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Mid90s

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Mid90s
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJonah Hill
Written by
  • Jonah Hill
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyChristopher Blauvelt
Edited byNick Houy
Music by
Production
companies
  • A24
  • Waypoint Entertainment
  • Scott Rudin Productions
Distributed byA24
Release dates
  • September 9, 2018 (2018-09-09) (TIFF)
  • October 19, 2018 (2018-10-19) (United States)
Running time
85 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.7 million[2]
Box office$9.3 million[3][4]

Mid90s (stylized as mid90s) is a 2018 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Jonah Hill, in his feature directorial debut. The plot follows Stevie, a 13-year-old boy in 1990s Los Angeles. To escape troubled home life, he begins spending time with an older group of skateboarders. The cast includes Sunny Suljic, Lucas Hedges, Katherine Waterston, Na-Kel Smith, and Alexa Demie.

Mid90s served as a passion project for Jonah Hill, who was inspired by his experiences growing up in Los Angeles in the 90s. Influenced by filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Spike Jonze, Hill aimed to authentically portray 1990s skate culture. Filming took place in various Los Angeles neighborhoods. Mid90s was filmed with a 4:3 aspect ratio reminiscent of VHS skate tapes, using Super 16mm film stock on skate videos. The soundtrack featured 1990s hip hop music.

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2018, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 19, 2018, by A24. It was well received by critics, who called it a "promising first outing for Hill", and praised the sense of nostalgia.[5] It grossed $9.3 million at the box office on a budget of $1.7 million.

Plot

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In 1996, 13-year-old Stevie lives in Los Angeles with his physically abusive older brother Ian and single mother Dabney. One day, Stevie bikes past Motor Avenue Skateshop, admires the boastful camaraderie of the skateboarders outside, and returns the following day. Back home, he trades with his brother for a skateboard, brings it to the shop and befriends young skater Ruben, who introduces him to the rest of the group: charismatic leader Ray, loudmouth "Fuckshit," and quiet "Fourth Grade." Although an inexperienced skater, Stevie is drawn to the group and aspires to imitate their daredevil behavior and anti-social attitudes. Stevie is nicknamed "Sunburn" by Ray, and his acceptance into the group causes Ruben to resent him.

While attempting a skateboard trick between two rooftops, Stevie falls and suffers a head injury. Dabney's concerns are dismissed by Stevie, who continues to admire the group. Later, Ian has a tense standoff with Fuckshit as Stevie watches, but Ian appears intimidated by the group and leaves. Stevie begins smoking, drinking, and experimenting with marijuana. At a party, he has his first kiss and sexual experience with an older teenage girl named Estee. After Stevie comes home intoxicated, he and Ian get into a violent fight. Ian has an emotional breakdown when Stevie says that he has no friends and, following the conflict, a distressed Stevie attempts to asphyxiate himself with a cord from a SNES controller, one of several self-harm incidents. The next day, Dabney forbids Stevie from hanging out with the boys. Stevie lashes out and refuses to obey.

Having alienated his family, Stevie sits alone behind the skate shop. Ray consoles Stevie, telling him even though he thinks his life is bad, the other boys have it worse: Fourth Grade is poor to the point of not being able to afford socks, Ruben's mom is an abusive drug addict, Fuckshit's reckless partying is worsening, and Ray lost his younger brother, who was hit by a car a few years prior. Ray takes Stevie out to skate at night, and they fall asleep outside the Santa Monica Courthouse.

The shop hosts a party in the back of the store. Ray hopes to make a career in skating and chats up two professionals as potential sponsors, but Fuckshit embarrasses him in front of the pros and Stevie is provoked into a brawl with Ruben. Discouraged, Ray tells everyone to go home. However, an intoxicated Fuckshit insists on driving the group to another party. Talking animatedly and driving inattentively, Fuckshit crashes and flips the car on its side. Stevie is knocked unconscious and is rushed to the hospital.

Stevie later awakens in a hospital bed, and sees Ian in a chair alongside him. Ian gives Stevie a container of orange juice to comfort him. Dabney enters the hospital and sees Stevie's friends asleep in the waiting room. Dabney encourages them to visit Stevie's room. After a while, Fourth Grade, who has been filming their adventures throughout the film, says he has something to show them. He plugs his camera into a TV to play them a skate video of their daily activities. Fourth Grade has titled the film "Mid90s".

Cast

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(L to R) Sunny Suljic (pictured in 2018), Lucas Hedges (2017), and Katherine Waterston (2018)

Additionally, Jerrod Carmichael cameos as a security guard whom Stevie and his friends taunt. Filmmaker Harmony Korine appears briefly as a sexual partner of Dabney.[7] Hip-hop artist Del the Funky Homosapien and professional skateboarder Chad Muska appear as homeless man #1 and #2 respectively.

