Rob is a frustrating and relatable character because we get his inner monologue. Just imagine what any other character's inner thoughts would be in this movie - would their honest opinions about everything be any less obnoxious? The fact that Rob is a jerk in his own head is why he's so relatable.
I deeply love this movie, but it was in many ways made for me. I was a record store rat for a long time and an obsessive list maker. I read the book well before the movie deal was announced. I lived in Chicago in the mid '90s, so this movie looks exactly like my twenties. Rob is absolutely an unreliable narrator to some degree, but he is also painfully honest and some of the best moments are when we see that he is badly misunderstanding what's happening or what lesson he should be taking from a situation. I think most people have had a relationship or two that just broke them for a while. It can make you the worst version of yourself and that's intensely relatable. I know I have acted in ways that were and are really embarrassing because in that time I was simply incapable of stepping outside myself. The loss of personal grace is both tragic and VERY comic, but hopefully it teaches you how to be a better version of yourself, even if it's not a version you or other people had imagined. Thanks so much for covering this movie. More people should see it.
For me... this really marks a turning point in Jack Black's movie career. He had mostly had bit parts... and some ok larger parts before... but High Fidelity really show cased what he could do.
At the time, it was a surprise that he could really sing like that. Today, it’s a whole different thing; there isn’t the same tension as you’re waiting for him to perform, because you know he’ll really nail it.
Fun fact: when Laura is reading the “Top 5 Dream Jobs” list back to Rob, #5 work for “Rolling Stone” magazine is a nod to Cameron Crowe. Crowe worked for them as a writer and directed Cusack in “Say Anything…”.
And Cameron Crowe also made _Almost Famous_ which was a thinly disguised account of that exact experience when he started writing for _Rolling Stone Magazine_ aged just fifteen years old.
Saw it in the theater back in 2000. For a long time after, it was number one in my list of "Top Five Movies." Really captures something insightful and true about the male psyche, I think. And Jack Black was a relative unknown at the time, as I recall. This was the film, I think, that turned him from a guy with a cult following (through Mr. Show and Tenacious D) to a mainstream cinematic/comedic leading man.
Definitely a turning point for Jack. I think his biggest role prior to this was The Cable Guy (1996). His next 3 roles after this were Saving Silverman, Shallow Hal and Orange County.
Haha - this was the first time I'd ever seen Jack Black in a movie! I kept thinking he was amazing in all of his scenes...and then when he sang 'Let's Get It On' at the end...I was as amazed as John Cusack! (And I just realized...Jack Black and Joan Cusack reunited in 'School of Rock' years later.)
I was 26 when this movie was released. I was born and raised in Chicago. My stomping ground were a lot of the areas this movie was filmed in. When he leaves Marie's apartment. That door on the corner was to a bar called Lava Lounge. My tattoo shop Tomato Tattoo was down the street.
I am not ashamed: I still have this movie on VHS and is one of the reasons why I still keep my ole’ DVD/VHS player around. Something about this movie on tape that “does it.” And having made tapes the way that he compiles songs on cassetes to give away was VERY MUCH a thing to us GenX’rs (to friends, to friends ya wanted to date…). The art of putting together a kick ass tape, Side A to B, was a real knack!! Anyhow, will forever be in adoration of Jack Black in this movie; the exquisite casting; the badass screenplay/razor sharp banter that made these characters feel so damned authentic… and then there’s FREARS & the MUUUUUSIC… High Fidelity remains securely in my all-time Top 5 flicks.🤘🎬🎧
PS-Something about the magic of having multiple Cusack’s in a feature film (Sixteen Candles, Grosse Pointe Blank. War Inc. - amongst others)… I’m forever there for that badass onscreen chemistry they bring. Very unique to those siblings-Joan, Ann, John…
I’ve always loved this movie. Rob is frustrating but relatable for a lot of guys and the screenplay is just so well done. Especially love the central part that music plays in the lives of the characters. I suspect that music is also what drove up the production budget; music rights are always expensive. Great reaction, as always.
Yes, High Fidelity is a musical term (or rather, a term used for musical reproduction) - kind of like "High Definition" when referring to picture quality, 'High Fidelity' refers to good sound quality in a music system. "Hi-Fi" for short.
I've seen this movie so many times but only this time it occurred to me that Jack Black's character responding to Laura's Dad's death with "Oh drag" could be a reference to former Beatle Paul McCartney, who answered in a similar way ("Yeah, it's a drag isn't it?") when questioned by a TV reporter what his reaction was to his former band mate John Lennon being shot dead in 1980. He copped lots and lots of anger from Beatles fans who took his response as a sign of indifference, when in fact McCartney was massively in shock and didn't really realize what he was saying.
Interesting fact, Lily Taylor, who plays Sarah- one of Cusack's ex's, studied acting at the famed Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, Illinois, with John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Ann Cusack, Aidan Quinn, Jeremy Piven, and Lara Flynn Boyle. They appeared in Say Anything together in addition to this movie. John put Jeremy Piven in a lot of his movies too, including Grosse Point Blank, One Crazy Summer, Say Anything, Runaway Jury, Serendipity, and The Grifters. It's interesting to see actors who grew up together working with each other.
Yeah..like others have said, this is definitely one of those films that I'll always find relatable. Relationship issues and learning to grow up, finding ways through music for expression etc.
Jack Black was essentially unknown. It was a huge surprise for most of the audience how awesome of a singer he is. There are some cut scenes you should look up that develop the characters much further.
I love that you call Y2000 Springsteen a young Springsteen considering he was in his 50s and his career was nearly 30 years old. I can't decide if it makes me feel old or young...
