Rating: 
Summary: Second only to "Being John Malkovich" among Cusack movies
Review: Let's face it: when it comes down to existentialist yet lighthearted type-of movies, John Cusack tops the casting list, with "Being John Malkovich," "Serendipity," "America's Sweethearts" just to name a few movies that he's starred in. This time around, his performance heading a rather diverse cast (Jack Black, Tim Robbins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lisa Bonet among others) comes bundled with an excellent screenplay, bringing to life the character of DJ-turned-Record-Store-Owner, Rob Gordon, who goes through life with a "Top Five" list for everything, while failed relationships do away with his self esteem and his capability to believe in the possibility of settling down.The characters surrounding him in the store (Black and Todd Louiso) stand at opposite ends of the scale, only sharing a common love for music and any obscure details surrounding just about any recording you can think of, which gets them arguing about which artist wrote what song, which song was better for what moment, or just about any musical trivia discussion you can imagine. Obviously, the soundtrack to go with these record store freaks is hard to top, bringing together a very eclectic mix of talent, ranging from The Beta Band and Marvin Gaye to Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder. Overall, the movie exceeds most of the previous work of Cusack, with the possible exception of "...Malkovich." Check it out. In particular, if you love music, you will LOVE this movie!
Rating: 
Summary: My favorite movie of all time
Review: This movie is a must see for music lovers of all kinds (from indie to jazz to punk)... John Cusack is wonderful in this film and the story is one that most everyone who has been in relationships can relate to... FANTASTIC!
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous
Review: Nick Hornby's book is one of my favorites, and I'm always skeptical of the quality of film adapations of books. However, this was perfectly cast - I can think of no one better suited to the role of Rob Gordon than John Cusack. The rest of the cast was excellent - Jack Black stole his scenes - and the screenplay more than did justice to the book.
Rating: 
Summary: irritating "zac morris" style
Review: irritating "zac morris" style only bearable (protagonist speaking directly to the camera) if you really like john cusack. The main problem is that he just comes across as irritating for most of the movie, and when he supposedly is "coming around" it just doesn't do much. He keeps saying all the wrong stuff to the women in his life, but since we don't care for him, there's no reason to pull for him either. This movie relies heavily on the characters and this falters from the start. The co-stars don't do all that much except for his love interest, laura, who serves her role fine. Lord knows how the record store is financed or much else.
Overall, this is a movie that is not original and as it's supposed to be a "soul searcher," it doesn't move you either. The only real amusement came when Darlene from Roseanne made a brief appearance and when the "Boss" made a cameo.
Rating:
Summary: The story of my life...
Review: I just cannot get enough of this movie. I saw it in the theater on the night it first came out, and bought the DVD as soon as it was available, and I have watched it countless times since.
High Fidelity has probably one of the most accurate portrayals of the typical male psyche that I have ever seen in a movie. John Cusack plays a late 20's/early 30's music buff record store owner who is on the outs with his girlfriend. The break up eventually leads him to question his own self worth and what follows is some very funny soul searching. Even if you cannot identify with the "Music Lover" part of Cusack's character, his actions and thoughts are things that have gone through every mans mind at one point or another, and that is part of what makes his strange reactions to the different parts of the film so funny, the old "funny because its so true" scenario. Cusack's interaction with the camera (the narration) is witty and amusing and is really the perfect way to make this movie work. Meanwhile, the rest of the cast is right on target. Jack Black in particular is absolutely hilarious, especially if you are a music fan since you will have a better idea what he is poking fun at. It also helps that I think everyone knows someone like him, the over-opinionated loudmouth that thinks he's smarter than everyone else.
High Fidelity is one of those rare movies that is dark, funny, sensitive, silly, and clever all at the same time. I watch this movie at least once a week and it never gets old. Its a great date movie and has an awesome soundtrack.
