Mid90s was released last year commercially but only hit select cinemas here in Australias around a couple of weeks ago. It was the directorial debut for Jonah Hill, who also wrote the film, and I was very excited for its release. I saw it a few days ago and was floored by the phenomenal acting, vibe and style this film bolsters, as well as the technical achievements, especially while filming on film. The scene below is from around the halfway point of the film.

(Language Warning)

In the scene above, the main character Stevie (played by Sunny Suljic) is being forced to accompany his mother (played by Katherine Waterson) as she confronts his newly made older friends. Stevie then proceeds to blast his mother with insults for embarrassing him, as they both break down in their own way.

The film’s camera movements for a majority of this scene are minimal or non-existent, using still mid shots, intercut with perspective shots from the kids in the skate shop during the confrontation. However, the most powerful use of camera movement is during the car argument. The camera is fixed on the mother, but follows Stevie as he towers over her, screaming into her face. This erratic movement following the actor really bolsters the tense feeling the scene is attempting to portray, matching the instability of the aggravated character.

The film uses a lot of wide shots. This gives the actors room to be versatile within the space, but also could be representative of the loneliness and scale Stevie feels in this world. The world seems to be swallowing up all the happiness around him, and all he is left with is his skateboard and his thoughts. The film also uses wide shots to show off the set design and mise-en-scene of the film.

The world is set during the mid-90s (as the title suggests) and the mise-en-scene reflects that. The opening shot of the LA streets is filled with vintage wagons, physical painted shop signs and pedestrians sitting outside shopfronts, conversing and smoking. Similarly, when the two enter the skate shop, the boys are sitting around tattered and old couches, with skateboards surrounding the walls and old fashion technology being the forefront of the entertainment. All these aspects make the audience believe the film is set during the 90s, and keeps you immersed in the feature.

The colour grading matches the 90s aesthetic, with washed out, mellow colours being manipulated to match the fashion and structure style of the time, with a sense of nostalgia for old home video throughout. The sky is always a light, faded blue, which adds to the nostalgia of the footage. Furthermore, lighting is lowkey, with the scene mainly being lit with sunlight or naturalistic blue lighting, creating a realistic daytime setting for the store.

The performances in this film are intense and human, acting more like real people rather than characterisations. The boys sitting around the couches all react differently to the agitated mother, some are in shock and try to defuse the situation, while others poke fun and joke at the situation, making things worse. These are all human characteristics of adolescent boys, who are going through stages of rebellion and discovery, which really adds to the realness of both the tone of this scene and the film as a whole.

I really admire this film and this scene particularly, as it captures the tone and feel of the 90s, while focusing on the actors and their performances. I can’t wait to see what Jonah Hill does next filmmaking wise