Production

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Development and casting

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Mid90s was Jonah Hill's first project as a writer and director, a passion project drawn from his own experiences growing up in Los Angeles.[8][9] Influenced by filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Spike Jonze, Hill sought to create an authentic portrayal of 1990s skate culture and the experience of youth at that time. Hill consulted Jonze, who encouraged him to create something personal.[10] On March 30, 2016, it was announced that Jonah Hill would be making his directorial debut from his own spec script, Mid90s, a film he would not appear in.[11] In March 2017, Lucas Hedges joined the cast.[12] In July 2017, it was reported that Katherine Waterston had signed on and that Sunny Suljic was cast in the lead role. It was also revealed that principal production on the film had commenced.[13] On August 1, 2017, Alexa Demie joined the cast.[14]

Filming and music

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Jonah Hill (left) and Christopher Blauvelt (right) at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival in 2019
Main article: Mid90s (soundtrack)

The set design recreated the director's childhood experiences. For example, Stevie's room started out messy with posters of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but was later changed to reflect his new individuality.[15] To familiarize themselves with the time period, some cast members listened to songs from the 90s on an iPod.[16] Mid90s was shot in various Los Angeles locations, including Venice and Culver City.[17][10][18] Hill and cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt employed a 4:3 aspect ratio to echo the look of VHS skate tapes.[19] Filming with Super 16mm stock matched the aesthetic of skate videos.[20][21][22] Although some of the cast members were actors, Hill used real-life skateboarders who had little acting history.[23] Hill collaborated with editor Nick Houy in editing.[24]

Mid90s features an original score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, as well as recordings by Pixies, Morrissey, Herbie Hancock, ESG, the Mamas and the Papas, Souls of Mischief, Nirvana, The Pharcyde, and various 1990s hip hop music.

Release

[edit]

Mid90s had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2018,[25] and was also screened at the New York Film Festival on October 7, 2018.[26] It was theatrically released in the United States on October 19, 2018, in limited engagements, with a wide release the following weekend.[27] The film was released in UK and Irish cinemas on April 12, 2019.[28]

Home media

[edit]

Mid90s was released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 8, 2019.[29] The film made $480 thousand in DVD sales and $470 thousand in Blu-ray sales.[4]

Criticism

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Critical reviews called attention to the film's use of homophobic and racist slurs, as well as its treatment of toxic masculinity. Sam Adams of Slate wrote, "The skaters’ dialogue is liberally spiced with homophobic and occasional racist slurs, and while anyone old enough to remember the 1990s can attest to the accuracy of their omnipresence, the movie’s inclusion of them feels like another cheap shortcut to verisimilitude."[30][31] Other criticisms cited a scene of juvenile sexuality between Stevie and Estee for its uncomfortable undertones given the ages of the characters and actors.[32] In response, Hill commented, "The point of the movie is that nothing's black or white. I'm not a moralist; I'm not here to tell an audience how they should feel."[33]

Reception

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Box office

[edit]

Mid90s grossed $249,500 from four theaters in its opening weekend for an average of $62,375 per venue, good for the third best of 2018.[34] It expanded to 1,206 theaters the following week and made $3 million, finishing 10th at the box office.[35] In its third weekend of release the film made $1.36 million.[36] The box office closed, grossing $9.3 million.[4]

Critical response

[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 80% based on 225 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Mid90s tells a clear-eyed yet nostalgic coming-of-age tale that might mark the start of an auspicious new career for debuting writer-director Jonah Hill."[37] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[38] Audiences polled by PostTrak gave the film an 83% overall positive score and a 62% "definite recommend".[35]

Owen Gleiberman of Variety called the film "a coming-of-age tale that's unvarnished enough to believe," specifying, "the fact that a star like Hill built this movie from the ground up, and did it with so much integrity and flair, lends it an undeniable hipster quotient."[39] Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, John DeFore said, "in emotional punch and shoulda-seen-this-coming skill, it is more like Hill's Lady Bird, a gem that feels simultaneously informed by its author's adolescence and the product of a serious artist's observational distance."[40] Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film 2 out of 4 stars and said, "Vivid in bits and pieces, Mid90s feels like a research scrapbook for a movie, not a movie. The more Hill throws you around in the name of creating a harsh, immediate impression, the more the impressions blur."[41]

Accolades

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Award Category Subject Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival Teddy Award for Best Feature Film Jonah Hill Nominated [42]
Critics' Choice Movie Award Best Young Performer Sunny Suljic Nominated [43]
Independent Spirit Award Best Editing Nick Houy Nominated [44]
NBR Award Top Ten Independent Films Won [45]

