A real study of male behavior, in high fidelity

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2008)

It needs to be said right from the start; "High Fidelity" is one of the greatest movies ever made, period. Based on British author Nick Hornby's novel, and adapted into an American surrounding, co-produced and starring, among others, John Cusack, this is The Movie of heartbreak, sorrow, break-up, love, sex and most of all, music. And it's all told from a male perspective.
Cusack stars as Rob Gordon, a juvenile thirty-something guy working at a record store with his two equally-minded friends. Rob is a music enthusiast with a collection of (what can only seem like) hundreds of labels, which he meticulously re-arranges in different orders at various times of his life. The story kicks off when Laura, Rob's long-time girlfriend, decides she's had enough, and leaves Rob, moving out of their mutual apartment. This thrusts Rob into not only an endless pit of sorrow and self-deprivation, but also a quest to find out what it is that has always made him such a lousy boyfriend. To do so, he goes through what he calls the "Top Five Break-Up"-list of previous relationships, trying to contact them again hoping to gain some more knowledge about himself, with varying results. To top it all off, it very quickly seems as if there is a "certain other" involved in his ex-girlfriend's life. This all, while working with two guys who are of no help whatsoever. In other words, it seems like a nightmare..
What, for me at least, made "High Fidelity" so enormously superb is, that you just really connect to it. Not just as a great story, but from your own experience. It's funny to the point where you laugh out loud (which happens a lot) and you just sympathize with the characters and the misery, grief and subsequent happiness, as if you know exactly what's going on, because at some point in you're own life, you've probably experienced it. Going through the entire process of a break-up, Rob essentially functions as a mirror of every guy whose been in that very situation. The movie capture all those familiar quirky thoughts, those worst of fears visualizing in your head, the feelings of self-loathing and hatred and the hope that the music you listen to will speak to you directly, and they're so well written and acted out, that by the time the ending credits hit you, it actually feels quite spooky.
At this point, a word can be said about the casting. If there ever was a role made for John Cusack, this here is it. Portraying the juvenile, self-deprivating and melancholic Rob with his own distinguishable charismatic style and mannerisms, Cusack is just spot on. This is absolutely one of his best works. His constant narrations straight to the camera and audience, and as such, the breaking of the fourth wall makes it so much more tangible. Other roles include Jack Black, as one of Rob's co-workers, which he plays very similarly to all his characters, but with some great lines. Tim Robbins, as the new boyfriend, is also just plain awesome (which can be expected of Robbins), as is the relatively unknown Danish Iben Hjejle as Laura. The movie is also filled with some other celebrity roles, and don't miss the cameo appearance by Bruce Springsteen as a "mentoring voice" in Rob's head.
To top it all of, let it be known that "High Fidelity" has one of the best soundtracks, ranging from Lou Reed, Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Blondie and Marvin Gaye to The Kinks and Queen. And to ignore the role this music has in "High Fidelity" would be more than unjust, since it is, like the title implies, the soul and essence here. Instead of just working as background and fill-in for the on screen events, these are hand-picked tracks, sometimes played by the characters, but mostly just adding that exactly right momentum to the scenes that makes you want to smile. Like the soundtrack of your life, this is a movie everyone should see at least once, with, or without, you're significant other by your side.