High Fidelity (2000)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers (WGA):

Nick Hornby (book)
D.V. DeVincentis (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

31 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

A comedy about fear of commitment, hating your job, falling in love and other pop favorites.

Plot:

Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress.

Plot Keywords:

Store | Record Store | Pop Music | Song | Record Shop

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	Rob Gordon
Iben Hjejle	...	Laura
Todd Louiso	...	Dick
Jack Black	...	Barry
Lisa Bonet	...	Marie De Salle
Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Charlie Nicholson
Joan Cusack	...	Liz
Tim Robbins	...	Ian 'Ray' Raymond
Chris Rehmann	...	Vince
Ben Carr	...	Justin
Lili Taylor	...	Sarah Kendrew
Joelle Carter	...	Penny Hardwick
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Caroline Fortis
Shannon Stillo	...	Alison Jr. High
Drake Bell	...	Rob Jr. High
Laura Whyte	...	Laura's Mom
Sara Gilbert	...	Anaugh
Rich Talarico	...	Barry's Customer
Matthew O'Neill	...	Beta Band Customer
Brian Powell	...	Middle Aged Customer
Margaret Travolta	...	Rob's Mom
Jill Peterson	...	Laura's Sister Jo
Dick Cusack	...	Minister
Susan Yoo	...	Girl - 19 Year Old
Chris Bauer	...	Paul
K.K. Dodds	...	Miranda
Marilyn Dodds Frank	...	Alison's Mom
Duke Doyle	...	Kevin Bannister
Aaron Himelstein	...	Boy in Park
Jonathan Herrington	...	Chris Thompson
Daniel Lee Smith	...	Rock Guy
Leah Gale	...	Mourner
David Darlow	...	Mourner
Erik Gundersen	...	Marco
Bruce Springsteen	...	Himself
Alex Désert	...	Louis (as Alex Desert)
Alan S. Johnson	...	Man in Store
Ian Belknap	...	Party Guest
Andrew Micheli	...	Party Guest
Polly Noonan	...	Party Guest
Philip Rayburn Smith	...	Party Guest
Michele Graff	...	Party Guest
Susie Cusack	...	Party Guest
Liam Hayes	...	Piano Player
Damian Rogers	...	Greenday Girl
Robert A. Villanueva	...	Skateboarder
Joe Spaulding	...	Flea Market Musician
Scott A. Martin	...	Bartender
Heather Norris	...	Laura's Friend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harold Ramis	...	Rob's Dad (scenes deleted)
James Azrael	...	Glam Rocker (uncredited)
Julie DiJohn	...	Rock Club Patron (uncredited)
Jennifré DuMont	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Mark Finney	...	Record Store Customer (uncredited)
Reese Foster	...	Cafe' Patron (uncredited)
Lisa Harrison	...	Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Susan Hegarty	...	Voice of Laura's Mom (uncredited)
Penny Marshall	...	Funeral Attendee - In Front of Rob (uncredited)
Ian Michaels	...	Guy in Chem Lab (uncredited)
Tristan Layne Tapscott	...	Guy on the Street (uncredited)
Timothy W. Tiedje	...	Operator (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Frears

Writing credits (WGA)
Nick Hornby		(book)
D.V. DeVincentis		(screenplay) &
Steve Pink		(screenplay) &
John Cusack		(screenplay) and
Scott Rosenberg		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	producer
Liza Chasin	....	executive producer
John Cusack	....	co-producer
D.V. DeVincentis	....	co-producer
Alan Greenspan	....	executive producer
Mike Newell	....	executive producer
Steve Pink	....	co-producer
Rudd Simmons	....	producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Seamus McGarvey

Film Editing by
Mick Audsley

Casting by
Victoria Thomas

Production Design by
David Chapman
Thérèse DePrez		(as Therese Deprez)

Art Direction by
Nicholas Lundy

Set Decoration by
Larry Lundy

Costume Design by
Laura Bauer		(as Laura Cunningham Bauer)

Makeup Department
Laura Connolly	....	key hair stylist
Naomi Donne	....	hair stylist: Ms. HIije
Naomi Donne	....	makeup artist: Ms. HIije
Suzy Mazzarese-Allison	....	hair stylist
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup artist
Vicki Vacca	....	makeup artist
Jeanne Van Phue	....	key makeup artist
Denise Wynbrandt	....	key makeup artist
Connie Kallos	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tania Blunden	....	post-production supervisor (as Tania Windsor Blunden)
Billy Higgins	....	unit production manager
Michelle Wright	....	executive in charge of production: Working Title Films

