Dir. Stephen Frears (trailer)
Based on Nick Hornby's novel, High Fidelity is a music and record lover's dream movie. The film follows Rob (John Cusack), the owner of a record store in Chicago as he counts down his "Top 5 All Time Breakups" after his longtime girlfriend Laura breaks up with him. As Rob tracks down his former girlfriends, he spends much of his time bickering with his employees, Dick and Barry (Jack Black), as they use their knowledge of music to intimidate potential customers. While trying to win back Laura, he meets singer-songwriter Marie DeSalle (Lisa Bonet), making his life even more complicated.
High Fidelity is unique in that it one of the only film adaptations that is truly better than the book. Cusack's Rob is much more likable on film thanks to Cusack's charisma, and the lived-in feel of the movie pulls audiences in rather than pushing them away like the book did. Using Chicago, rather than London, feels more accurate, as Chicago had many bands emerging around the time the film takes place. The film infuses rom-com sensibilities into the plot and characters, creating a more believable film.
The film also does a great job of bringing a realistic view of record stores, especially in the late 90s/early 2000s. Everyone who frequents record stores has definitely encountered people like Rob, Dick, and Barry. The world captured in the film feels like a time capsule that allows you to look back at a world that no longer exists.
I recommend this film to anyone who loves music related films, as well as comedies.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for fans of: comedy, Almost Famous (2000), romance, Dazed and Confused (1993), Empire Records (1993)
0 Comments.