I liked it, but...

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 2004)

I have to admit, I was very sceptical about the predicted success of this picture in the weeks before it's release.
Nick Hornby - even though he's an Arsenal fan! - is an incredibly touching writer. He can put into words all the things that men, whether in a relationship or not, just cannot explain. When I first read the novel I was dumbstruck - he seemed to be describing the exact same emotions I went through in similar (if a little more acrimonious) breakups. It felt personal - he seemed to understand ME in a way no mate or other confidante could. I sang the writer's praises, recommended the book to all my friends...then heard that he had sold the film rights, agreeing for it to be set in the States.
I was, to say the least, annoyed and a little...well, hurt. Betrayed, even. How could he cheapen what we had together - our mutual lack of understanding of women (London women, I hasten to add) - by doing this? I was indignant!
The American film and TV industries have a knack of destroying anything decent to come out of our English screen market in recent years - 'Absolutely Fabulous' and 'As If' immediately spring to mind - but that's forgivable. However, changing the location of an essentially English, or dare I say 'London', novel is another thing entirely. However, it seems that to get a British film made these days, you have to either change the location to the States (like this one) or change the lead character into an American (The Beach - a fantastic book ruined to make a highly average film).
It can be argued that basic human emotions, feelings and general reactions to the opposite sex are universal, pretty much the same the world over. But, even though I know it's fairly irrational and a little bit selfish, I wanted 'High Fidelity' to stay just between me and the writer. And if he wanted to sell the film rights, then I wanted it to stay between him and...England, I suppose. Irrationality is a family trait of mine.
Given the fact that a huge percentage of British films that actually get made are funded by American investors, I suspect that this trend for 'Americanising' British scripts and novels will continue for the foreseeable future - unless the British Film Industry (and the British Film Council in particular) pulls it's finger out and invests in the considerable talents of Britain.