Rating: 
Summary: Dead-on accurate
Review: There is a moment in the movie when one of John Cusack's hilariously slacker employees visits his apartment and see's Cusak in the process of reorganizing his thousands of vinyl record albums. He's asks Cusack if the sort sequence will be chronological. Nope. "Not alphabetically?", as if this is too mundane. Nope, Cusack is going to arrange them autobiographically, meaning in the order that he acquired them. There was a time in my life when this this would have been a perfectly normal discussion, and I'm sure the character would have been able to accomplish the feat. I miss that part of my life.This is a very realistic portrayal of people who live and breathe rock and roll. While I myself still keep in touch, it's unfortunately at arm's length while more the more pressing responsibilities of life take a higher priority. While some may think life has passed these characters by, they proudly stay right where they are, as if someone has to hold up the banner. They are even snobbish about it, and will not sell records to customers they don't consider "worthy". I find these admirable qualities. With that as background, the Cusack character now finds that he may have to make that jump to the responsible world or lose yet another girlfriend that has made that jump. Being of the mentality where all music can be categorized into "Top 5" lists, he chooses five of his past relationships to explore what happened. The fact that he throws a 7th grade, two-week relationship into the mix shows his maturity level outside his record passion may not be that high. He finds that, in several cases, he didn't realize at the time what a good thing he had, and it's his own fault he lost the girl. His struggles with this, and what to do with his current situation make this one of the most intelligent movies with a rock and roll setting ever made. I was very satisfied with the ending. I believe his character will probably never abandon his lifestyle to the degree that I did. But then he's incredibly lucky to find someone that is willing to accept him for that lifestyle. Who that person turns out to be I won't reveal. By the way, Jack Black's introduction to the general movie-going public is hilarious.
Rating: 
Summary: JOHN CUSACK WASN'T THE ONLY STAR IN HERE...
Review: "High Fidelty",the 2000 Stephen Frears-directed flick starring John Cusack as a humorous record store clerk named Rob whose love life's needle keeps getting jerked on the turntable.With two snobby rock geeks at his side(the hilarious Jack Black and Todd
Louiso) and an ever complex love life,the "laughs keep coming". Based on the 1995 Nick Hornby book(Frears did a great job at
keeping the movie's tone similar to the book),"High Fidelty"
is a plesant,smart pop culture flick.Loaded with many musical
references and a diverse soundtrack,"High Fidelty" seems like it
could've come from a "Rolling Stone" editor's dream.But that's
part of it's appeal-it's a funny little film for music fanatics
(like me). BUT...John Cusack wasn't the only star in this movie.In fact,
what made the movie more than just a Hollywood ha-ha fest was
someone who had a relativity small part in here:LISA BONET.
Ever since "The Cosby Show",I've always had a thing for her!
Her scenes in "High Fidelty" as folk singer Maria DeSalle bring the flick to a sensous,different place.She's possibly the only
only woman in Hollywood who keeps a mystique and stays true to herself.She hasn't done many movies,prior to her apperance in
"High Fidelity"(1998's "Enemy Of The State" is just one major one) but I hope she does more.Since her days as Denise Huxtable on "Cosby",Lisa's always had a sweet yet meanigful twinkle in her eyes that suggests to us that she'll get through this unreal,
Hollywood nonsense.Beautiful woman. Well,anyway,I'd recommend "High Fidelty" to those big music
fans out there,particulary the thirty-something rock critic-types
reared in the sixties and eighties,BUT ultimately everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad reception
Review: A ne'er-do-well, thirtyish, used-record store owner is dumped by his live-in girlfriend, so he tediously soliloquizes to the viewer about his romantic past and what he must do to regain the woman he loves. (Along the way, he suffers the requisite wacky sidekicks who work in his store, empty one-night-stand with a gorgeous woman, and overwrought encounters with the Other Man as well as several ex-girlfriends.) All this sophomoric narcissism is an embarrassment to discriminating viewers but will strike a chord with developmentally delayed hipsters who found CHASING AMY to be a bracing love story. There are some redeeming qualities: Superb casting and acting breathe life into the film when we aren't being bored by the tiresome soliloquies and uninspired love story. Particularly dead on are the two store clerks -- in fact, this might've made one terrific film if it'd been mainly about them and not the store owner. Many rockers and slackers will glory in this film, as it captures that segment of society well, arrested adolescence and all.
