...
***Five Actresses in “High Fidelity” who are better known for TV roles***
1. Lisa Bonet (The Cosby Show)
2. Sara Gilbert (Roseanne)
3. Catherine Zeta Jones (The Darling Buds of May)
4. Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under)
5.Joan Cusack (What About Joan?)
***Top Five Observations ... Read review
Transplanted from England to the not-so-mean streets of Chicago, the screen adaptation of ... more
Nick Hornby's cult-classic novelHigh Fidelityemerges unscathed from its Americanisation, idiosyncrasies intact, thanks to John Cusack's inimitable charm and a nim...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Transplanted from England to the not-so-mean streets of Chicago, the screen adaptation of ... more
Nick Hornby's cult-classic novelHigh Fidelityemerges unscathed from its Americanisation, idiosyncrasies intact, thanks to John Cusack's inimitable charm and a nim...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
From the guys who brought you '‚´Grosse Point Blank'‚´ comes the absolutely ... more
hilarious '‚´High Fidelity'‚´. John Cusack stars as Rob Gordon the owner of a semi-failing record store located on one of the back streets of Chicago. He ...
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Based on the international best-selling novel comes the hilarious 'High Fidelity'. John ... more
Cusack (Con Air, Being John Malkovich) stars as Rob Gordon, the owner of a semi-falling record store located on one of the back streets of Chicago. He sells music t...
The film adaptation of Nick Hornby's High Fidelity was always going to need a killer ... more
soundtrack: the novel, after all, is about the owner of Championship Vinyl, a specialist record shop that specialises in berating customers whose taste isn't refined enough. John Cusack and co. have done a bang-up job (Cusack not only stars; he also co-produced), assembling a list of accessible favourites from artists old and new, obscure and (gasp!) popular. Alongside lesser-known classics from the likes of Bob Dylan, the Velvet Underground, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, the Kinks and Aretha Franklin (an impressive list in itself!), there are classics-to-be from modern critical faves such as The Beta Band, Smog and Stereolab. In fact, there's only one genuine hit--The Jam's "A Town Called Malice"--and it's neatly matched up with "You're Gonna Miss Me" from the proto-psychedelic garage rockers The Thirteenth Floor Elevators. (Obscure trivia fact: the Elevators' are best-known for vocalist Roky Erickson, who underwent shock treatment and never was the same again.) There's also an impassioned version of "Let's Get It On" by Jack Black, who plays one of the store clerks in the film, but also has a cult following in the States for his spoof band, Tenacious D. True musos will debate the merits of the soundtrack endlessly (why not Otis Redding instead of Stevie Wonder? why two cuts from the VU?), but--for once--that's not the mark of an inferior product: the High Fidelity soundtrack is every bit as good as the book that inspired it. --Randy Silver
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It has been said often enough that baby boomers are a television generation, butHigh ... more
Fidelityreminds that in a way they are the record-album generation as well. This hilarious novel is obsessed with music; Hornby's narrator is an early thirtysomething bloke who runs a London record store. He sells albums recorded the old-fashioned way--on vinyl--and is having a tough time making other transitions as well, specifically to adulthood. The book is in one sense a love story, both sweet and interesting; most entertaining, though, are the hilarious arguments over arcane matters of pop music. --Christine Buttery
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It has been said often enough that baby boomers are a television generation, butHigh ... more
Fidelityreminds that in a way they are the record-album generation as well. This hilarious novel is obsessed with music; Hornby's narrator is an early thirtysomething bloke who runs a London record store. He sells albums recorded the old-fashioned way--on vinyl--and is having a tough time making other transitions as well, specifically to adulthood. The book is in one sense a love story, both sweet and interesting; most entertaining, though, are the hilarious arguments over arcane matters of pop music. --Christine Buttery
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Comedy - Director: Gareth Carrivick - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Kathryn Drysdale, Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey, Will Mellor, Ralf Little
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Advantages: more than five reasons to love it, less than five reasons not to Disadvantages: the setting change?
...for £30” promotions in some High Street shops.
