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High Fidelity

High Fidelity

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Watch it twice. At least.
Review: It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't seen High Fidelity, or even someone who's just seen it once, how incredibly good it is. Take first the phenomenal John Cusack, who seems to make any film he appears in twice as watchable. Is there a more underrated leading man in this decade? I doubt it.

Then take into account the amazing support, knowns and unknowns - Cusack's sister Joan, Tim Robbins, Jack Black, etc. - even Zeta-Jones isn't half bad. Consider too the script, which is surprisingly faithful to Nick Hornby's (very good) book, and gives equal measure to comic and tragic relief.

Fianlly, the soundtrack. Can there be any greater song to sum up Rob Thomas (John Cusack's) final revelation after the film ends than Stevie Wonder's I Believe? No. High Fidelity is the complete package - funny, touching, well-acted, scripted, directed, scored for, and unbelievably true to life.

And for all those sad Englishmen writing in to complain that the movie should have been set in Britian - get real. I thank you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Millenium's Best
Review: This film is one the year's best. I was excited for the film, but not quite sure what to think because the book is one of my top 5 favorites. Cusack pulls it off. A romantic story from a typical male perspective. The supporting cast is wonderful. The film (incredible soundtrack) is simply extraordinary. It will hit many of you in the gut. You have been there. It is incredible. Go see it now!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: John Cusak: today's Jack Lemmon
Review: John Cusak is one of those actors (along with Jeff Bridges) who never lets a bad script get in the way of providing an inisightful performance. High Fidelity has a wonderful script, and John Cusak's amiable likeability has the same spark as Jack Lemmon in his prime.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Another good Cusack movie.
Review: I liked it a lot - good plot, characters and soundtrack.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: one of the Top Five romantic comedies of all time!
Review: This is an extremely smart romantic comedy, which combines insightful writting with true acting. The film follows Rob, a man who loves music and ranking things (even breakups), on his search for a more meaningful love.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Surprisingly deep and well-done, not just a comedy.
Review: When I saw High Fidelity I expected something of a relationship comedy. The truth was more engaging. High Fidelity is one man's quest to make sense of why his longest-running, most meaningful relationship has suddenly broken up. And we learn, as he does, that things aren't always as simple as they seem, and that he bears some responsibility (though not all--that would be too simple) for most of his loves lost. His former girlfriends are a parade of cameos including Lili Taylor and Catherine Zeta Jones, and his history with each is very different. And a lot like real life, there was no knowing what to expect, whether he would get back together with one girlfriend or end up with someone new, or just keep going as he was.

High Fidelity is more a clever comedy-drama for dramaphobics than a simple comedy. Although many scenes are funny and some are side-splitting, the story runs deeper than that. I've heard complaints about Cusack's monologues to the camera throughout the film, yet I think they're indispensible. His monologues are key to the story--because it's all about his perspective and how it matures--and they add humorous touches that otherwise couldn't be drawn out without straining the dialogue.

What's great about High Fidelity is that its characters are real people. They think in real ways, react to things like people we know would react. They deliver witty lines only if it suits their character, not if the screenwriter wishes to inject a cheap laugh. The obnoxious characters have their quiet moments; the beautiful people show ugly rough patches; some shoplifting nobodies turn out to be talented guys with a future. At every turn the movie encourages viewers to look beneath the surface of every character. The entire cast gives a solid, believable performance.

The down side: It's a tad long, and it doesn't really "click" until the first twenty or thirty minutes are past. At that point it's revealed as something more involved than a simple comedy, though none the worse for it. But these are minor flaws and will probably do the film no harm over time. I believe this movie to be one of the new classics, or at least one of the films that will inspire the next generation of revolutionary filmmakers to do something different and truly unique. High Fidelity doesn't try to fit the mold of a comedy or a drama, but sets its own pace and its own rules.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: For every record collector and loser!
Review: I was sorta worried when I heard the movie was to take place in Chicago, but in the end it didn't matter one bit. This is a perfect adoption of the book. Cusack is great in the role as Rob, and the rest of the actors do an excellent job as well. A perfect movie for anybody that's been in a sour relationship or understand that you're not a serious person if you have less than 500 records.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Amiable, funny, just generally pleasant.
Review: You know the kind of movie that you really think you ought to dislike? The kind that has trite happy endings, characters which are caricatures and plot twists which are convenient rather than logical? Welcome to the best of the lot.

Why does it work so well? Cusack is, as always, remarkably good, forcing the audience to empathize with him in a way no other modern actor seems to have a handle on. Support, from his sister, his friend Tim Robbins, and the rest is also strong, although not ground-breaking.

Those who have read Hornby's book (and it's even better than the film, as these books always are) will not feel betrayed. Those who have not will, in spite of themselves, be pleased. But those who expect an American Beauty-style complete attitude revelation will be disappointed.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: TALK, TALK, TALK
Review: I don't mind movies having cool dialogue in every other scene. Talking about and building plot is important but HIGH FIDELITY has NO plot. It is nothing but talking. There are some cool scenes but it gets very boring very quickly. It was a long 113 minutes let me tell ya.

I know what this movie is about. A man growing up years after he should have. But it should have been shorter. All the performances are very good. Especially Jack Black as Barry. It's the biggest role he's had so far after smaller roles in movies like THE JACKEL and MARS ATTACKS. But Tim Robbins steals the show.

Rent this movie on DVD and keep it turned down low because the music throughout is outrageously loud.

The DVD is in Dolby 5.1 and is anamorphically enhanced at 1.85:1.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: High Praise for High Fidelity
Review: This is one of those rare movies that can appeal to both men and women. It is seldom that a movie comes along that you can look at and realize that it proves excellent points from all of its points of view. This film adds humor to drama in a way that will keep you involved and laughing from the very begining. John Cusack may be brilliant, but Jack Black steals every scene that he is in. He also does a stirring rendition of the classic "Let`s get it on" I can hardly wait to see what the DVD has to offer.


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