Movie Notes: High Fidelity

March 10th, 2009

= 4 stars

Starring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black
Directed by Stephen Frears

Synopsis

Thirty-something record store owner Rob (John Cusack) breaks up with Laura (Iben Hjejle), forcing him to review past loves and his unambitious future. Two slacker employees, a ginormous record collection, and overactive imagination provide both emotional and musical support.

The Good

• Loads of fun / obscure musical references, using the sad record store where the three elitist music fans work as a jumping off point. What Empire Records should have been.
• Jack Black shines as a wacky, annoying, yet imaginative record store clerk, stealing nearly every scene. His character’s big “surprise” at film’s end is a classic moment.
• Tim Robbins as “Ian” the upstairs neighbor. He’s holistic Steven Segal conflict resolution expert that Rob imagines is having tantric sex with his ex-girlfriend.
• Tweaks the standard romantic comedy template, starting out as a comedy where boy has already lost girl, and then tastefully depicts Rob’s awakening to impending adulthood — that “growing up” doesn’t automatically mean “selling out.” Rob starts taking control of his life as opposed to being a highly critical observer.
• So many Gen X touchstones I can’t even list them all.

The Bad

• Rob talks to the camera a lot.

Conclusion

High Fidelity captures that awkward mid-twenty-something, post college age when you’re supposed to be an adult but still as emotionally awkward as a teenager. It smartly observes the tendency of twenty-somethings to find their identity not in what they do or accomplish, but through “taste” and other cultural signifiers. These guys are obsessed with music, as if a person can be revealed by their favorite Dylan record or knowledge of Stereolab or Belle and Sebastian. Still, this decade of one’s life has its appeal, as only then can a perfect song inspire everything you can’t articulate in words yourself and provide meaning to one’s existence. It almost makes me miss my bachelorhood. Well, almost.

IMDB: High Fidelity
Wikipedia: High Fidelity
Rotten Tomatoes: High Fidelity 90%