My Favourite Movies: High Fidelity

In this smart comedy about romance – rather then a romantic comedy - Rob Gordon (played by the brilliant John Cusack) is unceremoniously dumped by his long term girlfriend (played by newcomer Iben Hjejle) causing his world to fall apart. He begins to examine where everything went wrong in the only obsessive way he knows how – by making Top 10 lists. Rob is a music geek who runs a specialist record store off the beaten track. Along with two other music snobs – played by Jack Black and Todd Louiso he intends to drift through his life apparently untouched by the real world around him. The wake-up call of Laura’s departure changes all that. Rather than go on a drinking binge, Rob decides to go on a relationship binge by calling up ex-girlfriends to find out what’s wrong with him. Meanwhile, Laura slowly moves out of their shared apartment…….

Not only was this a very funny film – often despite Jack Black’s over-the-top antics – it was also a very clever one. Not only did the fact that Cusack talked directly to the camera continually crack me up, he also managed to get across thoughts that I couldn’t help but nod along with. When done well, as in this movie, such a device is a delight to watch and Cusack is obviously at ease with it. The whole relationship angle was very well directed though, despite reading the book by Nick Hornby some years after seeing the film, I can’t remember if it’s because of the movie director or the original author. Either way it’s obviously material from someone who’s been there and been dumped by that.

Despite being well able to carry a scene on his own Cusack was ably assisted by Lisa Bonet, Tim Robbins (as Rob’s love rival), Catherine Zeta-Jones (as an ex-girlfriend) and his sister Joan (who plays Laura’s best friend). Although the movie clearly revolves around him as the central character and focus of the movie it is his interactions, funny, bitter sweet, or angry, with the other players that brings everything else alive. This is a thoughtful, mature, messy film that reflects and comments upon the lives and people we all know because we’ve all been there. I guess I identified with Cusack’s character to a significant extent. At times his dialogue could just as easily have been directly lifted from episodes in my own life – and no doubt millions of others. A high fidelity film in more ways than one.