Fun fact - the original Novel was based in London but the director moved the setting to Chicago which he was more familiar with. London is the perfect setting for a hipster record shop IMHO
Saw it when it came out. Really fond of it especially because I was a huge making the perfect compilation tape for the person intended. It bears some similarity to the 1998 film CELEBRITY which I also liked although it's somewhat zanier, (HF is a bit more intimate) , but has that continuously failing relationships theme and a search for meaning. HF feels less of a rom/com and more of that old literary term of the confessional novel. Great reaction with excellent chatter.
I have so many memories of this movie. This came out in 2000...the same year that I moved to Chicago. It was filmed in a hipster neighborhood called Wicker Park...the neighborhood that I moved to. I knew some guys that were extras in the movie. The record store was across the street from a Burger King behind the park, and just down the block was a famous club called Double Door - this is where the concerts were filmed. A few years later, I was at the Diversey Rock'n'Bowl, and the bowling lane next to me was...John Cusack and Billy Bob Thorton! John was a bit standoffish, but Billy Bob was very friendly. My main memory of John Cusack is that I didn't realize how tall he is. He's got to be at least 6'2" or taller. I was out with my brother that night for his birthday, and Billy Bob came over to wish him a happy birthday. 😎
Believe it or not, High Fidelity was a Broadway musical for a blink of an eye, and it was GREAT! Search UA-cam for the musical - the songs do not disappoint!
Saw this in the cinema. Now I'm Australian so was unaware of Tenacious D until their debut album was released after this movie. So I shared Rob's and Dick's fear about Jack Black in a band and share their shock and delight that Jack actually was a great musician.
You cannot understand how my friends and I felt when we saw this the opening weekend in 2,000. First of all, huge John Cusack fan. Second of all, for the first time in a very long time, we were seeing a complicated relationship movie from the guys perspective. Every show on "The Lifetime Channel" and a dozen others, plus 99% all relationship movies were all heavily titled towards the woman's point of view. So for us as we left the theater... we are all saying... "FINALLY Hollywood... you're actually paying attention to a guys perspective!" Such a brilliant movie. And for the first time in my life, and most everyone else, we finally realized what a dynamic singer Jack Black is! Supporting cast was awesome. This not only had the vibe of a record store, but also a similar vibe of a comic book store. Mostly guys, dealing with their girlfriends, while still trying to be macho with their buddies. That fantasy scene where Rob was beating the crap out of Tim Robbins character, while getting the support from his friends... was so funny. Rob fantasized about kicking the crap out of Ian, but deep inside he knew that he was in the wrong. In essence it is about how the fantasy an immature guy builds in his head crashes into reality, and learning how to accept and love that reality.
Note: there are two Fever Pitches, the first is a British production starring Colin Firth, involving soccer, and the second is a U.S. production starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, involving baseball. They're both very good, but very different.
This movie had 20th anniversary a few years ago and John Cusack hosted a movie watch along and Q&A in Chicago. I attended and he was so funny and endearing and you could tell how much he loved making that movie. He had so many awesome things to say about Jack Black and knew he would become a star.
When Jack Black kicks into "Let's Get It On" near the end, I always get full body tingles. Saw this in a theater on a whim, while on a bike ride in the early afternoon with a good fellow male friend. Didn't know much about it, except music, Jack Black, John Cusack - all great things. We sat next to each other towards the front of the small theater with maybe a dozen+ other people in attendance. As the end came it dawned on us it was a date night movie, and we humorously wondered if people behind us thought we were a couple. Such a great movie!
Loved this movie when it came out, mainly because of the Gen X music and references, great reaction video! I forgot to ask on the live stream, but could you give us a peek at your notes when you're doing your recap/imdb/wrapup segment? I think it would be cool to see the comments and notes that you jotted down while you were watching/recording. The imdb/trivia/budget part of your videos is what sets your reviews apart, IMO!
Clicked on this so fast.. Such good memories of my early 30s with this film, watching with my girlfriend, stay in night with some wine etc. So many good lines... Dick being concerned with the albums being stacked because of the pressure... and "Immediate disqualification because of it's involvement with The Big Chill" 😅
Nick Hornby is such a good read! I recommend any fans of the film read the book "High Fidelty". Also, after watching "Brooklyn" with Sairoise Ronan, I was happy to recognize his name as writer and director. It's another great film.
@Shanelle! Hey BFF! Yay! I’ve been requesting this along with three or four other movies for ages! Can’t wait to see the reaction! This is one of my favorite movies in the soundtrack, as well as the novel are as good as the movie! Probably one of the most faithful adaptations of a novel, probably because of the authors involvement with it.
This movie is definitely one of my favorite films. It’s a good film to watch if and when you’ve just been dumped, or been through a recent breakup. Great soundtrack, cast and story. It is very realistic in the sense of the existential dilemma of the modern man trying to battle with his wants vs his needs in human relationships. A lot of us struggle with the “fantasy” tempting us and trying to tell us that we can have better than what is right there in front of us. This movie introduced me to some great music, like the Beta Band, The closing Stevie Wonder song “I Believe When I Fall In Love…” Definitely a good soundtrack to add to your collection. I wish they did, but they just don’t make movies like this anymore.
One of the things that feels more realistic is that it takes Rob multiple tries to catch himself from getting out of the habit and start re-appropriate those habits to build something more meaningful instead cutting from "they get back together" to "everything's fine now".
No one writes 'hopeless man-child' like Nick Hornby. John Cusack's character reminds me SO much of the Chris O'Dowd character in Juliet Naked. Everyone in this film really nails their part. Thanks for watching this. I haven't seen this since it came out. Great to see it again here.