5. The soundtrack is available on CD.
N.B. If you haven't seen this film, and are wondering about the lists, I've done it in this style as a tribute to the use of Top Five lists in the book and film. ... more
***Top Five Reasons I Love This Film***
1. It has a cast of fantastic talent, often giving the performances of their careers, three of which are in my top five “favourite acting talents” list.
2. It is based on the book by Nick Hornby, who I personally think is one of the best authors of the last decade.
3. It is a romantic comedy, but doesn’t star Hugh Grant, and was not directed by Richard Curtis.
4. It is in turn funny, moving and a bit soppy.
5. It always cheers me up, and never fails to amuse me.
***Top Five Plot Lines***
1. Rob is the owner of a semi-failing record shop in Chicago, helped by two strange assistants.
2. His live-in girlfriend has just walked out on him, due to varying reasons, mainly that Rob is a bit of a loser.
3. Rob dissects his past romantic history, counting down his Top Five worst break-ups, and decides to catch up with all of them and make amends.
4. Along the way he has to deal with the discoveries that his girlfriend has been having an affair and a famous singer is interested in sleeping with him.
5. The rest of the plot is unimportant, and would ruin the whole film if I told you (and it’s not really a plot-driven film to be honest).
***Top Five Actors / Actresses***
1. John Cusack (who also wrote and produced the film) plays Rob, obviously. I mean, what’s the point in writing this book as a film, unless you’re going to cast yourself as the hero. He gives a fantastic performance, thankfully, and is highly believable as a slightly geeky, yet attractive failure.
2. Jack Black plays Barry, one of the assistants, and is fantastic as always as this fanatic music snob. Even though if you knew him he’d annoy the crap out of you, he’s basically a nice bloke underneath.
3. Iben Hjejle plays Laura, Rob’s ex-girlfriend. A newcomer to acting, she still gives a solid performance, although I did find I wanted to punch her in the face more than once – I suspect this has more to do with the character than the actress.
4. Tim Robbins plays Ian, Laura’s new boyfriend. Although the role is small, it provides most of the physical comedy, not just because of his ridiculous ponytail, and Steven Seagal posturing.
5. Todd Louiso plays Dick, the other assistant at the shop. He’s much quieter than Barry, and is often bullied by him and the actor is perfect for this role both in looks and attitude.
***Five Actresses in “High Fidelity” who are better known for TV roles***
1. Lisa Bonet (The Cosby Show)
2. Sara Gilbert (Roseanne)
3. Catherine Zeta Jones (The Darling Buds of May)
4. Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under)
5.Joan Cusack (What About Joan?)
***Top Five Observations on Translation from the Original Book***
1. Hornby’s book was littered with more Top Five chats, which would have been hard to re-create on film.
2. The film is based in Chicago and not in London.
3. All the characters are faithfully translated, and looked and acted exactly as I pictured them in my head.
4. The story is also faithful to the text (except for the above two observations), and Cusack has done a great job of incorporating Rob’s narration by doing pieces to camera.
5. Rob does not cry at the concert when Lisa Bonet sings ‘Baby I Love Your Way’.
***Top Five Moments I Enjoyed ***
1. Jack Black dancing to ‘Walking on Sunshine’.
2. Todd Louiso flirting shyly with Sara Gilbert.
3. Any time when John Cusack is on screen with his sister, Joan.
4. The section where Ian comes into the record shop.
5. The concert at the end.
***Top Five Gripes***
1. It’s a pity they moved the action to America rather than keeping it in the UK. It doesn’t detract from the story, which is universal, but it is a pity. Then again, if it was set in London, Hugh Grant would have insisted on playing Rob Gordon.
2. Catherine Zeta Jones can’t do an American accent.
3. Some of my favourite bits from the book couldn’t have been included in the film, but I still missed them.
4. There is a slight lean towards overacting at some points, but it’s only noticeable if you’re not in a very good mood.
5. Laura’s character made me wonder what on earth she and Rob where doing together – this dynamic is explained in better detail in the book.