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anne Berger	....	second second assistant director
Aiman A. Humaideh	....	assistant director (as Aiman Humaideh)
Jeffrey Wetzel	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Terry Baughman	....	construction coordinator
Phillip Ellman	....	on-set dresser
Joanna S. Frank	....	art department assistant (as Joanna Mickey)
Tom Gagnon	....	swing gang
Michael D. Gianneschi	....	assistant property master
Ron Kane	....	construction foreman
Derrick Kardos	....	art department coordinator
Derrick Kardos	....	graphic designer
Blake E. Matthys	....	swing gang
Cyril H. Matthys	....	swing gang (as Cyril A. Matthys)
Joel Prihoda	....	lead man
Jon Schluenz	....	art department assistant
Glenn Stevens	....	carpenter
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	property master
Robert Gau	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Peter G. Neil	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Howard Bargroff	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Tim Boot	....	live record engineer
Mark DeSimone	....	adr engineer
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator
Diane Greaves	....	foley artist
Petur Hliddal	....	production sound mixer
Alex Hudd	....	sound consultant: dolby
Terry Isted	....	foley mixer
Peter Joly	....	supervising sound editor
Danny Longhurst	....	dialogue editor
Claire Mahoney	....	foley artist
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Michael Redfern	....	foley editor
Adrian Rhodes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Rose	....	assistant sound editor
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
Ted Swanscott	....	foley mixer
Jeffrey A. Williams	....	utility sound
Kevin Boyd	....	additional utility sound (uncredited)
Steve Hancock	....	sound studio technician (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sam Barkan	....	special effects coordinator
Ray Conchado	....	special effects
Don Riozz McNichols	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Steve MacPherson	....	technical operations manager: Double Negative (uncredited)

Stunts
Thomas Coe	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Chris Nolte	....	stunt double: John Cusack

Camera and Electrical Department
Art Bartels	....	key grip
Kevin Boyd	....	24 frame video operator
Fernando M. Briones	....	dolly grip
Travis Busenbark	....	electrician
Chad Erickson	....	camera intern
Daniel W. Fuller	....	second assistant camera
David Horenz	....	first assistant camera
Timothy Jipping	....	grip
Tom Kerwick	....	key grip
Michael Lange	....	best boy grip
Michelle Mann	....	assistant camera
Darryl Miller	....	grip
Elizabeth Miller	....	camera loader (as Elizabeth Smith)
James A. Miller	....	gaffer
David Morenz	....	first assistant camera
Melissa Moseley	....	still photographer
William R. Nielsen Jr.	....	camera operator (as Billy Nielson Jr.)
Richard Sobin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Robert Swander	....	best boy electric
Dan Urbain	....	crane technician

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Kim Coleman	....	casting associate
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting
Vicki Jo Hertz	....	atmosphere casting assistant
Joan Philo	....	atmosphere casting
Claire Simon	....	casting: Chicago
Wendy Weidman	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Jobst	....	assistant costume supervisor
Margaret Morettini	....	assistant costume designer
Gina Panno	....	costumer
Heather Pollock	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Mags Arnold	....	first assistant editor
Songi Clarke	....	editor trainee
Penny Lee Hallin	....	assistant editor
Steve Harrow	....	post-production consultant
Kate Higham	....	first assistant editor
Gerald Morris	....	editor trainee
Dan Schalk	....	non-linear assistant editor
John Stanborough	....	color timer
Jennifer Stellema	....	apprentice editor
Victoria Stevens	....	second assistant editor: UK
David Block	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Tim Boot	....	music playback operator
John Cusack	....	music supervisor
Doug Dearth	....	music coordinator
D.V. DeVincentis	....	music supervisor
Robert Fernandez	....	music engineer
Michael Higham	....	supervising music editor
Gareth Jones	....	score engineer
Joe Lisanti	....	music editor
Joseph Magee	....	supervising production music engineer
Joseph Magee	....	supervising production music mixer
John Miller	....	score engineer
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Rick Norman	....	music engineer
Rick Norman	....	production music mixer
Steve Pink	....	music supervisor
Ed Rak	....	score engineer
Shari Schwartz	....	music editor
Howard Shore	....	conductor
Howard Shore	....	music arranger

Transportation Department
William T. Hogan III	....	transportation coordinator
A. Welch Lambeth	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Joan Altman	....	production accountant
Jennifer L. Bardin	....	assistant location manager
Brian Bartolini	....	production assistant
Tom Beaver	....	stand-in
Jamie Bolger	....	production assistant
Kenneth W. Bradley	....	production assistant
Anita Brongiel	....	production secretary
Robert F. Byrnes	....	medic
Michael D. Cronin	....	medic
Anne Devereux	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Demetra Diamantopoulos	....	location manager
Juliette Dow	....	assistant: Mr. Bevan
Rebecca Edelson	....	script clearance administrator
Josh Eggebeen	....	set production assistant: Chicago
John Ensby	....	laboratory contact
Deborah Evans	....	payroll accountant
Joanna S. Frank	....	production assistant (as Joanna Mickey)
Jane Frazer	....	executive: Working Title Films
Will Gatlin	....	craft service
Thomas J. Glynn	....	craft service assistant
Veloz Gomez	....	production assistant
Adam Graham	....	location assistant
Tarn Harper	....	post-production accountant
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach
Eric H. Heisner	....	production assistant (as Eric Heisner)
Anne Johns	....	production coordinator
Dena Johnson	....	title producer
Chiemi Karasawa	....	script supervisor
Nina Khoshaba	....	coordinator: Working Title
Dan Koretzky	....	production consultant
Grace Loh	....	coordinator: New Crime Productions
David Malley	....	production assistant
Scott A. Martin	....	stand-in: John Cusack
Richard Morrison	....	title designer
Patricia Newley	....	medic
Margaret J. Orlando	....	assistant production coordinator
Dawn Patch	....	production assistant
Ed Portoghese	....	production assistant
Edward J. Reardon	....	medic
Adam Rosen	....	production assistant
Jon Schluenz	....	production assistant
Louise Spencer	....	unit publicist
Jeff Sternberg	....	production assistant
Adrienne Swan	....	second assistant accountant
Paul Swann	....	laboratory contact
Emma Thomas	....	assistant: Mr. Frears
Connie Wang	....	assistant script clearance administrator
Dean Wares	....	title typography
Andy Wheeler	....	first assistant accountant
John David Wolfe	....	location assistant
Jenny Fumarolo	....	production assistant: additional (uncredited)
Andrew Novak	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dogstar Films
• New Crime Productions
• Touchstone Pictures
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• BVI / Kinekor Pictures (2000) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (2000) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Spain (2000) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (Italy) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)