The best Kevin Smith movie Kevin Smith never made. One of my favorite John Cusack (and Jack Black) movies of all time. Hulu did one season of a reboot starring Zoe Kravitz in the Rob role that was shockingly good and worth the watching.
This movie...u can't take sides or favor or dislike a character, take it for the dialogue that it is, and everyone in this movie, having their weird moments. Just great writing/directing, by Stephen Frears!
3:36 - It's more of an audio term, referring to how well some piece of hardware records and/or reproduces sound. It's usually contracted to Hi-Fi. It was common in the '70s throughout the '90s to refer to stereo tower systems (record/CD player-cassette deck-radio receiver-amp/ecualizer combo systems).
I saw this in 2000 while I was visiting Edinburgh (I'm from Australia). I came out of the cinema buzzing - the soundtrack and the movie itself blew me away. As I'm a bit older, I see the horrible person Rob was but as a younger man, I have to say I was a bit oblivious. This movie was the first time I'd heard Jack Black sing so the "Let's get it on" was astonishing. I immediately bought the soundtrack.
Iben Hjejle is a well known danish actor, but known in Denmark. I was quite surprised when I saw he in this movie, back in 2000. I love the dynamic in the record shop :-D
I just realized that there is a Nightmares on Wax "Carboot Soul" poster in the back of the story. I only discovered him 20 years later and I do find some irony in the fact that Nightmares On Wax is just the creative name for one man, who is a DJ who makes his living mixing vinyl.
I love your reactions! I spent sometime in film school in collage and I dig your commentary. This is one of my favorite films of all time in my top 5 for sure. I’d love to see you do Annie hall, I think you would really enjoy that picture.
I think for a lot of us the BOOM! at the end was we had only seen Jack Black as an actor up until this point. This is the first time we get him musically and this ending BLEW OUR MINDS. Then we all find Tenacious D and that's when you really see the musical side boom of Jack Black across the country. I mean I'm sure he had his fans before but this went national......JACK CAN SING!!!!
Back in the day I wasn't aware of Jack Black before seeing this. So when he blew the doors off at the concert it was a shock to the audience. Today, everyone knows about Tenacious D and School of Rock so it isn't quite the same shock. Loved this book and the movie does it justice.
Can confirm, exteriors for this movie were shot in Wicker Park, Chicago. (I lived a street over, and they had the street shut down and parking was a nightmare.) Also back in the day, a buddy had a standard bet: if you could read the first 20 pages of the book "High Fidelity" and not want to buy the whole thing, he'd buy it for you. No one ever collected. Book is that good.
I've always loved this film... Your reaction is, of course, awesome. Flms that you check out: "SINGLES" (Cameron Crowe film / music based) and "PLEASANTVILLE" (yes. I recommend it ALL THE TIME... lol... it's that good.)
Top five! This one, Reality Bites, and The Commitments all have a special place in my college years playlist. Oh, also With Honors! I still play all those soundtracks.
Natasha Gregson-Wagner, who plays Caroline (the Reader music column writer), is the daughter of Natalie Wood. My fan crush kicked up a notch when I found that out!
YES! PLEASE see Broadcast News. One of my all-time Top 5 favorite love stories, on a level with High Fidelity and When Harry Met Sally. The love story in Broadcast News satisfies but then doesn't quite get to full satisfaction. Clever, funny, sweet, sad, heart-breaking. And Jesus Christ - Albert Brooks at his best, and Jesus Fucking Christ - Holly Hunter at the pinnacle. There's a crying scene that truly delivers - remember in the front seat of the station wagon in Raising Arizona, right before they picked up the stray Huggies?
I had all but forgotten about this movie! Great movie to watch. I remember the first time I saw it was in Film Study class when I was attending the University of Missouri - Rolla (now Missouri School of Science and Technology) for Civil Engineering. I enjoyed it then, and I still enjoy it!
Hi Shannelle! Love your reactions and commentary! So glad you watched this one. It's one of my favorite films, but your thoughts on the character of Rob reminded me that I really hated him the first time I saw it. Then I read the book, which goes more in-depth into his perspective, of course, and I saw him in a different light. Over the years, as I watched the movie repeatedly, it became one of my favorites. But your reaction reminded me of my intiial feelings about it! So that was cool. :) I do think it's a rom-com, but from the perspective of a man, which I feel is pretty rare for rom-coms. I enjoy that, though - one reason why I really liked 500 Days of Summer, another rom-com but from the male perspective (which usually ends up being a little darker, for some reason. I just realized that deals with a break-up, too.) Anyway I'm babbling but I also wanted to say YES do watch Broadcast News! I think you'd really enjoy that one. Thanks again and take care!
The very first DVD I ever bought, back when i first got a PS2. A true classic. You're spot on with your analysis of Rob's character. He's an extremely charming but extremely flawed character, who learns like 30% of his lesson by the end. The first time I watched it, I was like you -- the last-minute flirtation with the music writer felt frustrating. The more times I've seen it though, the more I understand its place in the story. Rob's problem is magical thinking, believing that "true love" will fix everything forever. This doesn't change when he gets back together with Laura, or when he meets the writer. But that's real life, and it's exactly what Rob needs to confront. It's why the moment when he's making the tape for the writer and shouts "WHEN IS THIS GONNA STOP!?" is so important. It's the moment he realizes that no relationship will ever be perfect, and he might always feel that pull to flirt with the next "true love". And it's why he panic-proposes to Laura immediately after -- if he's married, it would be "easier" to convince himself that he "can't" flirt. But even that's not true, of course. In the final moments, he's finally, FINALLY beginning to realize what a challenge a committed relationship is. But in the end, he is trying to commit to Laura, despite not really knowing how. I love that the ending doesn't give us any real answers about where things will go next, but we get a sense of hope.
