Mid90s (2018) directed by Jonah Hill was a movie that I have been waiting to watch for a couple of years now. I was in my friend’s room when he turned it on, and I was not in the mood to watch it at all. However, almost immediately, I was sucked in. I am stingy with movies that I give five stars, but this was an easy rating for me.
The dynamics of the relationships in this movie were one of the most intriguing things that lingered in my head after the movie ended. From the second the film started, it was made clear to the audience the kind of relationship the main character, Stevie (Sunny Suljic), and his brother, Ian (Lucas Hedges), have and how that shaped his home life. Throughout the movie, Stevie’s home life was projected through how he handled emotions and attached himself to the others around him. It was refreshing to see the friendships that he built with all of his friends, giving him the opportunity to build healthy relationships that he didn’t get the chance to build with his family, previously.
The acting in this movie was phenomenal. Every ounce of emotion that was put into the movie was raw and realistic. There wasn’t one moment that I forgot I wasn’t just watching a young boy live out his difficult life. Watching Stevie’s experience with each individual character and how he chose to expose himself to them was beautiful to see play out. Not to mention, the release of tension that we were able to witness between Stevie and Ian, and Stevie and Ray (Na-Kel Smith), halfway through the film was relieving. The character development of each individual character was very clear at the end of the film and was detrimental to the storyline and how we would expect it to continue after the movie ended.
The cinematography, color palette, aesthetic, wardrobe, and soundtrack were all relatively boring. However, I think it was perfect for this film in particular. The lack of excitement in this movie really added to our ability to understand the vulnerability of the characters and the passion behind the emotions they experienced. I personally think that if any of the things I’ve mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph were elevated, it would take away from the viewer’s ability to focus on the deeper messages in the film that are only seen with a dull palette.
The last thing that I wanted to touch on was the material that was showcased in this film. If you are thinking about watching Mid90s, look into the trigger warnings. Throughout the film, there is heavy use of substances of all kinds, sexual activity that some might find uncomfortable, and abuse that is endured by children. Though some of these scenes weren’t necessary, I don’t think that the movie would have been the same without them. There was some ounce of sensitivity that was needed in this movie to leave an emotional mark that it did on the audience.
This is a deeply heartbreaking film. Though it has created a lot of controversy, I personally think that this film was altering and should be seen by anyone who considers themselves a film buff. This was a brilliant movie with a lot to unpack. A24 never fails to please me and this Jonah Hill directing debut was a powerful start for him.