Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3728 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-05-07
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: Danish, English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 109 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Transplanted from England to the not-so-mean streets of Chicago, the screen adaptation of Nick Hornby's cult-classic novel High Fidelity emerges unscathed from its Americanisation, idiosyncrasies intact, thanks to John Cusack's inimitable charm and a nimble, nifty screenplay (co-written by Cusack). Early-thirtysomething Rob Gordon (Cusack) is a slacker who owns a vintage record shop, a massive collection of LPs, and innumerable top-five lists in his head. At the opening of the film, Rob recounts directly to the audience his all-time top-five breakups-- which doesn't include his recent falling out with his girlfriend Laura (Iben Hjejle), who has just moved out of their apartment. Thunderstruck and obsessed with Laura's desertion (but loath to admit it), Rob begins a quest to confront the women who instigated the aforementioned top-five breakups to find out just what he did wrong.

Low on plot and high on self-discovery, High Fidelity takes a good 30 minutes or so to find its groove (not unlike Cusack's Grosse Pointe Blank), but once it does, it settles into it comfortably and builds a surprisingly touching momentum. Rob is basically a grown-up version of Cusack's character in Say Anything (who was told "Don't be a guy--be a man!"), and if you like Cusack's brand of smart-alecky romanticism, you'll automatically be won over (if you can handle Cusack's almost non-stop talking to the camera). Still, it's hard not to be moved by Rob's plight. At the beginning of the film he and his coworkers at the record store (played hilariously by Jack Black and Todd Louiso) seem like overgrown boys in their secret clubhouse; by the end, they've grown up considerably, with a clear-eyed view of life. Ably directed by Stephen Frears (Dangerous Liaisons), High Fidelity features a notable supporting cast of the women in Rob's life, including the striking, Danish-born Hjejle, Lisa Bonet as a sultry singer/songwriter, and the triumphant triumvirate of Lili Taylor, Joelle Carter, and Catherine Zeta Jones as Rob's ex-girlfriends. With brief cameos by Tim Robbins as Laura's new, New Age boyfriend and Bruce Springsteen as himself. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com

Video Description
DVD Special Features:
Deleted Scenes
Interview with Stephen Frears
Interview with John Cusack
Theatrical Trailer
Dolby Digital 5.1: English
Subtitles: English, English for the hearing impaired, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Hebrew, Greek

From the studio
• Deleted Scenes

• Interview with Stephen Frears

• Interview with John Cusack

• Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews

A very good movie.
Now this film did take me a while to warm up to. The first two times I tried to watch it I was rather bored, though whether this is because I'm a woman, I'm not entirely sure. However the third time I watched it all the way through, and it honestly blew my mind. Cusack's performance's in movies are generally underrated, but here he generates utter brilliance, so much so that he kind of ruined the book for me, as I kept hearing his American voice for an English character.

Doesn't quite make my top 5 films, but it's still good.
A bloke flick - exploring the emotional wreckage of a man coming to terms with rejection. We've seen it many a time with a female lead, but now we get to see it from a mans point of view.

Cussack brings energy to a role which is pretty, well... unenergetic. This is a slow burning film, and you often don't realise that you're enjoying it until it's finished. It's a cultural gem with top five lists galore and some fantastic music - but being set in a music shop, I suppose you expect that.

Rob (Cussack) provides narration throughout the film, so we always get an insight as to what he is thinking, and perhaps more importantly; what he is feeling. His story is an interesting one, although not particularly eventful, it is insightful. The comedy isn't thick and fast, but when it's there, it's good. All men can identify with Rob, even if they haven't had the same sort experiences, they will no doubt have had the same insecurities at some point.

People often say that any film with Jack Black in is bound to be a good one - I'm a Jack Black sceptic though and I can't say I enjoy all of his roles. But here he shines. His over-the-top socially inept 'Barry' with with holier than thou philosophy on music provides many of the films lighter moments, and along with Dick (Todd Louiso), Rob has a comedy duo to counter his dark lamenting.

So, in a nutshell: an emotional journey exposing the mindset of a thirty-something male who is dumped. Slow but steady, this is a film that deals with love, loss, and relationships - but feels blokey with it. The film never delves into the mushy depths of cheesiness, it keeps it's dignity and the slick writing oils the tracks to ensure you never lose interest.

Great film at a great price
John Cusack plays the role of a somewhat "failed" record shop owner here, where the film surrounds what he considers to be his 'Top 5' failed girl-friends.. for various reasons!

To some, this may seem a particularly long and drawn out film. However, I find it quite fitting that the steady pace of the film reflects the lives of the main characters, including a suprise role from Jack Black as an obsessive record-holic who would have a break down if you dissed the wrong rock bands! The acting is smooth and very funny at times, though I think the first half the film beats the latter.

Overall, this is a good cheap buy for when your stuck for something to watch. I've always admired John Cusack for taking on such odd roles, and I can't imagine anyone better to be in this film than John himself!