Great film, very underrated. I've worked in an independent shop like that, and it can get pretentious and elitist...so much fun. Cant believe its been 23 years.
5:34 - FYI, that song playing in the background is a cover Crimson And Clover by Tommy James And The Shondells done by Joan Jett And The Blackhearts. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LISTENNING!!😉
Off topic a little, but Showtime did a documentary about the Go-Gos, where I learned Joan of Arc (Bill and Ted's) was played by band member Jane Weidlin. I'm sure they mention Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in the doc.
I used to work in a store called Spillers Records, which is the oldest record store in the world. We were described as having "service with a sneer", this film looks like a documentary to me.
It's finally happening!!! I love this movie so much. I can't count the number of times I've seen it at this point. Can't wait to watch your reaction :)
Totally recommend the TV miniseries version with Zoë Kravitz as record store owner Rob. A terrific adaptation with recognizable plot points from this movie, which makes sense as Nick Hornby was reportedly even more involved.
Back in the early 90s I was managing a video store in New Haven Connecticut near Yale University and I met Sara Gilbert when she was a student at Yale.
the record store scenes are only too real. i was such a snot when i worked at one- at the same time this came out! ps YOU NEED TO SEE BROADCAST NEWS. its essential. love you shanelle keep rocking it. yr truly one of the greats!
Iben was getting famous in Denamrk both from teather and a few movies. (Mifune got some recognition outside denmark) It was a pretty big deal that she got this part. I think she could have made it big in the US, but I think I read that she didn't want to be away from home all the time. Edit: Sorry but LOL around 35:10 you saying "Lisa Bonet looks like her daughter." Funny when our brains mix up stuff. 🤣
It is a musical term: "the reproduction of an effect (such as sound or an image) that is very faithful to the original." My favorite usage is in Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" (which you saw used in Pulp Fiction): "They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast!" Also, you gotta cut Ian some slack. He had a lot of PTSD stuff to sort through after his time at Shawshank.
Hey Shanelle, Great reaction! A few random thoughts... Musically speaking, High fidelity is often abbreviated as the more common term *Hi-Fi*. As bombastic as Jack Black is, I think Todd Louiso as Dick stole every scene he was in. I love The Pretenders t-shirt Catherine Zeta-Jones wore in the flashback scene; I bought the same shirt when I saw them at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 and my wife adopted it as her own 3 years later. The movie poster is an homage to The Beatles' album cover for 1964's A Hard Days Night. In addition to High Fidelity, Stephen Frears directed 3 more of my other favorite late 20th century films... Dangerous Liaisons, The Grifters and Mary Reilly. I'm so glad you've enjoyed this and hope you'll consider the other three I mentioned. Cheers!
"Would you guys do this if you had the opportunity?" Yes, I partially have. Facebook really helped with that. But sometimes when you get together with someone just to reminisce about the past, they think you're making a pass and then that's hard to politely bow out from.
I took a date to see this right when it was released at the very end of '99. Interestingly, that relationship broke up a year later, haha! Great movie, at any rate, with an auspicious introduction to Jack Black, and I definitely relate to Cusack's ageing hipster character much more now than I did then!
I went on a run of making a ton of concept playlists with story in mind, and this movie is part of what inspired me to do it. I'm surprised you haven't seen this. Couldve sworn you did already. Perfect for you!
A fun note: Zoe Kravitz played Rob in the Hulu series remake of High Fidelity, which was excellent and unduly canceled after one season... Definitely check it out.
It’s hard to believe this has been around this long. This & Almost Famous are two of my favorite movies.
Same year, too.
Yeah, we’re old
I got an Almost Famous vibe from this as well!
Dude, me too. I love those two movies so damn much
Rob is a frustrating and relatable character because we get his inner monologue. Just imagine what any other character's inner thoughts would be in this movie - would their honest opinions about everything be any less obnoxious? The fact that Rob is a jerk in his own head is why he's so relatable.
One of John Cusak's best films. Along with Grosse Point Blank.
Let's not forget Say Anything and Being John Malkovich. 😉
Shanelle has a reaction to that wonderful film, if you haven't checked it out.
Better Off Dead was always one of my favorites of his.
and both have seriously killer soundtracks
@@cluster_f1575 Dude, yes! Mine too!
I deeply love this movie, but it was in many ways made for me.
I was a record store rat for a long time and an obsessive list maker. I read the book well before the movie deal was announced. I lived in Chicago in the mid '90s, so this movie looks exactly like my twenties.
Rob is absolutely an unreliable narrator to some degree, but he is also painfully honest and some of the best moments are when we see that he is badly misunderstanding what's happening or what lesson he should be taking from a situation. I think most people have had a relationship or two that just broke them for a while. It can make you the worst version of yourself and that's intensely relatable. I know I have acted in ways that were and are really embarrassing because in that time I was simply incapable of stepping outside myself. The loss of personal grace is both tragic and VERY comic, but hopefully it teaches you how to be a better version of yourself, even if it's not a version you or other people had imagined.
Thanks so much for covering this movie. More people should see it.
It’s a love letter to the city, too. So many great shots in and around Chicago.
*if you really wanted to mess me up you should’ve got to me earlier*
For me... this really marks a turning point in Jack Black's movie career. He had mostly had bit parts... and some ok larger parts before... but High Fidelity really show cased what he could do.
At the time, it was a surprise that he could really sing like that. Today, it’s a whole different thing; there isn’t the same tension as you’re waiting for him to perform, because you know he’ll really nail it.
Fun fact: when Laura is reading the “Top 5 Dream Jobs” list back to Rob, #5 work for “Rolling Stone” magazine is a nod to Cameron Crowe. Crowe worked for them as a writer and directed Cusack in “Say Anything…”.
