Rating: 
Summary: HILARIOUS!!
Review: This movie is one of my favorite movies of all time!! John Cusack is one of the funniest people ever. He can take any roll and just by the way he acts and talks make it funnier than it should be. He has that relaxed feeling to him and that smart [aleck] personality that just makes me laugh so hard. "High Fidelity" is about this guy, Rob, who just recently broke up with his girlfriend, Laura, after a good relationship that had followed a series of disaster relationships Rob had in the past. Now the only things in his life are his Used Record Store, and the two people that work with him. This could possibly be one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.. The only problem is they show too much about Rob's love life than him working in the store--which the scenes in the store are the funniest parts of the movie. Watch out for Jack Black in the movie too. He played this character before he became really popular. It's probably Jack Black's best acting job yet. This movie is something you don't wanna pass up. But WARNING!! This is not a "stupid humor" movie (for those of you who think because Jack Black is in it). This is a more dry, serious comedy that is more based of funny dialogue than stupid sex jokes or people falling on their faces or getting smacked with stuff. See the movie, its great."High Fidelity" runs for about 1 hour and 40 minutes. It is rated R for strong language, some sexual humor, some strong sexual content, and brief comic violence.
Rating: 
Summary: someone give John Cusack an Oscar already!
Review: I'm so sick of really good, really smart, funny John Cusack movies. Every year, there seems to be one more dead-on drama or romance or comedy, or some hybrid of all 3 from JC. It's starting to get old now, great performace after great performance.
But while I'm here, I might as well talk about my favorite JC role yet (yup, I like this even more than Say Anything...barely). You really should hate Rob Gordon. He's a snob, he's whinny, and a bit of a jerk. But John Cusack (as usual) brings real sympathy to the character and you actually feel for him. I loved the movie, John Cusack in the movie, and all of the other memorable characters too. Jack Black was hilarious, and Todd Louiso was so adorable. Celeb cameos from Tim Robins, the Boss, Lili Taylor, Catherine Zeta-Jones (my fav scenes were hers...she always seems to add sparks to any movie) were dead on and allowed for most of the humor. Like with many John Cusack movies, Joan Cusack also made an appeanace. I always love that, she and him work so well together, there should have been more scenes with "Liz". He also seems to have great chemistry with Lili and Catherine who he's worked with in the past, and that always helps a movie. I loved how Rob talked to the cameras constantly. I actually do that in real life...only there are no cameras, so when I do it I seem insane. But I digress...the greatest parts of the movie came with the interactions between oddly charming John and equally charming newcomer Iben Hjejle. Like everyone has stated, the sdtk rocks, and so do the DVD extras. I loved all of the deleted scenes, and wished they were in the movie. I can't wait for the inevitable Special Edition, or Collector's Edition, or Superbit Deluxe Edition, or 2-disc Special Edition...some new edition that always comes out after everyone has already bought the original. But I'd gladly shell out the ...[undisclosed dollar amount] for more extras.
Rating:
Summary: High Fidelity to the Ideals of Greatness
Review: "High Fidelity" is a brilliant movie. Brilliant and moving. John Cusack is the best he's ever been since his breakout performance in "Say Anything..." as Rob Gordon, the depressed, dissatisfied owner of an unfrequented record store in Chicago. The films tone, the same tragicomic, personal, fourth-wall-breaking style perfected in Woody Allen's landmark "Annie Hall," is set beautifully at the very beginning, when Rob, sitting alone, sadly listening to music, says to the audience, "Which came first, the music or the misery? Everyone worries about kids growing up with guns, as if some culture of violence will take them over, but nobody worries about kids listening to literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery, and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?" Wow. After that glance into Rob's soul, he doesn't let up, describing in detail his Top Five Worst Breakups. These flashbacks are both clever and poignant and justify his feeling that he is always left by women. The script gives Cusack a lot to work with, and he handles it beautifully, telling the camera everything. He's especially profound when he reveals that his #5 Worst Breakup actually meant nothing too him and was in fact merely a way to bump his current ex-esque-girlfriend out of the top five. With "Say Anything...", "The Sure Thing", "Grosse Point Blanke", "Being John Malkovitch" and now "High Fidelity", I think it's fair to call John Cusack the best actor of his generation. What do you say?
