I have very distinct memories of my twelve years attending an all-boys school in the Philadelphia suburban area and though it’s a radically different scenario than what is presented in Jonah Hill’s directorial debut Mid90s, I couldn’t help but think back to that experience. For that long chunk of my life, I was surrounded by young boys aspiring to be masculine in a quite short-sighted manner. That is one of several themes and throughlines in Mid90s, which acts as Hill’s ode to 1990’s Los Angeles, skate culture, hip-hop, and the struggles of adolescence.
It’s a familiar tale, and anyone who’s ever followed the indie movie scene for however long has undoubtedly seen films of its ilk before. Despite its familiarity, and what I felt was an abrupt ending, I found myself drawn to how it depicted dynamics between youths, familial dysfunction, and abusive relationships. Mid90s is also an excellent showcase for 13-year old lead actor Sunny Suljic, who the gaming community will recognize as Atreus from God of War. The boy’s got a bright future ahead.
Source: Destructoid Review: Mid90s