Rating: 
Summary: Jack Black was the best thing about this movie
Review: Jack Black was the best thing about this movie. He made it funny at times when you needed some humor. I am normally a big John Cusack fan, but the storyline (about his past relationships) was just so depressing at some points in the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Defining what "It's a guy thing" really means.
Review: I really liked the book and was looking forward to the movie when it was released. I passed, however, when I read the reviews and read about all the liberties Cusack had taken with the script vis-à-vis the book. However, a friend finally convinced me that all the changes were cosmetic and the story was true to the text, so I finally broke down and got the DVD. I'm glad I did. The movie adds up to a case of "just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed". Moving the setting from London to Chicago and Americanizing the concept to a certain extent in fact has not really changed the feel and impact of the story one bit. What that probably means is the story really is universal in character and the window dressing is irrelevant. The book worked because at a certain level it wasn't a book so much as a long discussion between guys (you and the author) about the vicissitudes of life and dating. Cusack has brilliantly managed to keep that feel within the movie context. His frequent one-on-one's with the audience eerily capture the sense that you and he are conversing about things as the film progresses. The other element that Cusack manages well is the women-they are all well chosen to fit well with the descriptions in the book and the interplay of their characters within the movie are enough to provide the historical context of their stories sufficiently to catch their emotional significance without intruding into the "conversational" aspect of the movie. Finally, Rob's two record store assistants are perfect-as is the venue of the store itself. It becomes clear early on that the store is "home" to these guys and the movie very effectively conveys that feeling. All and all a very well produced and entertaining effort.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Believe I Didn't See It Sooner
Review: This could be Cusack's best role. It was easy for me to identify with the lead character, based on the book, but adapted into modern Chicago urbana, and Cusack was the a-typical confused, self-doubting single 30-something who really never wanted to do anything other than find substance in a loving relationship and well, listen to music or do something he enjoys. His top five lists of break-ups in his life, top five albums for every occasion, day and circumstance, were incredibly witty and humorous, as was the entire film those were centered around. The supporting actors really make the film that much more enjoyable, they are both someone you know, at some point in your life possibly, and the indie record store he owns will remind music lovers of their local swap shop they spent too much time and money in at some point. Your favorite little dusty, vinyl library with pretentious employees and customers who all generally liked anything but the mainstream top 40 garbage on the radio (sans the "Green Day" references). Cusack's character, Rob, isn't perfect, he has made mistakes, been a jerk, and has borrowed money he's never paid back and has jealous fits over men his recent girlfriends leave him for. Tim Robbin's ponytail'd, beeper wearing snob character is a memorable one, as are his ex-girlfriends, best buddies and young skateboard punk kids who hang outside of his store. This is one great low budget film, the kind I love to discover and enjoy, and it's one of the funniest movies I've seen in some time. Cusack's character I found to be very likeable and relatable, for the first time I saw someone who actually stored old address books and nick-nacks in crumpled boxes and lives in a relatively [bad] apartment just like I do! No pretensions, a normal, average guy with average desires and dreams, and loads of troubled relationships that ended for no apparent reason, they just did... High Fidelity was a suprisingly good film and one I had wish that I had seen when it was in the theatres, I don't know how I missed it! Kudos to the makers of this movie, the actors and the adaption of the book. The only thing that disappointed me slightly was the ending, there was no real closure, but maybe that was best given it's theme and convoluted but real, every day life messages.
Rating:
Summary: I Should Be So Lucky
Review:
Even Joan Cusack gave a decent performance in this excellent movie. It's a boy loses girl, boy meets girl in flashback, boy and girl goes through a lot of stuff, kinda flick. Not sure this is worth [the money]... I plan to buy the used copy available on Amazon... Anyway, Jack Black gives another of his crazed performances, Tim Robbins was tolerable (and he gets his teeth busted out in a fantasy sequence)...Could be on pretty much any Top Five list...
