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High Fidelity 2000 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Stephen Frears
R, 110 min. (language, some sexuality) |
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Starring: John Cusack, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Joan Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Tim Robbins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lili Taylor, Natasha Wagner
Producers: Tim Bevan, Rudd Simmons
Screenplay: D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack, Scott Michael Rosenberg
Cinematography: Seamus McGarvey
Distributor: USA Pictures
Released: 3.31.00 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Former relationships have a special place in everyone's memory. Each one had their own
special moments and disappointing ending. This is the premise behind High Fidelity, a comedic look at
past relationships and how they relate to a current relationship that is almost over. Director Stephen
Frears, who brought us Dangerous Liaisons, does a good job of contrasting those relationships
with each other.
John Cusack, who is one of the most underrated actors today, plays Rob Gordon, an owner of a vinyl record
store whose current relationship with his girlfriend Laura is ending. He takes us on a documentary tale of his "top
5 breakups" in his life, which include his first kiss in high school to a self-absorbed woman (Catherine
Zeta-Jones) who break up with him. Cusack has wisely played roles that suit him, with this effort
being one of his best. He is almost perfect as the struggling owner of a music store who loves to remember
his former romactic failures. His two employees, brilliantly played by Jack Black and Todd Louiso, give
him a hard time, but only because they want him to keep the store.
We see Rob's past break-ups, although it seems he is always dumped by the girl, and how he has learned
from each one. He constantly addresses the camera while reminiscing about these failures. How can he save
his current relationship, or does he really want to? He proudly proclaims at the beginning that Laura is
not worthy of his top 5 list, but by the end has her at the top of it. His journey leads him to the
realization that his own selfishness has cost him most of those relationships.
This is a funny, light-hearted look at a simple guy with common girl problems. How he decides to approach
a solution to his problem is probably different than most would take, but that's what makes it interesting.
The strong supporting roles also maintain the momentum of the picture, which makes Cusack's performance
look even better. In the end, you realize that this is probably the best comedy of the year, proven by
the good laughs it leaves in its wake.
© 2000 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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