Film of the Week #77 – High Fidelity

Basq

IMDb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVv5sIY57TA

Ahhh yeah.. love that scene!

In Summer 2000, I distinctly remember sitting in a near-empty cinema with 2 or 3 friends watching 'High Fidelity'. It was a film we didn't know much about.. other than it starred John Cusack who was one of my favourite actors at the time (and still is).

It's adapted from a novel by British writer Nick Hornby (whose also wrote the books 'Fever Pitch' and 'About A Boy' - both since adapted to screen). And it is essentially the story of a record shop owner named Rob Gordon who after a nasty breakup recounts his top 5 break-ups to the audience.

It's now probably known more as the film that shot Jack Black to fame. Don't get me wrong, his performance in the film is fantastic and he steals every scene he's in, but John Cusack's performance in the film is probably one of my favourite performances of his career. He's initially painted as a nice guy, but we start to see varying layers of his personality throughout the film. And we then see he comes across as arrogant, pig-headed and an absolute prick at times. But for some reason, he remains likeable throughout. Of course, it may be partly due to his character of Rob "breaking the fourth wall" and addressing the viewer regularly.

It's also a film that has a damn fine soundtrack - varied from Katrina & The Waves to The Velvet Underground to The Chemical Brothers. And it ends with one of my favourites - Stevie Wonder's "I Believe" playing over the end credits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H--_-gPX3Nw

All the actors (especially Cusack, Black and Louiso) are on top form, the dialogue remains witty and fresh today 8 years on and and the direction by Stephen Frears is fantastic.

If you haven't seen it, please do track it down because you will not be disappointed. And especially if you're a music fan, you're in for a real treat!

dr.bollocko

Nice one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V_-iZYIofU

Bubs101

Unbelievable film and probably Jack Black's big break and best performance (outside of the Tenacious D TV series)

The closest thing to a chick flick for guys

guinnessdrinker

Great choice. I too remember going to see this with a friend in the cinema in Summer 2000, (I can't believe that was eight years ago!). When we got back to my appartment afterwards a group of my friends were there and I immediately raved about how good this film was and that they should all go and see it!

I don't think there could have been a better cast assembled for this film. The lead actors were on excellent form as were the supporting cast which included Lisa Bonnet (ex Cosby show babe), Sara Gilbert (ex Rosanne), Tim Robbins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and a cool cameo by Bruce Springsteen.

As Basquille pointed out the film has got a cool soundtrack too and I never thought of it as chick flick for guys before but I think you could be right Bubs!

Anyway, great film, one of my favourites.

Basq

Thought I'd rewatch it tonight since I nominated it earlier.. forgot some truly great lines:

Rob: "Sometimes I got so bored of trying to touch her breast that I would try to touch her between her legs. It was like trying to borrow a dollar, getting turned down, and asking for 50 grand instead."

cabrwab

What a movie, what a book!

The book is just as entertaining and witty as the film. Was a favourite book of mine so was worried when i saw it was being made into a movie set in america instead. It didn't disappoint in the slightest, the casting was perfect, showing that the team that made gross point blank could do it again.

It is the closet thing a guy can get to a chick flick, and a great guys film for the reason it doesn't have the perfect ending. I love the boss cameo excellent.

My favourite bits is a couple of the phone call scenes:
1) Rob is on the phone to his mum, he breaks the news they have broke up, and she says its all his fault he's a failure, he just roars "Shut up mum, that is some cruel cold ****"
2)when he's ringing around the ex girlfriends and he gets the mother of his first one, its completely psychotic moment, its funny!

Great choice for a film of the week!

faceman

I love this film. A male masterpiece. There are some subtle differences between the book but nothing that takes away from it.

One of my favs.

Slutmonkey57b

Great film, but even so, filed in "not as good as the book" in parts. Some parts actually came across better, such as Ian the Patchtouli dude. I'm not sure moving the setting to Chicago worked, as it lost a lot of the pathetic, lonely desperation of the characters in the process. Given that it's a John Cusack movie, it's not entirely suprising that the original characters were given such a gloss of hipster cool, but at the same time Cusack fits this film and the character very well. You're still watching Cusack as Cusack, but it look less unnatural.

Great choice for FOTW.

grames_bond

guinnessdrinker wrote: »

Great choice. I too remember going to see this with a friend in the cinema in Summer 2000, (I can't believe that was eight years ago!). .

8 years?! :eek: man i feel old!!

great movie tho, classic cusack and jb was brilliant! (slaggin the ada for buyin the wrong song for his daughter will always stick in my head)

Mr E

I love this movie too. Must dig it out tonight. The most memorable scene for me was where Dick and Barry kick the shite out of Ray Ian (I nearly coughed out a mouthful of popcorn).

Shame Iben Hjejle (Laura) didn't do anything of note afterwards...

Aurora Borealis

Thumbs up.
Really enjoyed both the film and the book.
Apart from the acting merits etc anything with John Cusack is okay by me...:)

johnny_ultimate

Yeah great little comedy. Really like the book too, and luckily little is lost in the translation from England to the states. One of those quotable comedies which is always a joy to watch. And its quite a feat to make a 'relationship comedy' which appeals to a largely male audience.

The Bollox

this is why I love FOTW. I decided to buy High Fidelity after seeing this thread last week and I watched it last night. very good film, it wouldn't find it's way into my top films list, but it was still a very good film.

this film has extended the point my and a few friends have: John Cusack is NEVER in bad films. I have yet to be mistaken on this point.

Anyway back to the film, I think the main selling point for me was the way John Cusack talked to the watcher. I don't mean that as in "it's cool that he breaks the 4th barrier" I mean the way he addresses us is just really really... cool for want of a better word.

This is definitely a film I could see myself watching again. Cheers Basquille for introducing me to this film

Basq

No worries mate. Always glad to introduce someone to this film.. it's one of those films that I don't think I've met one film fan who didn't enjoy it, and most film fans I know have a real soft spot for it. Probably due to Cusack's performance, the soundtrack (etc) - what's not to like about this film!

Oh, and the "breaking the fourth wall" is cool.. not necessarily new considering the first film I remember seeing it in was probably 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' but I think Cusack pulls it off very well.. he's pretty damn engaging when addressing the camera.

PullMyFinger!

Excellent choice and maybe one of my Top 5 (pardon the pun) films ever, definitely in the top ten but a film Ive watched far too many times for my own good - between 10 and 15 times Id guess, and need to give a break for a couple of years to appreciate again, if that makes sense.

It has its flaws - Jack Black goes just a smidgen overboard with the OTT stuff and it loses it a bit in the 3rd act before hitting a home run again at the finish - but all in all its an under-appreciated modern classic.

Would love to write more on it but its late, I think these highlights with The Killers providing the soundtrack sum it up nicely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wV8AQE9ZVY

Thanks for picking this Basq.

For those of you who havent seen it do so asap. The DVD must be around the fiver mark at this stage. 91% on Rotten Tomatoes is all you need to know.

PS - if any DVD needs a Special Edition its this one!

Hardrain

The use of Bob Dylan's 'Most Of The Time' is fantastic. Great film, as a poster said a chick flick for guys. Great little music talks, the Springsteen chat:)