Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
In 1990s Los Angeles, a 13-year-old spends his summer navigating between a troubled home life and a crew of new friends he meets at a skate shop.
mid90s is a confident debut from Jonah Hill that captures the texture of 90s LA skateboarding culture with authenticity and genuine feeling. The 4:3 aspect ratio and grainy 16mm cinematography are deliberate and effective, evoking period Super-8 home video while giving the film a distinct visual identity — the cinematography is genuinely exceptional and purposeful. The plot is a fairly familiar coming-of-age arc without major surprises, and the acting ranges from raw and naturalistic (Sunny Suljic is compelling) to uneven among the non-professional cast. The film doesn't break significant new ground thematically in the coming-of-age genre, though its specific subculture milieu gives it texture. The ending is abrupt and somewhat undercooked, pulling back just as emotional stakes escalate.