Hooray! Hollywood Twenty-Somethings show some maturity!

Rating: Null/10 (3 June 2000)

High Fidelity was a beautiful film. I saw it in a rundown bar/theater with awful sound and plenty of the kind of people it portrays. Being a young vinyl enthusiast with a elitist streak, I appreciated this film more than others might. However, let me say that the wit and wisdom of this film go far beyond the specialized subculture that spawned it.
John Cusack is the perfect listless loser unhappy with his life (especially where relationships are concerned). BUT no cliches here- this is not a romantic comedy. In fact, it is neither romance nor comedy, but something entirely different (I don't know exactly what). The romance in the movie is not based on infatuation, mutual respect, lust or any other common basis for Hollywood romance. Hang in there, disappointed moviegoer, because this film delivers an insightful look at relationships, a look that by the end of the film borders on mature and broaches the subject of long-term commitment in the real world!
The laughs in this movie are clever, (Tim Robbins and Bruce Springsteen both have cameos that made me smile, and Rob's two sidekicks were very convincing as snobby but lovable rock intelligentsia. Also, Rob himself is almost pitiful enough to be laughable at times, particularly in flashback scenes.
I absolutely loved the storytelling format. The top-5s were very creative. Anyone who pretends to know anything about pop music or culture will be challenged and impressed by the dialogue, and you are sure to leave the film impressed the John Cusack's ability to smoke a cigarette with STYLE!
If you don't like action movies but loved "Fight Club," and hated "There's Something About Mary," if you consider yourself "clever" and make less than 40k a year, or if you need advice on relationships, please, I beg of you, SEE THIS MOVIE, preferably with a panel of cynical pseudo-intellectuals in a run-down apartment. It's a blast!