Rating:
Summary: Why do I like this movie -- my two cents
Review: I read others' reviews with great deal of amusement. When a movie can elicit such polarized feedback, it's got something interesting. My feeling is that regardless how "unlikeable" or "likeable" Mr. Cusack and Mr. Black's characters are, they seem real to me. I can relate to them as people I know in real life. It is really important for a contemporary comedy about relationships like this one to have characters people can relate to. As for the music, the record store characters are your everyday music lovers. Some they like, some they don't. And we all know that musical taste is highly subjective and personal. The self-dialoguing in Mr. Cusack's Rob to me is as close to a honest confession of a man's view point as can be. How Rob sees women and relationships are how many men (regardless of age) see women and relationships. Men are in general not as self-aware and as emotionally mature as women are (not a put-down here). This movie gives me an insight into how men's mind at work on a sub-conscious level. This movie deserves a 5 star because of its realness and the great ensemble cast. A true conversational topic if you ever wanted to talk about relationship and movie in a social situation. :)
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: Okay, I'll admit it. I rented this because Bruce Springsteen is in it. The critics in general enjoyed it and I assumed it would be great. Er....I was wrong. ... It's not that it's a poorly made film...it's a great concept, and VERY well acted. But the problem is that the characters are such losers that you really don't care what happens to them or how their story will turn out. It's unfortunate, but this movie was a total dud for me.
Rating:
Summary: Gives Music Lovers a Bad Name
Review: There are two types of people: people who truly love music, and people who want other people to *know* that they truly love music. The shallow characters in "High Fidelity" consist of the second group of people. I saw this movie when it was originally released, and it was excruciating to sit through for the most part. Thinking about even trying to sit through it again is painful. We get it, Jack Black, you're obnoxious. Now go away. John Cusack is usually great in everything he does, but his character in "High Fidelity" is just a totally unlikeable and uninteresting person. The fact that he is unlikeable is established within the first few scenes - so that means you're stuck for an hour and a half watching someone who is unlikeable and not interesting. Sounds like a recipe for a good time, right? Skip this.
Rating:
Summary: as natural as he can be
Review: from sixteen candles to say anything to high fidelity, john cusak never stops being the hopeless romantic in every movie. high fidelity has got to be one of my favorite movies starring john cusak. you cant help but fall inlove with him because the majority of us have gone through one or more of the same break-ups he shares with us in this movie. its not merely a smoochy love story. its also about the friendships he has and how music plays a major role in peoples lives. there is atleast one song out there for every mood, feeling, and/or situation. not necessarily in the same genre of music, but in every style.
Rating:
Summary: One of my top 10 From 2000
Review: High Fidelity is a smart, infectious and funny movie. It is the best romantic comedy in some time. Touchstone Pictures made a misguided attempt to sell it to the teen market. It is certainly not beyond the understanding of teenagers, but it is a story about adults. It is they who will most appreciate it. Thirtysomethings will find that it strikes a cord in most of them. Every character in it is like someone most of us know. Viewers older than that will find it brings back memories, for, while the characters are very hip and modern on the outside, inside they have the same fears and insecurities people have had for eons. Rob [John Cusack] is in trouble. Laura [Iben Hjejle], his live-in girlfriend, is walking out of his life. He is about to take stock, and we are invited to share his very personal inventory. What, he wants to know, causes him always to be on the losing end of a relationship? And what can he do to fix this? These are very good questions for a man who is thirty-five years old. Rob has a Top Five list for everything in his life, so he makes a list of the five greatest heartbreakers who ever came into his life. We watch as he goes back in time, and shows us these five women. He begins when he was thirteen. That relationship lasted six hours. He shows us the ones from high school and college, then moves on to his young adult period. At the end of this, he decides to revisit these women to find out if what he sees now is what he saw then. Rob runs a retro record shop. He doesn't sell CDs, he sells vinyl. His employees are two of the great movie characters of all time, Dick and Barry [Todd Luiso and Jack Black]. Dick is the shy one. Barry is the loudmouthed, opinionated, never wrong one, the kind of guy we all know and have a love/hate relationship with. The store is full of delightful, eccentric customers. Rob, Dick and Barry know pop music. They love to make Top Five lists of songs that are perfect for every mood and situation. So the title High Fidelity refers both to relationships and to how pop music pervades, underscores and sometimes defines our lives. John Cusack is in top form here. This is the kind of character he plays best. Rob is a guy who is aware of his character defects but is clueless as to how to fix them. We can relate to him because, while we may not admit to it, most of us are also painfully aware of our weak points. Cusack also must talk to the camera a lot. This can be very difficult to do, but he pulls it off with style. Jack Black, a hard working character actor, gives an Oscar worthy performance as Dick. In real life, Black is the lead singer in a band. He is so convincing as Dick that when he finally sings in the movie, it's hard to believe it's really him. Tim Robbins is hilarious as Ian, the pseudo modern guru whom Laura leaves Rob for. High Fidelity doesn't break new ground or teach us important lessons in life. Instead, the story and the characters flow naturally, and the result is one delightful movie.
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