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Cast: John Cusack, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Joan Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Tim Robbins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lili Taylor, Natasha Wagner
Director: Stephen Frears
Producers: Tim Bevan, Rudd Simmons
Screenplay: DV DeVincentis & Steve Pink & John Cusack and Scott Michael Rosenberg, based on the novel by Nick Hornby
Cinematography: Seamus McGarvey
Music: Howard Shore
I love John Cusack movies and I adore Nick Hornby's novel on which his latest film is based. But there was something sadly missing from the long awaited film version. It wasn't the fact that Hornby's original location has changed from Blighty to Chicago - the movie could have been set anywhere and the same themes of love, lust and obsession would still be relevant.
The main problem seems to be that Cusack's Rob Gordon is such a self centred character that he has no time for anyone else. And how can you sympathise with someone like that?
The other two great weaknesses are the film's over reliance on his monologues to camera and his top five lists.
In the book the latter worked - on screen it just gets really irritating.
Cusack had made a rod for his back by delivering Grosse Pointe Blank, one of the best films of 1997, and Being John Malkovich (my favourite film released in Britain in 2000).
To follow any movie as clever, witty and moving as that would take some doing but High Fidelity could have been so much more. After all, the source material was excellent. Especially if you've just had your heart ripped out and thrown away by someone you once loved.
The plot is simple enough.
Rob owns Championship Vinyl, a decrepit record shop which favours LPs instead of CDs. His abrasive and irritating assistants include Barry (the excellent Jack Black who practically steals the movie from under Cusack's nose) and weedy anal retentive Dick (Todd Louiso who bears a striking resemblance to Hornby).
Rob spends much of the movie reflecting on hi ex lovers using his obsession with lists as a springboard, he reassesses his "Top 5 all-time break-ups". Aside from the gorgeous Charlie (Catherine Zeta-Jones), there's his latest ex - Laura (Iben Hjejle). She's just split with Rob as the opening titles roll to live with former neighbour Ian (Tim Robbins).
Director Stephen Frears, who had worked with Cusack 10 years earlier on The Grifters, keeps things ticking over and there's a few nice touches here and there but this is not among his best work.
The cast are likeable and familiar. Look out for Cosby Show veteran Lisa Bonet as a sexy singer and an almost unrecognisable Sara Gilbert from Roseanne as Dick's love interest, Anna.
The soundtrack is surprisingly average for a film obsessed with music (among other things). Unlike Grosse Pointe Blank which was pushed forward by the energy of the songs, this stutters from one scene to the next.
Amiable enough but no classic - certainly not good enough to enter my top 5 list of great movies in 2000.
© 2000 Roger Crow
