High Fidelity (2000)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers (WGA):

Nick Hornby (book)
D.V. DeVincentis (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

31 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

A comedy about fear of commitment, hating your job, falling in love and other pop favorites.

Plot:

Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress.

Plot Keywords:

Sexuality | Teenage Boy | Record Store | Actor Talks To Audience | Baldness

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	Rob Gordon
Iben Hjejle	...	Laura
Todd Louiso	...	Dick
Jack Black	...	Barry
Lisa Bonet	...	Marie De Salle
Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Charlie Nicholson
Joan Cusack	...	Liz
Tim Robbins	...	Ian 'Ray' Raymond
Chris Rehmann	...	Vince
Ben Carr	...	Justin
Lili Taylor	...	Sarah Kendrew
Joelle Carter	...	Penny Hardwick
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Caroline Fortis
Shannon Stillo	...	Alison Jr. High
Drake Bell	...	Rob Jr. High

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | Danish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Brazil:14 | Malaysia:18PL | USA:R (certificate #37241) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:A (DVD rating) | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Peru:14 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Buck Town, Lincoln Square, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Dogstar Films

Trivia:

Barry says that Rob is wearing a "Cosby" sweater, imitating Bill Cosby's voice as he says this. Star Lisa Bonet starred in "The Cosby Show" (1984).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During one of the phone conversations between Rob and Laura, Laura is shown in fairly tight close up. She is holding a "slimline" phone handset and at the extreme bottom edge of the frame you can see that although there is a phone cord socket on the phone, the cord is not attached. This is visible several times during the conversation.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Rob: What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, 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?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Baby Got Going

Now this is what I would call a musical

It was about time someone put together a film with a genuine appreciation for the love/music connection that didn't end up being something along the lines of "Singles". For music lovers who tend to put a soundtrack to everything they experience, this film is a blessing. I am one of those people, so I understand that if you're not, you'll get less from the movie. All I'm trying to say is that this is one of those films that demand you to root for the characters and the events if you want to enjoy it. The deeper the affection you feel for them, the more you'll enjoy the movie.

Personally, I think John Cusack's character is one of the most engaging in the comedy genre of the last decade. This is the kind of character I like: simple and complex at the same time, just like in real life. Somebody likable but annoying at times. Again, I feel a deep personal connection with him, and I understand him every time, even when he acts stupid.

But he is not alone. The rest of the cast is terrific.

Anyway, don't forget this is a comedy. You will laugh your ass off with some situations and dialogue. Hilarity comes from many different sources: you've got black humor, silly humor, complex (people would say "intelligent", but I despise the term) humor... Special mention goes to Tim Robbins paying a visit to the record store. Genius.

On a very personal level, I think there's a magnificent scene that sums up the heart and the brains of this movie. John Cusack talks to the camera (something that happens often) instructing the audience on how to make a perfect music compilation for your loved one. If you like that concept, the movie will grab you and won't let you go. If that idea doesn't sound seductive to you, you might just have a good time. If you are a rock music devotee, this flick is heaven.

RATING: 9.0