Admiration is a momentary escape - a fleeting mechanism that provides the user with an instant false sense of self-identity borrowed from those admired.

In contrast, the discovery of oneself is a slow, uncomfortable, and typically desolate journey. You never know when your true identity will arrive or what will cause it, but it will. It’s just a matter of time.

For the first decade of your life - and generally longer - you exist without question. Not caring where you are, where you come from, or even who you are. But then, it all changes. When wisdom, understanding, and maturity are scarce, a twelve or thirteen-year-old must make a decision: shape your own identity, or borrow one.

In Mid90s, our thirteen-year-old protagonist Stevie chooses to borrow.

In his directorial debut film, Jonah Hill immerses the audience in 1990s Los Angeles, where we follow a young, naive boy seeking an escape from his fractured home in pursuit of the seemingly untouchable promise of belonging and identity.

Via Stevie’s eyes, we see him transform from a child into, what he thinks is, a man. From who Stevie originally became, an unrecognizable Sunburn, a boy too immersed in idolization, administration, and short-term identity, that he began to lose sight of who he truly was. Hill’s writing and directing invite the audience into a beautifully raw and heartbreaking portrait of a boy’s honest, unfiltered journey through adolescence. We see friendships form, admiration grow, and devastation arise.

In Mid90s, skateboarding isn’t just a mode of transportation or a sport; it’s Stevie’s way to prove himself to Ray and his friends, it’s a symbol of the rite of passage. As time goes on, skateboarding begins to mirror Stevie’s life. The turbulent, reckless skateboarding reflects the turbulent and reckless journey Stevie is on to his self-identity and belonging.

Despite the amazing connection of skateboarding to Stevie’s life, what I believe was the nearest thing to perfection in this film was Jonah Hill’s ability to create emotional connections between every character. Each relationship felt authentic and emotionally impactful, with Ray’s monologue to Sunburn being the most beautiful scene within the movie. I think every character added something of extreme value, either by expressing Stevie’s character indirectly or adding a new element that might have gone untapped without an interpersonal relationship. My favorite character was undoubtedly Ray, a young, aspiring skater who wants nothing more than to become a pro and escape the life that was already planned out for him.

Beyond the writing and character relationships, Mid90s' cinematography was just as beautiful. The aesthetically pleasing, time-accurate cinematography made the story come to life. Through the shots themselves, the incredibly high-sensitivity, fine-grain camera used, and the outstanding execution of the color-grading of the film, Mid90s truly sticks out as one of the best shot films I have ever seen.

However, Mid90s still had its flaws. For how authentic and raw the film appeared all throughout, the ending felt abrupt and unrealistic. For me, the ending had a less impactful emotional toll on my feelings, and instead left me somewhat dissatisfied with how things ended. The scene where Ian shares an orange juice with Stevie was beautiful and emotional, but how Stevie’s mother seemingly had zero care that Ray and friends were the ones who got Stevie into his condition felt super inauthentic, even though they stayed the night to see Sunburn safe and healthy. Despite this critique, there isn’t much else to say about Mid90s when it comes to its flaws; it is a beautiful film that expresses an honest story of a boy facing the challenges of belonging and finding his own identity. Well done, Jonah Hill!