By the “Mid90s” tagline, “fall, get back up,” that is exactly what the thirteen-year-old Stevie (Suny Suljic) does throughout the film’s daring, negative, and dangerous behavior. Directed by Jonah Hill, “Mid90s” is a film where Hill has basically created “Superbad” (2007) but with teenagers and still for adults. Now “Mid90s” is that as graphic with language and drugs as “Superbad” was but the ages of the actors makes it feel hard, but also mesmerizing. “Mid90s” has a strong R rating and here is the listings of why it has earned that rating; pervasive language, sexual content, drug and alcohol use, some violent behavior/disturbing images-all involving minors. The final three words, “all involving minors,” will definitely be some disturbance to the film’s subject matter, but it is still a very worthy movie.

In “Mid90s” Stevie lives a life that is full of challenges for himself.  Ian (Lucas Hedges), his brother is abusive and he has a single mom (Katherine Waterston). Stevie tries to fit in with school and such, however his friends who are from the higher class families seem to view him negatively. Stevie roams the streets of Los Angeles in hopes of finding a group of friends to fit in with. He comes across friends at a skate shop. These friends are bad news, because they gear on heavy topics ranging from religions, ethnicities, and choices. This leaves Stevie to view life differently. He begins to become rebellious, joins his new hoodlum friends into breaking rules, and feels he is becoming someone that he is not. From that point on his life becomes to turn around positively for himself, but he does not realize his judgment can have consequences.

Throughout the film, Stevie attends adult parties and starts putting himself into awkward situations. He is already experimenting with drugs, girls, and getting into mischievous behavior to make himself feel cool. His brother Ian, still views him like he is nothing, by continuing to abuse him. The abuse that Stevie encounters at home is basically what makes him want to bend all kinds of rules to fit in with his gangster friends. With that element I felt like I was watching a younger version of Seth from “Superbad” but age thirteen. Ironically, Seth (who was played by Jonah Hill) is the director of “Mid90s.”

I did find this movie to be faithful to its element of a young kid wanting to be popular. That is because there are various moments where Stevie is trying to prove himself worthy by doing tricks on a skateboard that he considers rad and he is doing so to try to impress his friends. This was also because in this time frame, our internet was still evolving, and social media was not a big thing yet, so without that element, we realize that Stevie is trying to get his name out there through his presence in the vivid streets of Los Angeles.

For Suljic and Hedges, this is definitely a film they will be remembered by. Hedges is the bully and Suljic is the one trying to come out of his shell and prove himself worthy. Both do an excellent job with playing their roles with hating each other. For Hill being the director, I feel he is capable of directing more movies gearing on teens and popularity because of him playing someone who wants to be popular in a variety of movies. He did so in “Accepted” (2006), “Superbad” (2007), “Get Him to the Greek” (2010), “21 Jump Street” (2012), and “22 Jump Street” (2013). Now I feel he has incorporated his acting skills and inspirations to direct this disturbing but honest film about growing up.

I remember reading that Hill said once that “The Sandlot” (1993) was one of his inspirations to direct this “Mid90s.” I felt like also it had many similarities to “The Sandlot” but on negative terms. Instead of the teen characters investing their time in baseball history, going through multiple baseballs, and playing games all day, the teen characters care about mayhem and crossing boundaries with the law. Unfortunately, the destruction causes a majority of elements to go down hill. From that, I will say “Mid90s” is fun to watch, but it is quite negative. It is a ninety minutes filled with consistent swear words, uncomfortable discussions, and scenarios that definitely go over the line for minor actors. Three stars.

Now this is a “Transformers” movie that is actually worthy. It is not like the other ones directed by Michael Bay where they are close to three hours and have continuous explosions, confusing plot points, and characters that serve no purpose (a majority of the “Transformers” movies directed by Michael Bay has characters that make no sense to have). “Bumblebee” is a “Transformers” movie that is worth the time and money. The chemistry between Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) and “Bumblebee” is captivating, there is a fair amount background to how “Bumblebee” comes as an importance in the film, and the best part….the main focus is Charlie and “Bumblebee.”

The setting of the film is the year 1987 in California. Charlie is struggling to come to terms with herself after losing her father some years ago. She comes across a yellow VW bug that is basically trashed, but she takes it, and soon begins to realize her condemned vehicle is “Bumblebee.” They begin a friendship and start to have some fun together. The film feels like it has the setting of “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” (1982) but with a robot and a female. They create a friendship that is quite entertaining and heartfelt, and the best part, there is very little explosions.

I remember continuing watching the other “Transformers” films after the first one, and I kept on telling myself I was done with “Transformers.” However, even though a majority of them were poor experiences, I still sat and suffered through them because of all the frequent commercials and such. “Bumblebee” though was not a poor experience, it was a positive one. I like how the director Travis Knight mostly incorporates friendship over protagonist vs. antagonist (which was something that Michael Bay did in literally all of his films). Even though, I kind of liked the first “Transformers” I think somewhat differently now. I wish that robots had their own separate story in separate films and came to meet up in a film later (like “The Avengers” where it is part of a universe). With “Bumblebee” i found myself wanting to know much more about the robot’s story over why certain enemies are part of the conflict.