Rating:
Summary: TOO PRETENTIOUS AND IRRITATING.
Review: "High Fidelity" is a real low point in John Cusack's career. His character, Rob, is so unappealing and obnoxious that he is practically impossible to have sympathy for. The number one problem with this film concerns a device which is supposed to be quirky and funny. Rob absolutely loves making Top 5 lists regarding just about everything. If this had been used with care a few times throughout the movie then it might have been rather entertaining. However, it is used over and over and over and over and over again ad nauseum. Very unoriginal and irritating. The second major problem with this film is connected to the main plot of the movie. You see, "High Fidelity" deals with Rob's past breakups and the current breakup he is going through now. His current girlfriend Laura is played quite nicely by Iben Hjejle. She is actually concerned about such things as responsibility and personal growth. We, the viewer, are supposed to be cheering for Rob to salvage his relationship with Laura before it's too late. Thing is...Laura is so great and Rob is such a loser that I found it near impossible to want them to stay together. I kept hoping that Laura would break free and find someone who appreciates her more. What I did enjoy about the movie was some of the supporting roles, Jack Black and Joan Cusack, in particular. Jack Black plays one of Rob's employees at the record store he owns. He is given most of the funny lines in the film. Joan Cusack is her usual wonderful self and remains one of the most underappreciated comic actresses of our time. A final note on the supporting cast...I have never been one to enjoy a good actor being used for what amounts to nothing more than an extended cameo. Sara Gilbert is grossly misused in this film and it was actually frustrating to see her occasionally appear briefly in a scene. If you are able to secure a good actor for your film than you should use them and not have them around simply for window dressing. Overall, "High Fidelity" has an air of apathy and pretentiousness running throughout and it can never fully shake these negative qualities. I would recommend just about any other John Cusack film over this one for those of you who enjoy his work.
Rating:
Summary: Top Five, Desert Island Reasons Why You Should Get This:
Review: My Top 5 Reasons Why High Fidelity Should Not Be Missed: 1) It's just as good as the book. Although the novel by Nick Horby is set in London and the movie is in Chicago, the overall vibe and feel of the book is still present in the movie. 2) John Cusack is wonderful as Rob, the thirtysomething who is still walking wounded from breaking up with his girlfriend. His performance hits all the right notes. You can see the sadness in his eyes when he pleads with Laura to stay. Even though he is clearly flawed and did some nasty things with Laura, we build rapport with him and feel sympathetic. 3) The soundtrack rocks! No trendy, of-the-moment, TRL pop. 4) The references to musicians and records are always witty. Music lovers and record collectors will be smiling and nodding their heads in approval. 5) This is a great, honest film about male heartbreak, medning broken relationships, and growing up. It's the testosterone equivelant of the chick-flick with none of the sap or predictability.
Rating:
Summary: One of John Cusack's best/great intro to Jack Black
Review: This quirky relationship comedy has John Cusack as the burned-out gender wars veteran owner of a store called "Championship Vinyl" where he and two other music nerds vend classic rock only to the worthy, while Cusack's character (who's just had one of his top five painful breakups with a hot girlfriend - played by a beautiful ingenue named Iben something Danish) resolves to find out EXACTLY what he's been doing wrong all this time... why exactly was he thrown over by the girlfriends on the top five list... This comic quest features plenty of comic "top-five" lists from Cusack and his two colleagues at the store ("I hired these guys for three days a week, and they just started showing up every day") one of whom is played with seamy panache by Jack Black... even though it's worth watching just on the basis of its gags, High Fidelity also has "socially redeeming" features, in that its protagonist actually has to confront the shallow narcissism of his life and in evolving from his former self regains the girlfriend and becomes more than he was in many ways. If there was ever a dark comedy feel good movie, this is it.
I unreservedly recommend it. Oh, yeah, and John lets his sister Joan play in this one, too.
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