And Cameron Crowe also made _Almost Famous_ which was a thinly disguised account of that exact experience when he started writing for _Rolling Stone Magazine_ aged just fifteen years old.
Saw it in the theater back in 2000. For a long time after, it was number one in my list of "Top Five Movies." Really captures something insightful and true about the male psyche, I think. And Jack Black was a relative unknown at the time, as I recall. This was the film, I think, that turned him from a guy with a cult following (through Mr. Show and Tenacious D) to a mainstream cinematic/comedic leading man.
Definitely a turning point for Jack. I think his biggest role prior to this was The Cable Guy (1996). His next 3 roles after this were Saving Silverman, Shallow Hal and Orange County.
"A young Bruce Springsteen." He was 51 in 2000. I'm happy I can consider myself young a bit longer.
Haha - this was the first time I'd ever seen Jack Black in a movie! I kept thinking he was amazing in all of his scenes...and then when he sang 'Let's Get It On' at the end...I was as amazed as John Cusack! (And I just realized...Jack Black and Joan Cusack reunited in 'School of Rock' years later.)
I LOVE that Lili Taylor was in this. She was Cusack's best friend in Say Anything, and them being in this film together was just nice.
I think she also played Janis Joplin in a movie? My sister watched Mystic Pizza with her endlessly. She's a great actress.
I was 26 when this movie was released. I was born and raised in Chicago. My stomping ground were a lot of the areas this movie was filmed in. When he leaves Marie's apartment. That door on the corner was to a bar called Lava Lounge. My tattoo shop Tomato Tattoo was down the street.
I am not ashamed: I still have this movie on VHS and is one of the reasons why I still keep my ole’ DVD/VHS player around. Something about this movie on tape that “does it.” And having made tapes the way that he compiles songs on cassetes to give away was VERY MUCH a thing to us GenX’rs (to friends, to friends ya wanted to date…). The art of putting together a kick ass tape, Side A to B, was a real knack!! Anyhow, will forever be in adoration of Jack Black in this movie; the exquisite casting; the badass screenplay/razor sharp banter that made these characters feel so damned authentic… and then there’s FREARS & the MUUUUUSIC… High Fidelity remains securely in my all-time Top 5 flicks.🤘🎬🎧
PS-Something about the magic of having multiple Cusack’s in a feature film (Sixteen Candles, Grosse Pointe Blank. War Inc. - amongst others)… I’m forever there for that badass onscreen chemistry they bring. Very unique to those siblings-Joan, Ann, John…
I’ve always loved this movie. Rob is frustrating but relatable for a lot of guys and the screenplay is just so well done. Especially love the central part that music plays in the lives of the characters. I suspect that music is also what drove up the production budget; music rights are always expensive. Great reaction, as always.
Yes, High Fidelity is a musical term (or rather, a term used for musical reproduction) - kind of like "High Definition" when referring to picture quality, 'High Fidelity' refers to good sound quality in a music system. "Hi-Fi" for short.
The one sided conversation about Echo and the Bunnymen, followed by Jesus and Mary Chain... complete brilliance!
I've seen this movie so many times but only this time it occurred to me that Jack Black's character responding to Laura's Dad's death with "Oh drag" could be a reference to former Beatle Paul McCartney, who answered in a similar way ("Yeah, it's a drag isn't it?") when questioned by a TV reporter what his reaction was to his former band mate John Lennon being shot dead in 1980. He copped lots and lots of anger from Beatles fans who took his response as a sign of indifference, when in fact McCartney was massively in shock and didn't really realize what he was saying.
Interesting fact, Lily Taylor, who plays Sarah- one of Cusack's ex's, studied acting at the famed Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, Illinois, with John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Ann Cusack, Aidan Quinn, Jeremy Piven, and Lara Flynn Boyle. They appeared in Say Anything together in addition to this movie. John put Jeremy Piven in a lot of his movies too, including Grosse Point Blank, One Crazy Summer, Say Anything, Runaway Jury, Serendipity, and The Grifters. It's interesting to see actors who grew up together working with each other.
Hands down my FAVORITE Jack Black film!!!
Yeah..like others have said, this is definitely one of those films that I'll always find relatable. Relationship issues and learning to grow up, finding ways through music for expression etc.
Jack Black was essentially unknown. It was a huge surprise for most of the audience how awesome of a singer he is. There are some cut scenes you should look up that develop the characters much further.
It's great how almost every record featured in the film has something significant to the writers. It's like a love story to vinyl records.
Fidelity refers to how true to life the recording is.
I love that you call Y2000 Springsteen a young Springsteen considering he was in his 50s and his career was nearly 30 years old. I can't decide if it makes me feel old or young...
Fun fact - the original Novel was based in London but the director moved the setting to Chicago which he was more familiar with. London is the perfect setting for a hipster record shop IMHO
Love John Cusack. This is one of my favorites of his.
Saw it when it came out. Really fond of it especially because I was a huge making the perfect compilation tape for the person intended. It bears some similarity to the 1998 film CELEBRITY which I also liked although it's somewhat zanier, (HF is a bit more intimate) , but has that continuously failing relationships theme and a search for meaning. HF feels less of a rom/com and more of that old literary term of the confessional novel. Great reaction with excellent chatter.
