High Fidelity

Rating:
Summary: Not In My Top 5 But A Good Movie Anyway
Review: Stephen Frears adapted Nick Hornby`s great novel "High Fidelity", delivering one of the funniest, cleverest movies of 2000.
John Cusack is pretty good as Rob, the typical late twenties/ early thirties loser who does little else besides listening to records, watching movies and dealing with the casual relationship. Oh, he also does countless Top 5 lists as well, while he sits around his record store. The movie explores his "growing" process, where Rob must face new decisions in order to finally give his life some meaning and substance besides his typical, apparently vulgar interests. One of the most important tasks he must endure is to solve the status of the relationship with his girlfriend, Laura, which leads to some hilarious as well as deep (in a way) moments. Comic Relief by Jack Black`s character is a dead-on element of the movie, presenting a more sarcastic, dark humorous side.
This is a pleasant movie for anyone who has a minimum interest in pop culture, since Rob displays some references every 5 seconds, compiling various lists about virtually everything. While not as good as the book, this effort is still a worthwile achievent and a lot of fun, great to watch and just relax. An intelligent, witty comedy about the troubled, oh-so-painful life of slackers.

Rating:
Summary: the guy we hoped lloyd dobler wouldn't become...
Review: if you don't know lloyd dobler, then go watch "say anything"... that said, "high fidelity" is a great movie. john cusack plays rob, a guy obsessed with music and top five lists, not to mention figuring out why women keep breaking his heart. the movie is essentially a journey down his top five list of his all-time worst break-ups, which includes his just-barely ex-girlfriend, laura. the movie is funny and touching, and includes jack black, which means an automatic busted gut. the supporting cast is fantastic and includes "say anything" co-stars lily taylor and joan cusack, as well as catherine zeta-jones and lisa bonet (remember her from the cosby show?). if i could give this movie, 4.5 stars, i would. if you want the 5-star version of this story, read nick hornby's book. if you read it in a public place, prepare to humiliate yourself by laughing out loud. a lot. of course, you may be so absorbed that you don't notice all the people pointing and laughing.

Rating:
Summary: Can't get sick of this one.
Review: I was looking for a movie to put on and fall asleep to for a pre-going out Friday afternoon nap. I decided upon High Fidelity. The only bad thing is that I made the mistake of thinking I would opt for the nap instead of watching this movie. I'll spare you the details of how good John Cusack is and say that if you are one of the many who feel that he is so good as I am, I put High Fidelity at the top of my list of Cusack movies.

As Rob Gordon, Cusack plays a very eccentric record store owner who is having a difficult time with his girlfriend. The lessons he learns along the way in regards to the current and all past relationships are universal ones. The movie gives you the option to think deeply about certain life issues or block them out and laugh at the intelligent and witty dialogue. I happen to enjoy both parts. I am, however, a person who pretends to take some huge life altering tenet away from everything I see/read. Feel free to take a stab at what you'd think I would walk away from this movie having gained, just understand I'll neither confirm nor deny.

It is pretty neat that a movie that you talk about with your friends who appreciate suggestions is set around a record store with employees that sit around discussion small bands who are worth trying. If that made as little sense as it appears to, I am saying that the soundtrack is strong on bands you may not have heard of, but might actually enjoy. Overall this is easily a movie you can watch over and over, I recommend High Fidelity as a staple of your DVD collection.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best casts put together
Review: The film High Fidelity is about a Rob Gordon, a man who owns a record store and has just broken up with his girlfriend. What follows is a trip through his "top five worst break ups" and everything inbetween.

The best part of the film though is the interaction between the cast. John Cusack got his first and only Golden Globe nomination with this movie and the lovable Rob. Then you have his instore employees Dick and Barry played by Todd Louiso and JAck Black. Black is absolutely hilarious and Todd gets Dicks quiet and odd personality down to a tee. The film is also blessed with some great cameos by the always beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones as one of Rob's many girlfriends, Lili Taylor as another of Rob's girlfriends and Tim Robbin in a terrifcly memorable role as Ian, a old laid back hippy who has taken away Rob's newest girlfriend.

The film is based off Nicl Hornby's book of the same name. While certain things have been remove here and there the rewrite of the story is wonderful. I don't even like to use the word rewrite even.

And of coarse I cannot mention the film without talking about the soundtrack. With music from The Kinks, Smog, Jack Black, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Costello this film has one of the greatest soundtracks I can think of. No movie collection is really complete without this film.

Rating:
Summary: A great view of human nature, and ourselves
Review: I wasn't really sure what I was getting when I rented "High Fidelity." What I got was one of John Cusack's best performances, as the insecure, brooding, introspective record shop owner.

I likely was one of those vinyl geeks that populated Cusack's store in my earlier years, though I don't recall ever getting quite so cranked up as Jack Black did on that customer who wanted the Stevie Wonder record.

Black by the way is obnoxious as hell, but here it worked brilliantly. Todd Louiso as the painfully shy co-worker was also good, and the list of fine supporting actors made this film exceptional.

Cusack's Woody Allenesque discussions about his screwed up life with the viewers lend some insight to just how he got where he did, and it seemed like everyone I know who saw it caught some of themselves in there.

So if you've ever wondered why people keep around stacks and stacks of vinyl, here's a possible answer...just don't start thinking institutionalization for them.

