order to earn a place among his new friends.

ALEXA CHIPMAN:

I wasn’t expecting “Mid90s” to be so immersive.

From the grainy film in a square aspect ratio to documentary style cinematography, it feels like a reel that was shot in the time period - which is fascinating.

Stevie is easy to root for.

His desperate longing for friends and hero figures is tragic and deeply human. I vividly remember similar situations from my own childhood, with awkward attempts at hanging around older teenagers, hoping they would notice.

Stevie’s spunky resilience and determination is what builds a community to support him and fill that void. I found myself gripping the theater armrests when he fearlessly practiced skateboard tricks well above his skill level, slamming into the pavement over and over again, covered in blood.

“Mid90s” is harsh and uncomfortable to watch, but ultimately lingers with poignant beauty.

ANDY TEMPLETON:

“Mid90s” is a raw, real glimpse into a time of life where the need for acceptance drives a kid more than anything else. In the specific case of male adolescents of the 1990s, this goal is achieved by proving how cool you are. And from firsthand experience, I can say that when you are 13, your “coolness,” or lack thereof, is a matter of life and death. In “Mid90s,” this is painfully shown through the journeys of every male character in the film.

I know! I know! Being “cool” may sound trivial.

But at a certain age, that’s really just a way kids try to prove that they are worthy enough of being loved, appreciated, accepted. And in the case of our little protagonist, Stevie, we see how much it sucks when the people we look up to don’t care.

Or maybe they do care, but they’re afraid to show it.

All of this may sound a bit unpleasant, but trust me, “Mid90s” is so worth it. It totally made me want to go back in time, and tell my 13-year-old self, “Dude. You. Are. Enough.”

(“So, I Just Saw This Movie …” is a new film review column, running every-other-week in the Argus-Courier. In this feature, a rotating pool of millennial writers take turns giving their candid and deeply personal views of the latest cinematic releases.)

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.