I have so many memories of this movie. This came out in 2000...the same year that I moved to Chicago. It was filmed in a hipster neighborhood called Wicker Park...the neighborhood that I moved to. I knew some guys that were extras in the movie. The record store was across the street from a Burger King behind the park, and just down the block was a famous club called Double Door - this is where the concerts were filmed. A few years later, I was at the Diversey Rock'n'Bowl, and the bowling lane next to me was...John Cusack and Billy Bob Thorton! John was a bit standoffish, but Billy Bob was very friendly. My main memory of John Cusack is that I didn't realize how tall he is. He's got to be at least 6'2" or taller. I was out with my brother that night for his birthday, and Billy Bob came over to wish him a happy birthday. 😎
Totally forgot about this movie!! One of my favorite John Cusack movies of all time. This really makes me proud to be a musician and music fan
Believe it or not, High Fidelity was a Broadway musical for a blink of an eye, and it was GREAT! Search UA-cam for the musical - the songs do not disappoint!
I just realized I love this movie because of how it feels like a John Hughes film.
Saw this in the cinema. Now I'm Australian so was unaware of Tenacious D until their debut album was released after this movie. So I shared Rob's and Dick's fear about Jack Black in a band and share their shock and delight that Jack actually was a great musician.
You cannot understand how my friends and I felt when we saw this the opening weekend in 2,000. First of all, huge John Cusack fan. Second of all, for the first time in a very long time, we were seeing a complicated relationship movie from the guys perspective. Every show on "The Lifetime Channel" and a dozen others, plus 99% all relationship movies were all heavily titled towards the woman's point of view. So for us as we left the theater... we are all saying... "FINALLY Hollywood... you're actually paying attention to a guys perspective!" Such a brilliant movie. And for the first time in my life, and most everyone else, we finally realized what a dynamic singer Jack Black is! Supporting cast was awesome. This not only had the vibe of a record store, but also a similar vibe of a comic book store. Mostly guys, dealing with their girlfriends, while still trying to be macho with their buddies. That fantasy scene where Rob was beating the crap out of Tim Robbins character, while getting the support from his friends... was so funny. Rob fantasized about kicking the crap out of Ian, but deep inside he knew that he was in the wrong. In essence it is about how the fantasy an immature guy builds in his head crashes into reality, and learning how to accept and love that reality.
I always forget about Iben Hjejle and then High Fidelity comes on again and it’s like ‘oh yeah, i forgot i have a bit of a crush on you’ 😂
Back in the day, we played records & the radio on the HiFi (short for 'high fidelity, related to WiFi, short for 'wireless fidelity'). 😌
Iben Hjejle was nearly cast as Éowyn in LOTR, but turned it down due to the time commitment to filming in New Zealand, BTW.
One of my favorite movies, and it reminds me so much of when I worked at a video store in the late 90s.
Note: there are two Fever Pitches, the first is a British production starring Colin Firth, involving soccer, and the second is a U.S. production starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, involving baseball. They're both very good, but very different.
This movie had 20th anniversary a few years ago and John Cusack hosted a movie watch along and Q&A in Chicago. I attended and he was so funny and endearing and you could tell how much he loved making that movie. He had so many awesome things to say about Jack Black and knew he would become a star.
When Jack Black kicks into "Let's Get It On" near the end, I always get full body tingles.
Saw this in a theater on a whim, while on a bike ride in the early afternoon with a good fellow male friend. Didn't know much about it, except music, Jack Black, John Cusack - all great things. We sat next to each other towards the front of the small theater with maybe a dozen+ other people in attendance. As the end came it dawned on us it was a date night movie, and we humorously wondered if people behind us thought we were a couple. Such a great movie!
Loved this movie when it came out, mainly because of the Gen X music and references, great reaction video! I forgot to ask on the live stream, but could you give us a peek at your notes when you're doing your recap/imdb/wrapup segment? I think it would be cool to see the comments and notes that you jotted down while you were watching/recording. The imdb/trivia/budget part of your videos is what sets your reviews apart, IMO!
Clicked on this so fast.. Such good memories of my early 30s with this film, watching with my girlfriend, stay in night with some wine etc. So many good lines... Dick being concerned with the albums being stacked because of the pressure... and "Immediate disqualification because of it's involvement with The Big Chill" 😅
Nick Hornby is such a good read! I recommend any fans of the film read the book "High Fidelty". Also, after watching "Brooklyn" with Sairoise Ronan, I was happy to recognize his name as writer and director. It's another great film.
@Shanelle! Hey BFF! Yay! I’ve been requesting this along with three or four other movies for ages! Can’t wait to see the reaction! This is one of my favorite movies in the soundtrack, as well as the novel are as good as the movie! Probably one of the most faithful adaptations of a novel, probably because of the authors involvement with it.
This movie is definitely one of my favorite films.
It’s a good film to watch if and when you’ve just been dumped, or been through a recent breakup.
Great soundtrack, cast and story.
It is very realistic in the sense of the existential dilemma of the modern man trying to battle with his wants vs his needs in human relationships.
A lot of us struggle with the “fantasy” tempting us and trying to tell us that we can have better than what is right there in front of us.
This movie introduced me to some great music, like the Beta Band, The closing Stevie Wonder song “I Believe When I Fall In Love…”
Definitely a good soundtrack to add to your collection.
I wish they did, but they just don’t make movies like this anymore.
One of the things that feels more realistic is that it takes Rob multiple tries to catch himself from getting out of the habit and start re-appropriate those habits to build something more meaningful instead cutting from "they get back together" to "everything's fine now".
No one writes 'hopeless man-child' like Nick Hornby. John Cusack's character reminds me SO much of the Chris O'Dowd character in Juliet Naked. Everyone in this film really nails their part. Thanks for watching this. I haven't seen this since it came out. Great to see it again here.
The best Kevin Smith movie Kevin Smith never made. One of my favorite John Cusack (and Jack Black) movies of all time. Hulu did one season of a reboot starring Zoe Kravitz in the Rob role that was shockingly good and worth the watching.
funny they cast Kravitz in the series based on a movie her Mother starred in
This movie...u can't take sides or favor or dislike a character, take it for the dialogue that it is, and everyone in this movie, having their weird moments. Just great writing/directing, by Stephen Frears!
