High Fidelity | | Cast : | John Cusack | | Director : | Stephen Frears | | Studio : | Walt Disney Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | March 31, 2000 | | DVD Released Date : | April 08, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 09, 2005 | | Summary | great film | Content
 | The movie is hilarious and the cast is awesome. Probably one of John Cusacks best movies. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 30, 2005 | | Summary | As good as the book | Content
| I don't read a lot of fiction but I did take a crack at Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, and found it to be very funny and wise. The transfer of any book to the big screen is always a crapshoot, especially when you re-situate the story on a different continent, but Hollywood got it right this time. The film not only captures both the humor and the pathos of the book, but also it's corp wisdom about growing up. That may seem sappy and a bit of a cliche but the film avoids both with very satisfying results. The movie's dependence on hip, pop culture references and terrifc acting moves it along at a quick pace....yet the movie never loses its thoughtful edge. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 30, 2005 | | Summary | Men, Their Friends, and Empathetic Girls. | Content
| There are no limitations with a movie like High Fidelity. It's a romantic comedy with a dank spirit, an appeal to men, and a wonderful leading actor, and though, as has been said, it is the perfect movie for any male who's ever been through a significant breakup, unisex appeal is not lost. I'm a teenage girl and even I can empathize with Rob's losses and journey throughout this spectacular adaption (which, if I may say had it's work cut out for it; Nick Hornby is a genius with the common man). And the casting was superb. It was surprising to see a British novel go through Hollywood and come out at the other end of the tunnel with a newfound dignity. I'm just glad our generation has something good to live up to literarily and cinematically speaking. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 23, 2005 | | Summary | The Elevators, baby, the Elevators | Content
| I agree with some of the other reviewers that I don't know which I like better, the movie or the soundtrack. But, one thing's certain, I was hooked right from the opening closeup shot of black vinyl spinning on a turntable, and the 13th Floor Elevators belting out "You're Gonna Miss Me". Any movie that opens with a song by the Elevators is bound to be cool.
If you're a music snob, like this reviewer (and most of the main characters in the movie), then this movie will probably be in your Top Five. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 14, 2005 | | Summary | Total Fidelity. | Content
| At first I was skeptical when I heard that Nick Nornby's magnificient book was turned into a film with John Cusack in the lead, and even more skeptical when I found out that the action was moved from England to Chicago. However, this movie won me over in about five minutes' time.
I go to Wicker Park several times a month and always stop by to look at the shop which was turned into Championship Vinyl at the cover of Milwaukee and Honore. It is empty and covered over with boards. Although the entire neighborhood is thriving economically, for some reason there is nobody who ever rents out this particular shop. It's a quandary. Ever worse, there is no placard or memorial alerting visitors that this was the place where the action took place in one of the best films of the last decade. A pity.
I consider High Fidelity a modern masterpiece. Cusack is great and very believable as Hornby's main character, Rob. The lesser characters, especially the "musical moron twins", are superb as well. Jack Black is a very special supporting actor and this was the first time that I recall seeing him before. Tim Robbins, I hate to say it, once again displayed immense talent in the role of Ian who is Cusack's nemesis. High Fidelity was also my first sighting of the precious Catherine Zeta Jones.
The insight that there is something of your first breakup in every ensuing relationship strikes me as being quite true and a point with which most of us can identify. The pain that Rob feels throughout these (nearly) two hours is palpable, but it is balanced out by tremendous joy and humor. This Cusack vehicle is something that anyone can relate to as it embodies all of the basic human emotions like jealousy, sadness, loneliness, trepidation about the future, depression, exuberation, desire, and, most important of all, love. I have no doubt that some day you'll watch it at least half as many times as I already have. |
|
