In the top five of Cusack's best films.

Rating: Null/10 (31 March 2000)

HIGH FIDELITY is a film that asks the question "why?" when a relationship breaks up. It shows on why is it when a man loves a woman, then only to have a woman show up with another man, making the previous man heart-broken. I know how he feels, there are times when I find that one girl that I find special, then the girl tells me that there's another man in her life, and I always wondered what the girl was doing when I wasn't around her. In the new Stephen Frears, the character of Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is pondering and asking himself on what is wrong with him, where did things go wrong? Rob just broke up with Laura (Iben Hjejle) and Rob tells Laura that he isn't even hurt, that her break-up didn't even make his top five of his most painful break-ups. Then Rob tells the viewers his most painful break-ups in the past. One is the striking beautiful Charlie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who left Rob for a handsome model. The other is Sarah (Lili Taylor) who leaves Rob for another friend that she had. Rob wacks his brain and is searching for the reason on where did he go wrong in life to have these women break up with him. Rob doesn't really get any help from his co-workers at the used record store that he owns. There's Dick (Todd Louiso) a shy and timid man who is the sensitive man in the story. Then there is Barry (Jack Black) the wild and arrogant man who only likes to help customers who listen to good music. While at the store, Rob is wondering on why the girls keep leaving him, Barry keeps picking his top five different categories of music. From top five "side 'A' songs" to top five "death songs." So Rob goes on his own personal trek to find the big mystery on what went wrong with his past relationships. The trouble is that time is running out for Rob, since Laura has just moved in with her neighbor Ian (Tim Robbins), a spirtual yuppie who believes in inner-peace. Well, like every other reviewer, I'm going to give you my top five reasons on why to see HIGH FIDELITY: 1.) JOHN CUSACK- he is one of the best actors working in Hollywood today. He is so energentic and convincing at times that you can understand his frustration. This is one of Cusack's best films, I would say his top five films are: 1.)GRIFTERS 2.)SAY ANYTHING 3.)BEING JOHN MALKOVICH 4.)BETTER OFF DEAD 5.)HIGH FIDELITY And just like Cusack's character in BETTER OFF DEAD, Lane Myer, he goes through the entire movie thinking about what went wrong. 2.) REALITY OF CHARACTERS- the people portrayed in this film are pretty much the people that you would see on the street. There is the wild and roudy person like Barry, the quiet and timid Dick, the goddess like person who stands above everyone Charlie, the spritual and inner-seeking self help yuppie Ian, and the sensitive and gentle Laura. 3.) REALITY OF SITUATIONS- the way you see the events happen in this movie seem like it can happen in real life. Like a man seeking his problems in life, and how many albums can the store sell if they play the music through the store. 4.) SUPPORTING CAST- the supporting cast in the film is great! Jack Black is funny and wild as Barry, Todd Louiso is also good as the sensitive Dick, Joan Cusack is also enjoyable as Liz, who tries to help Rob, and Iben Hjejle is impressive in her American debut as the girl the Rob wants back. 5.) THE FOCUS ON MUSIC- being the younger brother of a serious music lover, this film does talk about music! The music topics range from the soul and blues hits from the 60's. The classic hits in the early 70's, the techno pop hits of the 80's like Echo and the Bunnymen and Jesus and Marychain. And the English hit bands of the 90's such as The Beta Band and Stereolab. I was very pleased to hear and discussion about serious music, instead of music that is only played on hit radio stations, and music that is by a popular artist from the past who is still making new music. I did enjoy HIGH FIDELITY a lot, it's not a laugh a minute comedy like the ads make it out to be. Word of advice: never believe what the ads show you for a movie, you'll either be disappointed or surprised on the movie. FIDELITY is a good romantic drama with some nice comic bits thrown in. Like Cusack's other great romantic/drama SAY ANYTHING, this is a film that will be talked about and mention in years to come. What also surprises me is how did Stephen Frears direct a movie that is so similar to my older brother's life, fascinating. ****1/2 (out of five)