Rating: 
Summary: Geeks Need Love, Too--Apparently...
Review: ...typical Boy Meets Gal, Boy Loses Gal, Boy Regains Gal melodrama is propelled by Cusack's self absorbed, verbose, 'near loser', hip, (although, still a bit of a nerd) music freak. It's entertainment value relys heavily on what the viewer knows about slacker-dom for those pushing their 30s and why commitment is difficult when you don't really feel as if you have obtained 'proper adulthood' (if there is, indeed, such a thing) and the in and outs of music. You just have to know of the type of used record shops these guys operate...Hilarious support is garnered from Joanie Cusack, Jack Black and others. Watch out for Black's "Let Get It On"...
Rating:
Summary: Finally, My Wife Understands Me!
Review: My wife actually watched this before I did and she said she could finally understand why I was so obsessed with music. Of course, I then had to immediately watch it and she was dead on the money!! Such a witty script and winning performances make this the pinnacle of John Cusack's career (which is really saying something). Along with "Almost Famous," this movie does the best job of showing exactly how POWERFUL music can be in someone's life, especially for a geek like me. Who else but seriously depraved people make Top 5 lists?!
Rating:
Summary: "What came first? The music or the misery?"
Review: "High Fidelity" still remains as one of my favorite comedies. Although I do have a lot of them, this is one I can watch over and over again without it getting boring or old. I am currently reading the book now, which I found that the movie follows it pretty closely at times. (Except for the location. In the book, it took place in London.) This film is about relationships, and yes, music. Rob Gordon is going through a pretty rough break-up, and he has no idea how to deal with it. He tries to play it cool and like it's really nothing, but it doesn't work. He talks to the camera, very much like Wayne in "Wayne's World," and reveals all of his worst break-ups and other information. He also owns a record store and has the "musical moron twins" work for him. They don't make the break-up process any easier. Oh yeah, he constantly makes Top 5 Lists of almost anything that comes to mind. Then one day, Rob gets a fantastic idea. Why not call all of those top 5 women who broke up with him and see what happened? To his surprise, he finds out that some of the break-ups had nothing to do with him, or that he is no longer interested in them. He feels better, and they feel better. (Well, actually it's him who feels better the most, but who's counting?) All of this is a setup for one hillarious comedy about life, relationships, and yes, music. The acting is great in the movie, and is what makes it work really well. John Cusack is outstanding in the role as Rob Gordon. Jack Black is hillarious and outrageous as the cold and sarcastic Barry, who doesn't make Gordon's life any easier (one of Jack Black's best roles and performances). Other players include Lisa Bonet, Joelle Carter, Joan Cusack, Todd Louiso, Lili Taylor, and many MANY more. They all do their parts justice. The DVD is pretty neat as well. Not the best, but not the worst as well. There's a fine amount of extras, including conversations with writer/producer John Cusack and Director Stephen Frears, deleted scenes, and the theatrical trailer. The movie is presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital and Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 (which is enhanced for 16x9 TVs). If you have read the book and are a little bummed out that a lot of the funny stuff didn't make the movie, then try the deleted scenes. Chances are they are there. I really think most of them should've been left in. (Especially the part where Rob goes to buy a record collection from a vengeful wife who wants to sell them to him for a very VERY cheap price.) "High Fidelity" is a hillarious ride into the mind of a guy. It's a great film filled with humor and brutal honesty. From what I have read of the book so far, the film does a good job of staying true to it, with a few subtle differences. If you're looking for a great comedy that's smart and funny, this is the one for you.