Rating:
Summary: John Cusack's baby.
Review: One look at the credits for this film and it is obvious that John Cusack really wanted to make this film. He co-produced, co-wrote the adapted screenplay, and stars in the leading role. Overall, this film is a great success. Pick up a solid director in Stephen Frears, who also directed John Cusack in the film noir gem "The Grifters," collect a memorable cast of actors, then load up on the songs for a fantastic soundtrack. John Cusack is great here. I've been a fan of his since the days of "Better Off Dead" and "Say Anything" so I guess my opinion about his underrated talent is biased in the best sense. The supporting actors are all excellent, with a special mention going to Jack Black of "Tenacious D" who steals every scene he is in and invokes heart-felt, belly-bursting laughter at his antics and unique physical humor. The script is crammed with superb dialogue, John Cusack's character speaking directly into the camera as a confidential insider frequently pointing out his personal "Top 5" lists to fine effect. However, this movie will find fewer and fewer fans the older the viewers are. For instance, both my parents are Baby Boomers and both thought this film was rubbish, to put it mildly; but everyone from Generation X that I've spoken to thinks this film resonates with heartache, hope, and humor that scoffs in the face of those older folks who said Generation X is comprised only of cynical slackers. The center of this story is that human nature does not change. These characters long for deeper understanding and emotional stability. All that, and the script referrence to the film "Evil Dead II" is a welcome, surprising ode to an incredible Cult Horror film. The cast is strong, the script is exceptional, and the soundtrack is thoughtfully chosen. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Boring
Review: It's two hours I'll never get back. It isn't a movie that will appeal to women, as it is somewhat of a male relationship movie. But since guys don't usually like relationship movies, it isn't very popular with them either. It's about a guy and his love of records and his ex'es, who include Catherine Zeta-Jones and pretty Lisa Bonet from the Cosby Show. He is immature and unfaithful to his loving current girlfriend and he talks too much about his run-on thoughts.

It's not the worst of movies but it isn't the least bit memorable to me.

Rating:
Summary: WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE
Review: Being a little older than the characters in HIGH FIDELITY, I wasn't sure at first if I could relate to the immature angst suffered by vintage record store owner Rob (played by John Cusack) as the result of a series of failed relationships. But then I realized that I had been there, done that and bought the same t-shirt and that Rob was me (Everyman?) when I was his age before I realized that failed relationships did not mean the end of the world. So I was able to settle in and enjoy looking at myself from a period of maybe 20 years ago when I was obsessing over why girlfriends left and wondering, like Rob, if it was my fault. Of course, now I know that it was just as likely their fault as mine or both of our faults. It was a little difficult at first to overcome the idea of Rob worrying over rejection when he was obviously scoring with very attractive women. I mean, why would a guy who attracts girls like flies to honey worry about losing one girl? Although a bit of an under achiever, Rob is charming and handsome and has something on the ball. But when you are 30 you don't realize that if a relationship doesn't work out it doesn't necessarily say anything about you. And that is why this movie is so powerful: it speaks for all generations because we have all been there. HIGH FIDELITY might be categorized ultimately as a chick flick but I think it is also a thinking man's film. The script (co-written by John Cusack) is intelligent without being intellectual and is essentially about how Rob deals with rejection and grows up. Iben Hjejle is fresh and stunning as Laura, Rob's main love. Catherine Zeta-Jones makes an appearance as another girlfriend. Stephen Frears directs. Apparently the script was based on a cult novel of the same title by Nick Hornby which might be worth checking out. But, for now, put this one on your turntable, drop the needle and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Cusack
Review: If ever there was a movie that could be construed as an allegorical representation of my life, this is it. If ever there was a Romantic Comedy written primarily for men (as opposed to women & couples), this is it!

John Cusack plays your typical everyday kind of guy who just so happens to have the absolute WORST luck with women. Stability in his personal life is ever elusive and he continues to get dumped by the women he dates. Typically he is ditched because the girl "meets another guy, and....."

Like most men, Cusack's character wants to have things both ways. He wants to have continuity in his life, yet the idea of commitment scares the tar out of him. What if he takes that giant leap but isn't able to make it to the other side of the canyon? What if he meets an even more worthwhile girl 2 days after getting married? Ah, the variables of relationships that we men torture ourselves with.

Aside from the venerable Cusack the film also features Catherine Zeta Jones as the paridigmatic "perfect" girl who is continually just-out-of-reach for we mere mortals. She sizzles in her role and it's obvious that she relished the chance to play a sort of Supermodel-type girl who is a femme fatale.

There is a hilarious scene of Cusack's persona standing in the rain outside her home that perhaps every single heterosexual male will be able to relate to (from one point of his life or other). A nice touch in the story is how they bring out the fact that old boyfriends are incessantly contacting her to find out why she dumped them.

If you're interested in watching a Romantic Comedy that's a bit bleaker than most, this one might be for you. If you're a male like me who has undergone myriad rejections in his life, this DVD is a MUST see. For men like myself stories don't get too much more cathartic than this one!

Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: High Fidelity is a great movie that questions love and committment, but is SO not a chick flick. This is more a guy movie, but women will like it too. John Cusack stars as Rob Gordon. Cusack also co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced the film. High Fidelity is based on the book by Nick Hornsby.

High Fidelity is full of great characters. The characters are not always likeable, but you recognize them from your own life. Jack Black as Barry almost steals the movie from Cusack. Barry and Dick are Cusacks' employees/co-workers who help him run his little record store in Chicago. Lisa Bonet is a groovy, smoky, exotic singer whom John has a crush on. Iben Hjejle (god, she looks like Rebecca DeMornay) is Rob's punker-turned-lawyer girlfriend. Joan Cusack is his long-suffering friend. She is long-suffering because John is a neurotic, obsessive, selfish guy who, like the records he sells, keeps spinning around and going nowhere in his life.

The movie is so delightful because there are so many possible ways it can go, as well as so many delightful surprises like Bruce Springsteen doing a sincere cameo as a vision in Rob's fat head. The film is not predictable. There are many laugh-out-loud moments. The end is very rewarding. This movie plays like a theatre play, and would make a great one.

Some may hate Rob. But I think we can recognize some of him in ourselves.