High Fidelity

High Fidelity by Stephen Friars (2000)

Rob Gordon played by John Cusack is a lonely Record Store Owner struggling with the loss of his girlfriend Laura. Rob examines his top three break-up list in order to figure out why he acts the way he does. Dick played by Todd Louiso is the quiet, opinionated overachiever, and Barry played by Jack Black is the funny, obnoxious employee at the Record Store. The film follows Rob throughout his past relationships in order to deal with his Love of Laura.
Stephen Frears sets the mood of the characters in the Record Shop by having a wide-shot when Rob and Barry were arguing about Rob’s girlfriend Laura. They both walked out of the shot leaving only Dick in the middle out of control of the situation. All three characters contrast one another. For example, Rob is having female problems throughout the entire film. Dick the quiet clerk gets in a relationship with no problems and Barry doesn’t encounter being in a relationship.
Anyone is capable of understand what Rob is going through by the lines and diagonals of the film. At Rob’s job the records of formed of vertical and diagonal lines. In Rob’s personal office, it’s made out of horizontals, circles, all kind of shapes. Compared to Rob and Laura’s friend Liz, her lines are always identical. In Rob’s house, he has bottles thrown around all over the place, his living room is full of stuff, no order what so ever.
The scene when the two boys were stealing records was great because it showed how Rob thought he is not in control. Rob told Dick that he was going to sell five records but the boys distracted his mission. The scene following that one pushed Rob a little into having control of his relationship with Laura. He left the house feeling relieved.

---Anisha Payne