***Top Five Conclusions***
1. This film is miles better than every other romantic comedy I have ever seen.
2. You’ll have trouble finding a better cast of famous faces all working to the limit of their ability in one film.
3. It is the only good translation to a film of a Nick Hornby book, in my opinion.
4. It can be intensely moving, and hilarious, often within the same scene.
5. Everyone will be able to see a bit of themselves in Rob Gordon.
………………………………………………………………………………………….
***Top five boring bits of information that people seem to like being included***
1. The film is rated 15.
2. It is directed by Stephen Frears.
3. It runs for approximately 114 minutes.
4. It cost me £5 from eBay, and is usually available for around that price second hand, and mostly in those “6 for £30” promotions in some High Street shops.
5. The soundtrack is available on CD.
N.B. If you haven't seen this film, and are wondering about the lists, I've done it in this style as a tribute to the use of Top Five lists in the book and film.
Advantages: John Cusack, Jack Black and the music Disadvantages: None
...all the way back to high school. He compiles a list (he's always doing this) and tries to get in touch with each of his previous girlfriends to find out why they broke up with him. Meanwhile Laura has moved in with former neighbour, Ian Raymond a sort of 'New Age/tentric lover man'. Rob hates this, partly because he can't understand why Laura would go for him and partly because he remembers the evening that he and Laura used to hear Ian making love ... ...that happening with 'his' Laura. His male pride has taken a battering. I won't give away the ending, but I will say that Rob's journey back revisiting his previous relationship makes him realise some home truths about himself and how he feels about Laura. A traumatic event later in the film brings things to a decisive conclusion.
THE PERFORMANCES:
John Cusack is simply brilliant. He is Rob Grant, a likeable tosser who really needs to grow up and ...
Mauri 20.09.2001 (15.10.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of High Fidelity (DVD)
Advantages: A good "grower" Disadvantages: Not quite what I expected
...5 reasons why I rented High Fidelity....
1. I’d just joined Blockbuster and had to rent something
2. I was with my girlfriend so any naff action or scary horror movie was out
3. I didn’t want to pay for a brand new release so it had to be a slightly older movie.
4. I’d read the book and was curious about the film.
5. erm, erm, I’d read the book!
Right, that’s not exactly an inspiring selection is it, it doesn't get much better right away, let’s ... ...know service levels are as high in the US as over here!
3. A “what might have been” scene with Rob and Ian
4. Rob, a man perpetually getting wet in the rain, falling into a flower bed!
5. A rather cruel scene of music shop snobbery, watch the film and you’ll see what I mean.
No, I’ve not gone completely “Top 5” list mad, it just that these are a recurring theme throughout the movie, starting with the main character, Rob’s Top 5 break-ups! and ...
paule23 25.09.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of High Fidelity (DVD)
Advantages: Cusack, Black, the memories Disadvantages: None
...written some great books, with High Fidelity certainly being one of them, but Hornby's books are quintessentially English, so there was certainly a fair amount of trepidation regarding how the book of London would be translated into the film of Chicago. Clearly prior knowledge of the book gives you a prejudiced view of life, but Stephen Frears' adaptation of the novel translates matters quite nicely, playing on the global virtue of love and relationships.
... ...the world of vinyl junkiedom with Rob Gordon (played by the knowing and well schooled John Cusack) as the owner of the sort of indie record store which we all know and love so well (at least we used to, but these days they've been comprehensively displaced by the rise of the chain megastores like HMV, Our Price and Virgin, although there are still a few decent examples around if you look hard enough), but this film only uses that world as a reference ...
dave27 27.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of High Fidelity (DVD)
Advantages: Some laughs and wittisms Disadvantages: Format, weak in parts
...being a bit disappointed by High Fidelity. Was this because I had been looking forward to watching it for a while and when I finally did get to see it was not what I expected?
It is not that I disliked it, oh no. I enjoyed it a lot – but I found a few things that bugged me, a lot. I found and felt it could be better.
I have not read the Nick Hornby book (on which this is based), so I cannot comment on whether it is as good as the book or ... ...who brought you Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity tells the tale of Rob (Cusack), who has recently split up with his girlfriend Laura Lydon, played by Iben Hjejle.