3:36 - It's more of an audio term, referring to how well some piece of hardware records and/or reproduces sound. It's usually contracted to Hi-Fi. It was common in the '70s throughout the '90s to refer to stereo tower systems (record/CD player-cassette deck-radio receiver-amp/ecualizer combo systems).
I saw this in 2000 while I was visiting Edinburgh (I'm from Australia). I came out of the cinema buzzing - the soundtrack and the movie itself blew me away. As I'm a bit older, I see the horrible person Rob was but as a younger man, I have to say I was a bit oblivious. This movie was the first time I'd heard Jack Black sing so the "Let's get it on" was astonishing. I immediately bought the soundtrack.
Bought dvd when it became available and everyone whoever watched it with me agreed, Jack Black steals the show.
Iben Hjejle is a well known danish actor, but known in Denmark. I was quite surprised when I saw he in this movie, back in 2000. I love the dynamic in the record shop :-D
I just realized that there is a Nightmares on Wax "Carboot Soul" poster in the back of the story. I only discovered him 20 years later and I do find some irony in the fact that Nightmares On Wax is just the creative name for one man, who is a DJ who makes his living mixing vinyl.
I love your reactions! I spent sometime in film school in collage and I dig your commentary. This is one of my favorite films of all time in my top 5 for sure. I’d love to see you do Annie hall, I think you would really enjoy that picture.
I think for a lot of us the BOOM! at the end was we had only seen Jack Black as an actor up until this point. This is the first time we get him musically and this ending BLEW OUR MINDS. Then we all find Tenacious D and that's when you really see the musical side boom of Jack Black across the country. I mean I'm sure he had his fans before but this went national......JACK CAN SING!!!!
Back in the day I wasn't aware of Jack Black before seeing this. So when he blew the doors off at the concert it was a shock to the audience. Today, everyone knows about Tenacious D and School of Rock so it isn't quite the same shock. Loved this book and the movie does it justice.
Can confirm, exteriors for this movie were shot in Wicker Park, Chicago. (I lived a street over, and they had the street shut down and parking was a nightmare.)
Also back in the day, a buddy had a standard bet: if you could read the first 20 pages of the book "High Fidelity" and not want to buy the whole thing, he'd buy it for you. No one ever collected. Book is that good.
Definitely watch Broadcast News. You'll like it .
As always, great reaction Shan. You're so much fun to watch.
I've always loved this film... Your reaction is, of course, awesome.
Flms that you check out: "SINGLES" (Cameron Crowe film / music based) and "PLEASANTVILLE" (yes. I recommend it ALL THE TIME... lol... it's that good.)
Top five! This one, Reality Bites, and The Commitments all have a special place in my college years playlist. Oh, also With Honors! I still play all those soundtracks.
The Commitments is such fun. I hope Shanelle will watch it.
Natasha Gregson-Wagner, who plays Caroline (the Reader music column writer), is the daughter of Natalie Wood. My fan crush kicked up a notch when I found that out!
YES! PLEASE see Broadcast News. One of my all-time Top 5 favorite love stories, on a level with High Fidelity and When Harry Met Sally. The love story in Broadcast News satisfies but then doesn't quite get to full satisfaction. Clever, funny, sweet, sad, heart-breaking.
And Jesus Christ - Albert Brooks at his best, and Jesus Fucking Christ - Holly Hunter at the pinnacle. There's a crying scene that truly delivers - remember in the front seat of the station wagon in Raising Arizona, right before they picked up the stray Huggies?
I always described this movie as Sex in the City for music snobs. So right up my 17 year old (in 2000) self's alley.
I had all but forgotten about this movie! Great movie to watch. I remember the first time I saw it was in Film Study class when I was attending the University of Missouri - Rolla (now Missouri School of Science and Technology) for Civil Engineering. I enjoyed it then, and I still enjoy it!
My college roommate and I were obsessed with this movie.
So many great lines.
First time I saw Jack Black.
John Cusack graduated from Evanston High School in 1984.
Lili Taylor graduated from rival New Trier High School in 1985.
Hi Shannelle! Love your reactions and commentary! So glad you watched this one. It's one of my favorite films, but your thoughts on the character of Rob reminded me that I really hated him the first time I saw it. Then I read the book, which goes more in-depth into his perspective, of course, and I saw him in a different light. Over the years, as I watched the movie repeatedly, it became one of my favorites. But your reaction reminded me of my intiial feelings about it! So that was cool. :) I do think it's a rom-com, but from the perspective of a man, which I feel is pretty rare for rom-coms. I enjoy that, though - one reason why I really liked 500 Days of Summer, another rom-com but from the male perspective (which usually ends up being a little darker, for some reason. I just realized that deals with a break-up, too.) Anyway I'm babbling but I also wanted to say YES do watch Broadcast News! I think you'd really enjoy that one. Thanks again and take care!
The very first DVD I ever bought, back when i first got a PS2. A true classic.
You're spot on with your analysis of Rob's character. He's an extremely charming but extremely flawed character, who learns like 30% of his lesson by the end. The first time I watched it, I was like you -- the last-minute flirtation with the music writer felt frustrating. The more times I've seen it though, the more I understand its place in the story. Rob's problem is magical thinking, believing that "true love" will fix everything forever. This doesn't change when he gets back together with Laura, or when he meets the writer. But that's real life, and it's exactly what Rob needs to confront. It's why the moment when he's making the tape for the writer and shouts "WHEN IS THIS GONNA STOP!?" is so important. It's the moment he realizes that no relationship will ever be perfect, and he might always feel that pull to flirt with the next "true love". And it's why he panic-proposes to Laura immediately after -- if he's married, it would be "easier" to convince himself that he "can't" flirt. But even that's not true, of course. In the final moments, he's finally, FINALLY beginning to realize what a challenge a committed relationship is. But in the end, he is trying to commit to Laura, despite not really knowing how. I love that the ending doesn't give us any real answers about where things will go next, but we get a sense of hope.