Rating:
Summary: Annie Hall for the 90's
Review: This film is the annie hall of the 90's. Besides the obvious subject of love and sex from a man's perspective, there's the Woody Allen device of speaking directly into the camera. What the film lacks is Allen's sense of humor. Hi fi is amusing, but not laugh out loud funny. Kudos, though, for getting how guys look at relationships spot on. The other interesting thing about Hi Fi and Annie Hall is who does the growing. In AH, it was the woman, played by Diane Keaton, that grows out of the relationship. In HiFi, it's the guy who grows IN TO the relationship. Just from this you can tell when these movies were made: AH in the 70's in the middle of women's lib; HiFi in the 90's with its "new male" movement. And the endings betray their eras, as well: AH with its "couple breaks up" ending reminds us of the 70's with its free love and loose relationships; HiFi, on the other hand, with its "couple back together again" ending reminds us of the relationship obsessed 90's. You know, that era that tells us we can't be happy and "normal" unless we're in wonderful relationships...
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat funny - certainly a better rental than a buy
Review: I've grown a little tired of movies that push self-discovery over a simple plot. In this case, guy owns a record shop, rightfully loses girl because he is a self-professed jerk, and his ex continues to talk to him, mainly because he is John Cusack. Generally, John Cusack films are amongst the most entertaining movies out there, but this film makes me wish Cusack had the genetic ability of Ralph Macchio to always be that High School Guy. The best thing about this film is Cusack's brief dalliance with Lisa Bonet. Too bad Dr. Huxtable wasn't around to save the rest of the plot.
Rating:
Summary: Cusack Musings set to Music
Review: John Cusack on the screen is infinitely watchable. He teams up with director Stephen Frears (Grosse Pointe Blank) again for High Fidelity and the results are nothing short of entertaining. This adaptation of Brit Nick Hornby's novel sees the world through top five and top ten lists. Cusack's character, Rob Gordon, is a man in progress, in fact a man in need of very much progress. He owns a record store, works with two other man-boy vinyl purists (well-played by Jack Black and Todd Louiso), and refuses to be committed to any one relationship or any pursuit in life. Cusack's latest love interest Laura, played by Iben Hjejle, is left wanting. The acting is left wanting and the chemistry is left wanting. The electricity is never very apparent between Cusack and Hjejle like that with Cusack and Minnie Driver in Grosse Pointe Blank. But it's a minor flaw really. There are many funny moments here. There are many hip moments here. One of the hippest being Bruce Springsteen's cameo appearance dispensing sage observations while playing an incredible blues riff. As Cusack goes hunting for someone to anchor his wandering soul, things almost rap up in the end in too neat of a package. But the minor detractions really aren't enough to keep you away, especially with music as the common thread. Needless to say we get to hear much good music as Cusack muses to the camera. This movie may not be Cusack's best, but it's right up there. Top 4 Cusack films, from best to not quite the best: Say Anything, Better Off Dead, Grosse Pointe Blank, and then this one.
Rating:
Summary: One of my Top 5 Alternative Films of 2000
Review: My top 5 lines of High Fidelity:
1. Jack Black: "There's no way your daughter likes that record...Wait, is she in a coma?"
2. Jack Black: "Let's see-ee-ee-ee"
3. Todd Louiso: "You wanna talk about it...that kinda thing?"
4. John Cusack: "No woman has ever had sex as great as the sex Laura is having with Ian...in my head."
5. John Cusack: "What does this sentence mean to you: 'I haven't seen Evil Dead 2...Yet'"?
High Fidelity is a tour-de-force high level comedy based on Nick Hornby's presumably autobiographical novel. Most of the film's dialogue and story are taken directly from the novel, with a smooth transplant from London to Chicago. It centers around Rob's (Cusack's) obsession with his past and present relationships while set in a record store. Rob, Dick, and Barry make up a great ensemble of alternative music snobs. The film's women seem to be played with intentional airheadedness, especially Rob's past girlfriends, one a lost soul who looks to anti-depressants for peace of mind. And I'm sorry Lisa Bonet is not believable as a singer/songwriter. Anyway it's a unique original film, but I'd like to give Rob some advice: Get over it.
Anyway here are my top 5 scenes of High Fidelity:
1. The gang attacks Ian (Tim Robbins) with an air-conditioner "Get him Man!"
2. The ending featuring Sonic Death Monkey.
3. Discussing the Top 5 sins of otherwise great artists: I just called to say I love you.
4. Dick gets some.
5. Rob shows Dick his record collection...arranged autobiographically.
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