This film only had a budget of $102-128 million, and this is the least expensive “Transformers” movie that has been made. When I think about that, I just think now with the second, the third, the fourth, and the fifth “Transformers” that all that money was invested so much in countless and dreadful hours of special effects, buildings falling, explosions, and way too many where I asked myself, “What am I watching again?”

I believe this new director used the limited budget to focus solely on the meaning of its title. Knight has producing credits for mostly animated films and before “Bumblebee” he directed “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016). He has also produced the two animated films “Paranorman” (2012 and “The Boxtrolls” (2014). They were decent animated films, and I believe for still being new in the game with directing, that Knight has made his mark “Bumblebee.” He is a director with a bright future ahead.

With the film’s time setting, I like how it takes place in the era with VCRS, cassettes, and old box TVs. That is because this one does not look into the future like other ones have, it keeps its place and time period as a serious component. The 1980s with very limited resources and the internet still becoming popular. That makes the reaction to its characters more intense because they are not used to seeing something so advanced like a robotic car. I remember in the first “Transformers” there are scenes where video games systems turn into robots along with other pointless technologies transforming, but that does not happen in “Bumblebee.” “Bumblebee” is one of the only transformations which builds excitement for its viewers.

Now, I am surprised myself that I enjoyed “Bumblebee” but the truth is I did. I had a great time with its laughing moments, its retro setting, and its funny humor with Steinfeld. Steinfeld is truly a talented actress with a bright future ahead. I find that she picks her roles carefully and this role was truly for her. Overall, it is a film that is definitely worth the time and money. Three and a half stars.

I finally saw Beautiful Boy. It was definitely heavy, but both Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet are brilliant. It is a film that shows how far people will go to save the protect the ones they love. It has many moments that are heavy but it is powerful and engrossing. Chalamet is nominated for best actor in a supporting role in the Golden Globes on Sunday he is worthy of the award. Carell’s performance is also Oscar-worthy. The film challenges a dad and his son (Carell and Chalamet). Carell is a man that is doing all he can to help his son be completely clean from using drugs to get by in his life. The film is a heavy journal that is powerful, bold, and a true story.

David Sheff (Carell) has a son who has a history tons of drug usage, and his son is Nic (Chalamet). Chalamet is completely in denial when it comes to being questioned about his drug usage. That is because his system is full of all kinds of dangerous substances. They range from alcohol, meth, cocaine, and more. Throughout the film David does every possible research he can to help Nic follow steps to getting himself out this horrible habit, but Nic keeps on being dishonest and relapsing. He has his moments where he acts like he is clean or doing well for short periods of time, and then he goes right back towards drugs, bad decisions, and all other kinds of disasters. This starts to leave David to run out of options in terms being a support to Nic. That is because Nick keeps lying, using, and his consequences start to become irreparable.

For Chalamet this film is a transformation for him. He went from being the geeky and cool student in “Lady Bird” (2017) and “Call Me By  Your Name” (2017) to the pale, dry-skinned, and teary-eyed and depressed Nic Sheff. Chalamet lost 25 pounds to play the role. He plays the role very well and is faithful to the depressed real-life character in which he portrays in this sad, but vivid masterpiece. Also it is a transformation for Carell, he went from being the cranky and opinionated Michael Scott from “The Office” (2005-2013) to the worried, but also hard working father that will do whatever it takes to bring his son to recovery. Both are just very memorable in “Beautiful Boy.”

I also felt the film reminded me a lot of what is going on in today’s society. There are many people who are struggling with addiction, and “Beautiful Boy” has a message to that, and that is relapse is part of the process of recovering. Nic does not get better overnight, he has multiple ups and downs where he is better and then falls apart again, and viewers are thinking if Nic is ever going become a better and stronger person in his life.

For director Felix van Groeningen, this is his seventh film as a director, and in the process of editing “Beautiful Boy” it took seven months. With that the movie was recut a generous amount of times, however Van Groeningen wanted the film to be perfect and he found an editor that he has worked with for a while at the last minute to help him. That editor was Nico Leunen, and when he came in, I believe that brought out “Beautiful Boy” to be as visually moving and emotional as it was. The editing and the pacing will movie viewers to feel they are in the heavy world of challenges there is for Nic Sheff.

Another factor that was riveting with “Beautiful Boy” was its screenplay. The writer for it is Luke Davies and he did the screenplay for “Lion” (2016) and that was another movie I was deeply moved by as equally as I was with “Beautiful Boy.” Davies writing in the screenplay is quite realistic and intense where it makes its audience feel they are part of the problems in the film. This would be more on the elements along the lines the scenes of disagreements and arguments between Carell and Chalamet.

“Beautiful Boy” is a must watch. I will say though, be ready for its heavy theme. The world of drugs and addictions is not a pretty place, and it was not for Nic Sheff or his father. There is so much more in the world for Nic, and his father tries to help him realize that he has so much to offer the world, and that what he is doing to himself will not make the pain go away. It is a journey that viewers will feel moved by. Four stars.