Special Effects

• Double Negative (digital video effects)

Other Companies

• BridgeStreet Worldwide  production housing
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chicago Audio Works  sound transfer
• Chicago Studio City  lighting and grip
• Chicago Studio City  production offices
• Chicago Studio City  production services
• Chicago Studio MovieMakers  cast trailers
• Clinton Recording Studios  score recorded at
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound re-recording
• Electric Audio Studio  music recorded at
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Fig Productions  title sequence
• Hanna Brothers Catering  catering
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack published by
• London Editing Machines Ltd.  editing equipment
• Lyps Inc.  adr voice casting
• Magic Camera Company, The  film opticals
• Moving Picture Company (MPC)  title sequence: digital effects
• Sargent Disc  payroll
• Steeple Post Production Services  post-production
• Sylvia Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting
• Telefilm Video Services  telecine transfers

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Danish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut version) | USA:R (certificate #37241) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:A (DVD rating) | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Peru:14 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Buck Town, Lincoln Square, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Dogstar Films

Trivia:

"Vintage Vinyl", another record store mentioned in the film, is a real store in Evanston, John Cusack's hometown.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Barry's response, when Rob asks what it would mean if he said he hadn't seen Evil Dead II yet, mentions a conversation about "a guy making Beretta shotgun ammo in the 14th century." The scene he is referring to is actually from Army of Darkness.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Rob:What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Your Friend and Mine

This one really shocked me. I don't even like John Cusack, but I loved High Fidelity.

Why was High Fidelity so good? That's the question that has been going through my mind ever since I saw it. There really wasn't anyone spectacular involved with it. I mean, it's not like Tom Hanks was in it or Steven Spielberg directed it. But somehow, it ended up being just a great comedy.

High Fidelity just had a really entertaining story, and it was extremely well acted by everyone involved. This is what I have come up with in my mission to find out what it was about High Fidelity that made me like it so much. Sure, there's not a whole lot to the story – a guy gets dumped and goes back and recounts his relationships and break-ups with his top five girlfriends, but it was presented in such a clever way that it made bland material a lot of fun.

One of the things that was really good about High Fidelity was the way the `top five girlfriends' premise was complemented by Rob Gordon (Cusack) and his music geek friends coming up with countless top five lists. Top five dream jobs, top five first songs on music albums, top five this, top five that. Anyone who is into top five lists or top ten lists will probably love High Fidelity just for that small part of it. Speaking of Gordon's music geek friends, the person who really stole the show was Jack Black, as Barry, one of Gordon's employees at the record store that he owns in the film. This is particularly notable given the variety of unenviable roles that Black has played, such as those in Cable Guy and, more recently, The Jackal. The hilarious music discussion scenes that take place in the record store are probably the best scenes in the film, and Black steals nearly every one of them.

Almost as amusing as Black was Todd Louiso, playing the part of Dick, another employee at Gordon's record store. Dick is a very soft-spoken music fanatic who is probably so entertaining because we've known someone like him. In fact, that's what is so appealing about Gordon and Barry, too. They are a cross-section of music fans in the urban world and they provide many more laughs because of their familiarity.

A number of well-known actors also played relatively small roles in High Fidelity, such as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Joan Cusack, and, of course, Tim Robbins as the antagonistic ‘new boyfriend.' One of the really good things about High Fidelity is that it eventually delivers a good message about stepping up and actually doing something with your life. It warns of the dangers of getting too comfortable doing one thing, and of giving in to the temptation of hopping from relationship to brief relationship. At the end, Rob begins to realize the mistakes that he made in his relationship with Laura, and these are mistakes that I think a lot of people have made and continue to make.

High Fidelity is just good comedy. It's fun, it's entertaining, and above all, it's refreshing because of it's relative originality. There are plenty of memorable scenes in the film, many because of their sheer, if illogical, hilarity. Some of the customers who come into the record store are treated much worse than they would ever be treated in real life, but the laughs are delivered. Don't miss this one.