Mid90s: Jonah Hill's masterpiece debut and love letter to skateboarding and hip-hop

“I connected to skateboarding and rap because it wasn’t mainstream, it was anti. It was like a fuck you to authority. It was about not taking shit. You are a worthy person, you are your own person.Jonah Hill This gave him a lens that he saw life through.

When I heard about a new skateboarding drama film I didn’t think it would impact me the way it did, end up on my list of favourite movies and kind of make me want to start skateboarding. Although written and directed by Jonah Hill who I’ve been a big fan of I was still sceptical and only ended up watching it in the beginning of 2020. As much as I loved seeing Jonah show off his diversity in films such as "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "War Dogs" I, like many others, had boxed him as the “funny” guy and liked him that way. However ,in this film you are able to see a very intimate and special part of Hill that I didn’t know existed displaying how hip-hop and skateboarding gave him ,as well as the lead protagonist of the film, a place to feel accepted and part of something.

CAST

Stevie/Sunburn - Sunny Suljic

Ray - Na-kel Smith

Ian - Lucas Hedges

Fuckshit - Olan Prenatt

Ruben - Gio Galicia

Fourth Grade - Ryder Mclaughlin

Dabney - Katherine Waterston

Estee - Alexa Demie

PLOT

Mid90s is a period piece that follows the story of a young boy called Stevie who comes from a troubled home. He finds a family in a group of skateboarders that he starts to spend time with and has a special connection with the leader of the group, Ray, who fulfils the role of an older brother in his life replacing the troubled relationship he has with his biological older brother Ian. Through skateboarding each of the characters find a place to belong despite their differences.

It feels as though you are a spectator of Stevie’s life present through all the intimate moments like the unfiltered conversations young boys have, moments of pain, first times. When criticized about glorifying dialogue containing misogyny, stereotyping and homophobia Hill explained that he wanted to represent the truth, that as an artist he wanted to mirror what the 90s were like as “explicitly and honestly as possible” and that it is not his responsibility as an artist to play a moral judge.

The ultimate messages in the film are universal such as wanting a place where you can be accepted and feel free, wanting to make more of yourself or being to scared to try, learning that you don’t have to take so many hits in life. This is explored through the main characters. Fuckshit goes by the “trying too hard is lame or corny” motto and plans on just enjoying the pleasures of life like partying and skating for fun. Ray, the leader of the group is the opposite and dedicates his time to perfecting his skill and networking with important people in the industry. Fourth Grade dreams of becoming a filmmaker but lacks the confidence and self-belief that he can. Lastly Ruben, struggling with his family life has a power struggle when Stevie enters the group and makes a good impression on the leaders of the group, Fuckshit and Ray.

FAVOURITE SCENES

This scene is probably the funniest in the movie using humour to highlight the casual stereotyping that occurred in the 90s.

This scene is one of my favourites to see the power struggle between Ruben and Stevie. Its the pivotal moment where Ruben has to sacrifice his favourite shirt for an injured Stevie and all his fears of losing his spot in the pecking order begin to come true.

INTERESTING FACTS

Jonah wanted to turn skateboarders into actors instead of actors into skateboarders with all the main actors having no acting experience prior barr Suljic, Hedges, Demie and Waterston.

Na-kel Smith who plays Ray is a pro skater and skates for Supreme

Jonah Hill confiscated phones on set, period piece, there were no phones in the 90s, he believes it helped them to all connect and be present in conversation, he says back then you used to have deep conversations with people

It took him 3 years and 20 drafts to create the final script

All of the scenes were written into script and the actors don't do any improvisation

At one point it was suggested that the film be toned down and have the actors of Stranger Things as the lead cast to which Jonah rejected

Jonah skated with the boys on set and landed a kickflip

Frank Ocean, Q-Tip and his sister Beanie were the first people he showed the film to. His sister was embarrassed to cry in front of Frank Ocean and ran out the room to cry in the hall after watching the movie

Jonah says he was 100% dedication 14% skill when it came to skateboarding

Jonah Hill explained that hip-hop and skateboarding has always been misrepresented in film and that it was important for him to make an elegant, honest and emotional film that showed hip-hop for what it is for him which is the emotional backbone of his childhood. A Tribe Called Quest was to him what The Beatles was to his parents. Hill said “Michael Jordan is not going to be the person to make the great basketball movie, it’s some nerd who is obsessed with Michael Jordan who will. It was important to me to show the legends that I made the film not from a place of authority but from a place of deep admiration and respect for giving me music that changed his life.”

Jonah Hill has created an authentic coming of age film in using actual skateboarders to tell the story and paying attention to detail from prop settings to music. The special bond he has created with his cast is undeniable and I cannot wait to see what there is to come in the future from not only Hill but the new set of actors that shone in this film. It is a must see, don't be too much later to the game than I was!!!