When someone asks me a list of my all-time favorite movies this one is always in it. I even have my DVD signed by John Cusack himself.
This is one of my “top five” favorites. The soundtrack is amazing and he finally figures it out.
Great film, very underrated.
I've worked in an independent shop like that, and it can get pretentious and elitist...so much fun.
Cant believe its been 23 years.
5:34 - FYI, that song playing in the background is a cover Crimson And Clover by Tommy James And The Shondells done by Joan Jett And The Blackhearts. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LISTENNING!!😉
Off topic a little, but Showtime did a documentary about the Go-Gos, where I learned Joan of Arc (Bill and Ted's) was played by band member Jane Weidlin. I'm sure they mention Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in the doc.
@@Psilocybin77 Woah! Mondo-kewl bit of trivia there dude! 😃
I used to work in a store called Spillers Records, which is the oldest record store in the world. We were described as having "service with a sneer", this film looks like a documentary to me.
It's finally happening!!! I love this movie so much. I can't count the number of times I've seen it at this point. Can't wait to watch your reaction :)
Love that this film features so many great locations in Chicago.
I was lucky someone dragged me to see this, because I wouldn't have bothered from the synopsis. Such deep and honest feelings.
Totally recommend the TV miniseries version with Zoë Kravitz as record store owner Rob. A terrific adaptation with recognizable plot points from this movie, which makes sense as Nick Hornby was reportedly even more involved.
Back in the early 90s I was managing a video store in New Haven Connecticut near Yale University and I met Sara Gilbert when she was a student at Yale.
John Cusack and Joanne are among my favorites. And yes, Jack Black is a force. I loved him in "The Holiday"
“This is act one behavior”. That’s what I like about you and your channel. I don’t think anyone else would say that.
He was regressing and I was MAD! haha but ultimately I got what I wanted 😂
Can't wait for this reaction.
the record store scenes are only too real. i was such a snot when i worked at one- at the same time this came out! ps YOU NEED TO SEE BROADCAST NEWS. its essential. love you shanelle keep rocking it. yr truly one of the greats!
Love the reaction! This is one of my favorites!
“If you really wanted to mess me up, you should’ve got to me earlier!”
Finally a movie i have not seen or even heard of. Usually i am the first one saying how is it possible of a reaction commentator that they had never.
Iben was getting famous in Denamrk both from teather and a few movies. (Mifune got some recognition outside denmark) It was a pretty big deal that she got this part. I think she could have made it big in the US, but I think I read that she didn't want to be away from home all the time.
Edit: Sorry but LOL around 35:10 you saying "Lisa Bonet looks like her daughter." Funny when our brains mix up stuff. 🤣
It is a musical term: "the reproduction of an effect (such as sound or an image) that is very faithful to the original." My favorite usage is in Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" (which you saw used in Pulp Fiction): "They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast!" Also, you gotta cut Ian some slack. He had a lot of PTSD stuff to sort through after his time at Shawshank.
Hey Shanelle,
Great reaction!
A few random thoughts...
Musically speaking, High fidelity is often abbreviated as the more common term *Hi-Fi*.
As bombastic as Jack Black is, I think Todd Louiso as Dick stole every scene he was in.
I love The Pretenders t-shirt Catherine Zeta-Jones wore in the flashback scene; I bought the same shirt when I saw them at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 and my wife adopted it as her own 3 years later.
The movie poster is an homage to The Beatles' album cover for 1964's A Hard Days Night.
In addition to High Fidelity, Stephen Frears directed 3 more of my other favorite late 20th century films... Dangerous Liaisons, The Grifters and Mary Reilly.
I'm so glad you've enjoyed this and hope you'll consider the other three I mentioned.
Cheers!
Fastest I have ever clicked on reaction. One of my fave movies of all time.
1 Dee German 2.Ex Wife 3. Linda Santiago 4. Sonya Brown Jennifer Young. 5.dawn...whew I needed that
I lived right behind the Lounge Ax and across from the Biograph Theater when they filmed this, cool to see you react!
Great writing, great director, great acting
"Would you guys do this if you had the opportunity?" Yes, I partially have. Facebook really helped with that. But sometimes when you get together with someone just to reminisce about the past, they think you're making a pass and then that's hard to politely bow out from.
I took a date to see this right when it was released at the very end of '99. Interestingly, that relationship broke up a year later, haha! Great movie, at any rate, with an auspicious introduction to Jack Black, and I definitely relate to Cusack's ageing hipster character much more now than I did then!
I went on a run of making a ton of concept playlists with story in mind, and this movie is part of what inspired me to do it.
I'm surprised you haven't seen this. Couldve sworn you did already. Perfect for you!
I think this is my second favorite Jack Black performance, right after Bernie. He steals every scene he is in.
I once made stickers for a friend of mine who randomly applied them in the record store that he owned. One sticker read, "Oh, is she in a coma?"
The original Fever Pitch movie was about football in England starring Colin Firth, it was adapted to the Boston Red Sox for the US version.
A fun note: Zoe Kravitz played Rob in the Hulu series remake of High Fidelity, which was excellent and unduly canceled after one season... Definitely check it out.
This is one of my all-time top ten favorite films.