High Fidelity (film)

High Fidelity is a romantic comedy film released on 2000-03-31 based on Nick Hornby's book of the same title. In the film, Rob has just broken up with his girlfriend Laura and is dealing with it poorly.

I saw this film shortly after it was released on home video with a girlfriend of mine who really liked it. I enjoyed the film and later bought it myself and it became a favorite of mine. Then, I bought the book and loved it as well.

Cast

Actor	Character
John Cusack	Rob Gordon
Iben Hjejle	Laura
Jack Black	Barry Judd
Todd Louiso	Dick
Catherine Zeta-Jones	Charlie Nicholson
Lisa Bonet	Marie DeSalle
Joan Cusack	Liz
Tim Robbins	Ian "Ray" Raymond
Joelle Carter	Penny Hardwick
Lili Taylor	Sarah Kendrew
Sara Gilbert	Annaugh Moss

Review

Good

• Despite the massive change in setting, the production team did a good job of adapting the book to a two hour film. A lot of the dialogue is word-for-word from the book and there are a lot of little touches, like the fact that Laura drives a Volvo.
• I like all the actors, and they each do a great job of playing their roles from the book. Some were changed slightly, but not in a way that affects the story at all. Jack Black and Todd Louiso perfectly encapsulate their characters.
• The film had several cameos from real musicians.

Bad

• I actually would have preferred the film be set in London with British actors, and I think Rob's relationship with Marie would be more interesting like in the book. Still, the Chicago setting worked fine.
• Laura isn't nearly as strong in the film as she is in the book. No attempt was made to make Laura a person instead of someone who just affect's Rob.
• As much as I adore Joan Cusack, her playing Liz is confusing to people who read the book first. She's supposed to be Laura's friend, but being a real-life sibling with John Cusack makes her seem like she's supposed to be Rob's sister.

Ugly

• Nothing.

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