The owner of the cleverly titled ‘Championship Vinyl’, Rob is in a state of disarray and generally feeling down. He is going through a ‘What is it all about?’ phase, and trying to re-evaluate his life. Scared he has to grow up, he is a compulsive top five maker ...
Borg 07.08.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of High Fidelity (DVD)
Advantages: Cusack, Louiso and the wonderful Jack Black Disadvantages: No starkly clear plotline, but does it matter?
I haven’t read the book ‘High Fidelity’ by Nick Hornby, but I’ve heard that those who have think the film was adapted extremely well, especially considering it was relocated across the pond to the US of A. Nevertheless, this film is a gem and definitely worth a look whether you have read the book or not.
It tells the story of Rob Gordon (John Cusack), a music fanatic who owns a record store called Championship Vinyl in Chicago. ... ...DJ playing clubs, and it wasn’t long before he made her an extremely carefully structured compilation tape and she moved in. The story begins as Laura breaks up with Rob following a stale point in their relationship. She moves in with Ian Raymond (a hideously-ponytailed Tim Robbins), the guy who has loud sex in the flat upstairs and who soon becomes Rob’s imaginary punchbag.
The main focus of the film is on Rob analysing and verbalising ...
jess0910 04.09.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of High Fidelity (DVD)
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Advantages: 2 for 1 - Both will be proud additions to your DVD collection Disadvantages: None in my opinion unless they are giving them away for free somewhere.
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Well, this being my first ever film review on Ciao! I decided that, in all clear conscience, there was no other movie worthy of my attention moreso than possibly my all-time favourite flick Grosse Point Blank.
Looked over for far too long, I felt that as a fan of the aforementioned movie I had a sacred duty to perform in attempting to bring this out from under the shadow of mediocrity, where it has languished for far too long, and into the light and also, with any luck, into people's DVD players too.
Written by Tom Jankiewicz. D.V. DeVincentis and Steve Pink ( 40 Days And 40 Nights, and HighFidelity. ) and John Cusack ( Who's other movies will be listed at the end of this review. ) and Directed by George Armitage, Grosse Point Blank tells the tale of one mans quest to find meaning in his life.
And where better a place to start ...
Rob Gordon who runs a music store is trying to win his girlfriend back after she left him for his neighbour. The story is based on the popular novel by Nick Hornby.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
Touchstone Home Video; Technicolor Distribution Services
Release date
07/05/2001
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
BED 888157
Barcode
5017188881579
Production Designer
David Chapman
Screenwriter
Scott Rosenberg, John Cusack, Steve Pink, D.V. DeVincentis, Nick Hornby
Danish, English, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Deleted Scenes, Interview With Stephe Frears, Interview With John Cusack, Theatrical Trailer
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Professional reviews
Review
"...A ruthlessly truthful and deviously smart comedy....Black's hilariously vitriolic rock snob Barry is especially impressive -- a long overdue breakthrough role for a very deserving talent..." (Box Office, p.67, 01/05/2000)
"...Fueled by high-octane writing and wickedly comic performances..." (Movieline, p.90, 01/09/2000)
"...[A] witty, exquisitely fine-tuned adaptation of Nick Hornby's 1995 novel....The movie is sparked by more than half a dozen incisive performances..." (New York Times, p.E15, 31/03/2000)
"...HIGH FIDELITY is a solid, entertaining, and often very funny piece of work..." (Premiere, p.22, 01/05/2000)
"...Cool....Funny and insightful..." -- 4 out of 5 stars (Total Film, p.88, 01/08/2000)
"...A trenchantly witty and acutely insightful script....[John Cusack gives a] fresh, fearless and ferociously funny lead performance..." (Variety, p.26-33, 20/03/2000)
DVD Description
Nick Hornby's popular novel makes the shift from London to Chicago in this Hollywood adaptation from the writing team responsible for GROSSE POINT BLANK. John Cusack stars as Rob, a thirtysomething record store owner who searches for the answer to the seemingly impossible question: Does he listen to pop music because he feels miserable, or is the music the cause of his misery
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