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Mid90s
****
Dir: Jonah Hill
Starring: Sunny Suljic, Lucas Hedges
(USA, 15, 1hr 25mins)
A coming-of-age tale from the former Superbad actor, Jonah Hill has matured into an accomplished writer/director in this lo-fi gritty tale of a teenage boy trying to find his place in life.
Sunny Suljic plays Stevie, an LA kid trying to escape the bondage of an abusive home and the perpetual anger of older brother Ian, a dead-eyed and scary Lucas Hedges. He finds solace in the company of a band of skate punks from far less privileged backgrounds than himself, each with their own issues, stoned, burnt-out and often loutish; they nevertheless take him under their wing.
There is the stoic Ray who wants to do something with his life, surfer dude Fuckshit, anxiety-ridden Fourth Grade and wasted Ruben. They become his surrogate family, his role models, helping him through with their apparently aching coolness, inviting him to house parties where he has his first sexual experience. They’re also always better skateboarders than him.
Stevie steals from his mother (Katherine Waterston) so he can buy a skateboard but he never excels enough at it. This is not a triumph-over-adversity indie film, more a loving snapshot of adolescence that obviously resonates intensely with writer/director Hill. Shot through with tenderness and raw, naturalistic performances giving it a documentary feel, the film observes Stevie’s wide-eyed, big-haired teenager blossoming in a far more restrained, unsentimental way.
Mid90s is full of inarticulate articulacy as Stevie tests out his relationships with these dudes at the skate park as they imbue their fractured wisdom upon this young impressionable boy. Yes, there’s a lot of trademark mumblecore elements to it, but they are anchored by Suljic’s central performance and Hill’s direction. An authentic glimpse at a moment of transition recreating the 90s with aplomb. This feels like a love letter from Jonah Hill to his younger self.
words Keiron Self
Out now in cinemas
