FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT PRESENTS A VALENTINE'S SPECIAL: "HIGH FIDELITY"!

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This is no joke. Originally, I had penciled in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film, "Romeo & Juliet". Yeah, I know. Going here is like opting out of driving a Lamborghini Gallardo for a Mini Cooper, (but that's what I would do if given the choice in real life). I will always associate this film with my arrival in Arizona. Why, you ask? Because I was sitting alone at a bar having dinner in an otherwise empty restaurant when this film was playing on four flat screen TV's. I'm easily amused, and I was literally howling aloud whenever the lead character would look directly into the camera lens and speak to the audience to explain a kooky predicament ( incidentally, a strange footnote: I have a Niece who does not approve of my use of the word "kooky"). All of which leads nicely into a Kooky Plot: I know it's Valentines Day and Ashton Kutcher is married to Demi Moore, and Sarah McLachlan is married to her drummer Ash, and La, La, La (what are we single guys supposed to do? Invite them to our birthday parties?). All the more reason to explain that THIS FILM is "just what the doctor ordered" for those of us temporarily left on the sidelines. So what gives here?

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Well, Jon Cusak is "Rob", a single guy who owns a failing record store in Chicago that has CD's, but also tons of vinyl records for sale. Very cool. A psychiatrist would have a field day with this guy, because he has a long history of successfully getting together with women who wind up dumping him. Frantic about making a commitment, his "moment of truth" arrives when his beautiful girlfriend Laura (played by Iben Hjejle), dumps him and begins dating their obnoxious ex-neighbor who is also a weirdo (wait until you see who that is!). So, to figure out why this keeps happening to him, Rob embarks on a quest to contact the last 5 women he had serious relationships with to "interview" them for their candid feedback. I realize many of you are probably unlike me and thus, you won't lose it every time Cusak addresses the camera lens to question or explain himself directly to you. But my sides were sore from cracking up! All in all, Rob learns something about love and commitment. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that there is a cameo appearance by Bruce Springsteen, and the music is constant and ever-changing, which is fun!

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Cusak Co-Produced, Co-Wrote the adapted screenplay, and stars in the leading role. Stephen Frears, who also directed John Cusack in "The Grifters," is in tow with a GREAT supporting cast. By the way, here they are. The Cast: John Cusack is Rob Gordon; Iben Hjejle is Laura; Todd Louiso is Dick; Jack Black is Barry; Lisa Bonet is Marie DeSalle; Catherine Zeta-Jones is obviously having fun with the role of Charlie Nicholson; Joan Cusack is Liz; Tim Robbins is Ian 'Ray' Raymond; Chris Rehmann is Vince; Ben Carr plays Justin; Lili Taylor is Sarah Kendrew;Joelle Carter is Penny Hardwick (again, a movie where the character's names just slay me!); Natasha Gregson Wagner is Caroline Fortis; Shannon Stillo is Alison Ashmore and Drake Bell is Young Rob Gordon to give us the "subtext" (a word that frightened a girl who was my former acting teacher that I had a short-lived crush on--so HA! I now feel redeemed). The more I thought it over, the more I decided that Zeffirelli was a bit "high brow" for this "Valentines Day". I hope you agree with my judgment. Here's an illustration of my logic:

"Romeo & Juliet" aka Lamborghini Gallardo

Mini Cooper, aka "High Fidelity" and my Personal Choice of Color!
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HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, ALL!