References

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  1. ^ "Mid90s". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  2. ^ "FILM TAX CREDIT – QUARTERLY REPORT CALENDAR YEAR 2019: THIRD QUARTER" (PDF). New York State: 10. September 30, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mid90s(2018)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Mid90s (2018)". The Numbers. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  5. ^ Fujitani, Ryan (October 25, 2018). "Hunter Killer Is Substandard". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  6. ^ "mid90s". Paste Magazine. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  7. ^ Ahearn, Victoria (October 25, 2018). "Jonah Hill on including 'toxic masculinity' in directorial debut Mid90s". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  8. ^ "'Mid90s' Is A Coming-Of-Age Classic That Replaces Nostalgia With Uncertainty [NYFF]". /Film. October 18, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "'mid90s': Toronto Review". Screendaily. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Jonah Hill on His First Film, 'Mid90s,' And What He Learned From Martin Scorsese and Spike Jonze". The Lawrence. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Lincoln, Ross A. (March 31, 2016). "Jonah Hill To Helm 'Mid 90s' From His Spec Script In Feature Directorial Debut". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  12. ^ Mazzanti, Mike (March 1, 2017). "Jonah Hill's Directorial Debut 'Mid '90s' to Reunite 'Manchester by the Sea' Stars". The Film Stage. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  13. ^ "Katherine Waterston, Sunny Suljic to Star in Jonah Hill's Directorial Debut "Mid-90s" (Exclusive)". The Tracking Board. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  14. ^ "Alexa Demie Set For Jonah Hill's 'Mid '90s'; Tommy Dorfman Cast In 'Fluidity'". Deadline Hollywood. August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  15. ^ "Jahmin Assa — Interiors : An Online Publication about Architecture and Film".
  16. ^ "The Cast of 'Mid90s' Discuss Their Journey, on and Off-Screen | Arts | the Harvard Crimson".
  17. ^ "Kodak Super 16mm brings heart and soul to Jonah Hill's coming-of-age picture 'Mid90s'". Kodak. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "Jonah Hill on His First Film, 'Mid90s,' And What He Learned From Martin Scorsese and Spike Jonze". Newsweek. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "Jonah Hill's Directorial Debut 'mid90s' Skates In The Shadow Of Similar Films [TIFF Review]". The Playlist. September 10, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  20. ^ "Jonah Hill and the cast of 'Mid90s' on Embracing Authenticity and Avoiding Nostalgia-Porn". October 18, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  21. ^ "Where was 'Mid90s' filmed?". CN Traveller. May 5, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  22. ^ "How 'Mid90s' Makes Good on the Promise of Its Title". October 19, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  23. ^ "Interview: The Young Cast of Mid90s On Getting the Part, Skating and Loopy Nights on Set". Third Coast Review. October 26, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  24. ^ "Jonah Hill debuta como director con 'Mid90s'". July 24, 2018.
  25. ^ Kay, Jeremy (August 14, 2018). "Toronto unveils Contemporary World Cinema, more Galas and Special Presentations". Screen International. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "Mid90s". New York Film Festival. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  27. ^ Goldberg, Matt (July 24, 2018). "'Mid90s' Trailer: Jonah Hill's Directorial Debut Takes a NSFW Dive into L.A. Skate Culture". Collider. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  28. ^ "Mid90s in UK and Irish cinemas on 12 April 2019". Filmoria.co.uk. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  29. ^ Mid90s Arrives On Blu-ray, DVD & On Demand January 8
  30. ^ Adams, Sam (October 18, 2018). "Jonah Hill's Mid90s Is a Portrait of the Artist as a Young Skater Bro". Slate. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  31. ^ Coughlin-Bogue, Tobias (December 19, 2018). "I'm Sorry, Mid90s' Homophobia Does Not Get a Pass". Skateism. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  32. ^ Hadadi, Roxana (October 25, 2018). "'Mid90s' Uses a Super-Uncomfortable Sex Scene to Make Its Young Protagonist Cool, Because Of Course It Does". Pajiba. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  33. ^ Martin, Rachel (October 17, 2018). "It Wasn't Cool To Care In The 'Mid90s' — But Jonah Hill Does". NPR.org. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  34. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 21, 2018). "'Halloween' Scares Up Second-Best October Opening With $77M+; Best Debut For Blumhouse & Carpenter Canon; Great Launch For Miramax". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  35. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 28, 2018). "'Halloween' Screams $32M Second Weekend As October B.O. Moves Toward Record". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  36. ^ Brooks, Brian (November 4, 2018). "'Boy Erased' With Robust Bow; 'A Private War' Aims OK: Specialty Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  37. ^ "Mid90s (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  38. ^ "Mid90s". Metacritic. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  39. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (September 10, 2018). "Film Review: 'mid90s'". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  40. ^ DeFore, John (September 9, 2018). "'Mid90s': Film Review - TIFF 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  41. ^ Phillips, Michael (October 27, 2018). "'Mid90s' review: Jonah Hill's LA story smells like teen spirit". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  42. ^ "Mid90s (2018)". MUBI. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  43. ^ DaMour, Henrique (January 13, 2019). "Critics' Choice Awards 2019: See the full winners list". EW.com. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  44. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 16, 2018). "2019 Spirit Award Nominations: 'We The Animals' Tops With Five, A24 Leads All Distributors, Studio Classic Labels Come Up Short". Deadline. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  45. ^ "NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW ANNOUNCES 2018 AWARD WINNERS". National Board of Review. November 27, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
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