High Fidelity @ UGC, Ipswich

Starring: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black, and Tim Robbins.

Verdict: A rarity, like a good record, a good film version of a good book.

Books rarely make good films due to a number of reasons, generally it's not a good book in the first place, or its too good and that makes it basically unfilmable. Sometimes for strange reasons, only known to them, the filmmakers have decided they know better than the author and alter the plot and characters so drastically that fans of the book hate it or it becomes complete Hollywood trash.

Already this year we've had a terrible version of Alex Garland's cool novel 'The Beach', which broke the biggest rule of filming books, don't change the character too much. Not only did they cast DiCaprio, an American in English role but they changed the character's whole personality making him unbelievable to the vast numbers of viewers who read the book. On rare occasion films surpass their book counterparts as in A Clockwork Orange, Red Dragon (Manhunter) and The Shining, and a film with an alternative slant on the book can be refreshing, see this years 'American Psycho'.

John Cusack was a huge fan of Nick Hornby's best seller, about the turmoil of males in their late twenties/early thirties who've never grown up, and decided to adapt it, but substituting Chicago for London as the setting. Has this caused problems? not really, the theme is pretty timeless and universal and will appeal to all people no matter of sex, age or nationality.

Cusack plays Rob Gordon a record store owner whose girlfriend leaves him, this brings first joy, spending his days with his record shop mates thinking up top 5 best records for a rainy day etc. etc. But then comes depression, fear, self-loathing etc. etc. till he decides he needs her back. That's it really, but that's not the key, what is brilliant is the astute observations of men who are fascinated by records and movies and have barely changed in their thinking from their teens. The conversational style, talking direct to the camera works very well and Cusack and his writers have made the translation witty by sticking to the books most humorous elements. Boys will watch it and be horrified at the identification they can make with Rob and girls can watch it and confirm they're not the only ones with the annoying boyfriends. Now who wants to vote for the top five films of books.

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When Harry Met Sally

The Truth Abiut Cats and Dogs

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by ChrisM