i luv cinema

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • 100 “Must-See”
  • About Me
Home Archives for nick hornby

March 21, 2012 By iluvcinema 8 Comments

Loved the Movie, REALLY Loved the Music (An Appreciation of “High Fidelity”)

Over the past years there has been a spattering of mention of my appreciation for the 2000 Stephen Frears feature High Fidelity here on my blog. Now I would like to pause to mention some of my favorite bits from the film.

For the uninitiated, here is the logline:

When his live-in girlfriend walks out on him, a Chicago-based music store owner with a penchant for top-five lists, goes on a path of self-exploration.

Source: Wikiscreenplay

The ensemble cast, lead by John Cusack, features Iben Hjejle, Jack Black, Todd Louiso, Lisa Bonet, Sara Gilbert, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tim Robbins.

While I have not read the Nick Hornby book on which the film is based (set in London), I look forward to reading it (someday). To date, I have read one of Hornby’s autobiographical books (31 Songs) and am currently reading his most recently published novel, Juliet, Naked, published in 2009.

For me what makes High Fidelity an enjoyable watch is … frankly everything! From the witty dialogue to the effective use of the pieces to camera, I can watch this film over and over again. But above all else, the use of music throughout the movie sends this film to another level for me. In fact, whenever I catch the film, I watch it all the way through to the end credits so I can hear one of my favorite Stevie Wonder tunes (Note: do not watch if you have not seen film — possible spoiler):

 

As hard as it was to do, I have narrowed down the list of some of my favorite scenes from the film (WARNING: Some clips contains explicit language):

 

LET’S GET IT ON

 

“MUSICAL SNOBS”

 

TOP 5 SONGS ABOUT DEATH

BONUS: “Stevie Wonder/Cosby Sweater”

Now for the bad news – as with any soundtrack that you may decide to purchase there will be notable and disappointing omissions. Take a look at this Wikipedia entry about the soundtrack, which includes music played in the film, but not on the purchasable soundtrack.

Go ahead; make your own mix tape.

What did you think about this film? Are there any films in your library that resonate the same way for you?

 

Filed Under: Movie Music Tagged With: high fidelity, movie music, nick hornby

October 28, 2009 By idawson 1 Comment

Nick Hornby

Nick Hornby - Book Signing

You may notice that I write a lot about films based on novels, etc. That is simply because I love to read and I think that movies are a wonderful way to translate the written word. Sometimes it gets it right sometimes it is wrong but since I love both media I like the sincere efforts that are taken on its behalf.

That being said I have another great set of films to reflect on. This time they are based on the work of English writer Nick Hornby. What inspires this you may ask … well I am currently reading one of his books 31 Songs which I am immensely enjoying. During the reading I flipped to the back cover and took note of the four novels listed, I knew of three of the four movie adaptations. I have heard great things about Fever Pitch (starring Colin Firth no less) but have not seen but it is in the Netflix queue. The other two High Fidelity and About a Boy are a couple of my favorite films in recent years. In turn I am now motivated to read these two novels in due time.

Another literature/movie tie-in?

Nick Hornby has lent his writing skills to the film An Education, which is on my “must see” list for the Fall/Winter 2009 season.

Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: nick hornby

Search

Recommended Read

Captain of Her Own Soul

UC Press

Added to My Video Library

Imitation of Life (1934)

Centers of Film Study

  • JBFC
  • MoMA Film Screenings
  • The Picture House
  • University of California Press (Cinema and Media Texts)

Fast Film Resources

  • Alfred Hitchcock Wiki
  • Alfred Hitchcock-Master of Suspense
  • Film | The Guardian
  • Kermode & Mayo's Film Reviews
  • Park Circus
  • Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Internet Movie Database
  • Tribeca Film

Film Societies

  • BAMcinématek
  • Film Society of Lincoln Center

This is How We Blogroll

  • BBC Film: The Bulletin
  • Cinematic Corner
  • Comet Over Hollywood
  • Critical Women on Film
  • FlixChatter
  • Future of Flim (Tribeca Film Blog)
  • in so many words …
  • Kermode's Film Blog
  • Paula's Cinema Club
  • Roger Ebert
  • Sobriety Test Movie Reviews
  • Superhero Movie Talk
  • Sweet Freedom

Archives

Tweets by @iluvcinema
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact iluvcinema
totalfilm600movieblogs

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2023, iluvcinema ·Streamline Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in