High Fidelity Review
High Fidelity (2000)
Cast: John Cusack, Iben Hjejile, Jack Black, Tim Robbins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Todd Louiso.
Based On: Novel 'High Fidelity' by Nick Hornby.
Screenplay By: John Cusack, Steve Pink, Scott Rosenberg.
Directed By: Stephen Frears.
High Fidelity is an American comedy-drama film based on Nick Hornby's 1995 novel with the same title. The movie is about Rob Gordon (Cusack) a music obsessed, record store owner who gets dumped by his long term girlfriend Laura (Hjejile). This being the case Rob then looks back at his top 5 break ups to try and figure out where he keeps going wrong with his relationships. When Rob is not searching for these past ex's, he is managing his store, Championship Vinyl, dealing with what has been called the 'musical morons'; Dick and Barry (Black & Louiso).
The movie is based and shot in Chicago, which was a change Cusack actually made from the book, as the novel is British and based in the UK. However even Hornby was happy with the change and portrayal Cusack created, Chicago really shows the slightly chipped life of Rob Gordon and his records.
This movie really is a film industry success, I adore the way it has been made, with Cusack talking to the camera about his life and top 5's, with cynical views on everything and great lines that you'll fall in love with. The order and flashbacks within the narrative are what give it that loveable and comedic sense, plus a great soundtrack. The style of the film is still very 90's and tells some truth about the female race-without taking it too far, it shows the truth that woman can make men miserable as much as they can make us miserable! It's a comfortable movie, that's romantic subtly, it's scenes are of failure, questioning and pursuing.
Cusack's part in this movie is one of my favourite roles to watch him in, you can tell how hard he worked on this movie, so there is big part of him in it as well as putting some of his own personality into Rob, I even found a quote on thisdistractedglobe.com said by Hornby; "At times, it appears to be a film in which John Cusack reads my book". Dick and Barry are great characters to watch, Black is his traditional self, making you smile, but I have to say Louiso's character Dick is quite unique and humorous, he almost doesn't fit the film so much that he fits perfectly. Unfortunately, with it being such a big part, I didn't enjoy Hjejile's performance as Laura, she wasn't bad at acting I just feel she doesn't quite click within it.
Speaking of this negative side I don't really have any other complaints about this movie, as it's very real and a great story., I just feel that a couple of castings were not wrong, but could have been that tiny bit more right.
This movie is one I've carried with me for years, it can help men understand women and women understand women! It will make you laugh, make you 'aww', it's a very entertaining film as a whole and shows a small percentage of how great Cusack's contribution to the industry is. This movie is almost wise, be entertained, be educated, be able to spread the high fidelity that this film oozes.
My Rating: 7/10
VF
Cast: John Cusack, Iben Hjejile, Jack Black, Tim Robbins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Todd Louiso.
Based On: Novel 'High Fidelity' by Nick Hornby.
Screenplay By: John Cusack, Steve Pink, Scott Rosenberg.
Directed By: Stephen Frears.
High Fidelity is an American comedy-drama film based on Nick Hornby's 1995 novel with the same title. The movie is about Rob Gordon (Cusack) a music obsessed, record store owner who gets dumped by his long term girlfriend Laura (Hjejile). This being the case Rob then looks back at his top 5 break ups to try and figure out where he keeps going wrong with his relationships. When Rob is not searching for these past ex's, he is managing his store, Championship Vinyl, dealing with what has been called the 'musical morons'; Dick and Barry (Black & Louiso).
The movie is based and shot in Chicago, which was a change Cusack actually made from the book, as the novel is British and based in the UK. However even Hornby was happy with the change and portrayal Cusack created, Chicago really shows the slightly chipped life of Rob Gordon and his records.
This movie really is a film industry success, I adore the way it has been made, with Cusack talking to the camera about his life and top 5's, with cynical views on everything and great lines that you'll fall in love with. The order and flashbacks within the narrative are what give it that loveable and comedic sense, plus a great soundtrack. The style of the film is still very 90's and tells some truth about the female race-without taking it too far, it shows the truth that woman can make men miserable as much as they can make us miserable! It's a comfortable movie, that's romantic subtly, it's scenes are of failure, questioning and pursuing.
Cusack's part in this movie is one of my favourite roles to watch him in, you can tell how hard he worked on this movie, so there is big part of him in it as well as putting some of his own personality into Rob, I even found a quote on thisdistractedglobe.com said by Hornby; "At times, it appears to be a film in which John Cusack reads my book". Dick and Barry are great characters to watch, Black is his traditional self, making you smile, but I have to say Louiso's character Dick is quite unique and humorous, he almost doesn't fit the film so much that he fits perfectly. Unfortunately, with it being such a big part, I didn't enjoy Hjejile's performance as Laura, she wasn't bad at acting I just feel she doesn't quite click within it.
Speaking of this negative side I don't really have any other complaints about this movie, as it's very real and a great story., I just feel that a couple of castings were not wrong, but could have been that tiny bit more right.
This movie is one I've carried with me for years, it can help men understand women and women understand women! It will make you laugh, make you 'aww', it's a very entertaining film as a whole and shows a small percentage of how great Cusack's contribution to the industry is. This movie is almost wise, be entertained, be educated, be able to spread the high fidelity that this film oozes.
My Rating: 7/10
VF
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