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"It's not what you ARE like that matters. It's what you like that matters," So says Rob (John Cusack) in High Fidelity, a movie that will become a favourite for many.

Rob's girlfriend Laura (lben Hjejle) walks out on him and he screams out to her that she doesn't even rate in the top five women who have left him. Later he's standing in the rain listing the five things he misses most about Laura.

Rob is 35, owns a record store and is in a rut. He invited his two work assistants to the store to work for three days a week but they keep turning up every day. They wouldn't be anywhere else.

Dick is shy, Barry is a loud mouth but all three are musical snobs who would rather throw anyone not hip enough out of the store rather than sell the wrong type of record. We are treated to a terrific but not overbearing soundtrack as this all develops and a succession of best of lists that will bring many a smile.

Todd Louiso and Jack Black play Dick and Barry respectively, and with John Cusack they weave wonderfully rich and funny relationships. High Fidelity doesn't exhibit the sarcasm and cynicism that permeates many movies these days. It's moved beyond twenty something heartlessness into a much more mature territory.

In a lesser movie Rob could have become just some self opinionated, selfish, adolescent man but High Fidelity shifts our appreciation of his problem both with humour and with insights, which is a credit to the script, to John Cusack, and to the production team headed by director Stephen Frears.

On the writing side D.V. DeVincentis and Steve Pink worked with Cusack on the terrific Grosse Pointe Blank and Scott Rosenberg wrote the wonderful Beautiful Girls. On the directing side put The Grifters into the list of films you really should see and note that Stephen Frears directed that with Cusack as a star.

And if you aren't yet a John Cusack fan check out the aforementioned films plus Being John Malkovich, and Pushing Tin and you'll be panting for more. Cusack's monologues in High Fidelity are a treat.

Rob proceeds to contact his former girlfriends (who are played by Lily Taylor and Catherine Zeta-Jones amongst others) to find out why he's stuck in this doleful pattern and that presents sometimes some unpleasant revelations for Rob. But he grows, and increasingly we grow to like him and just about everyone around him.

He picks up a singer during the film (played by Lisa Bonnet) with a self knowing line of bullshit, hanging his melancholy head. They both know what's going on, but go along for the ride and so should you, It all seems to be so accurate, very perceptive.

Do yourself a favour and indulge yourself in some High Fidelity.

4 And A Half Spin Doctor Flys


High Fidelity
back to index "It's not what you ARE like that matters. It's what you like that matters," So says Rob (John Cusack) in High Fidelity, a movie that will become a favourite for many. Rob's girlfriend Laura (lben Hjejle) walks out on him and he screams out to her that she doesn't even rate in the top five women who have left him. Later he's standing in the rain listing the five things he misses most about Laura. Rob is 35, owns a record store and is in a rut. He invited his two work assistants to the store to work for three days a week but they keep turning up every day. They wouldn't be anywhere else. Dick is shy, Barry is a loud mouth but all three are musical snobs who would rather throw anyone not hip enough out of the store rather than sell the wrong type of record. We are treated to a terrific but not overbearing soundtrack as this all develops and a succession of best of lists that will bring many a smile. Todd Louiso and Jack Black play Dick and Barry respectively, and with John Cusack they weave wonderfully rich and funny relationships. High Fidelity doesn't exhibit the sarcasm and cynicism that permeates many movies these days. It's moved beyond twenty something heartlessness into a much more mature territory. In a lesser movie Rob could have become just some self opinionated, selfish, adolescent man but High Fidelity shifts our appreciation of his problem both with humour and with insights, which is a credit to the script, to John Cusack, and to the production team headed by director Stephen Frears. On the writing side D.V. DeVincentis and Steve Pink worked with Cusack on the terrific Grosse Pointe Blank and Scott Rosenberg wrote the wonderful Beautiful Girls. On the directing side put The Grifters into the list of films you really should see and note that Stephen Frears directed that with Cusack as a star. And if you aren't yet a John Cusack fan check out the aforementioned films plus Being John Malkovich, and Pushing Tin and you'll be panting for more. Cusack's monologues in High Fidelity are a treat. Rob proceeds to contact his former girlfriends (who are played by Lily Taylor and Catherine Zeta-Jones amongst others) to find out why he's stuck in this doleful pattern and that presents sometimes some unpleasant revelations for Rob. But he grows, and increasingly we grow to like him and just about everyone around him. He picks up a singer during the film (played by Lisa Bonnet) with a self knowing line of bullshit, hanging his melancholy head. They both know what's going on, but go along for the ride and so should you, It all seems to be so accurate, very perceptive. Do yourself a favour and indulge yourself in some High Fidelity. 4 And A Half Spin Doctor Flys Email Copyright Steve Baker 2000
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