Res Hall Review

Reid Stratton

High Fidelity (2000)
Running Time: 114 min.
Stars: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black
Found at: Ormsby, SageRob Gordon (Cusack), the owner of a vinyl-only record store, is currently going through a breakup with his girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle). The breakup motivates Rob to reflect on his other failed relationships. As Cusack tries to sort out his past and future love life, we catch vignettes of Rob’s record store, his employees, and the world of music in which he resides.

Comments: I didn’t really like this film. The comedic relief, though boosted by Jack Black’s performance, still wasn’t that funny, and the dramatic parts were never engaging. Much of the film is narrated like a diary, with Cusack speaking directly into the camera. The transitions from the confessional narrative style to third-person were sometimes awkward, which greatly reduced the effect of this more personal sort of story telling. The film can be credited with telling a “real” story, with events that could happen to anyone. This is a good movie to cool down and fall asleep to. C+