‘High Fidelity’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson, and Rob Mahoney
December 16, 2025 · High Fidelity (2000) · Comedy · Drama · Music · 2:10:34 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsDJ Rob doing the concert, introing Sonic Death Monkey, then Let's Get It On and Jack Black, and the ending - the last eight minutes of the movie▶ 45:11
Joanna RobinsonThe whole entire hand selling sequence - Jack Black hand selling Jesus and Mary Chain, Dick hand selling Stiff Little Fingers, the busy Saturday hand selling vibe▶ 45:35
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Chris RyanThe Green Mill bar from Heat, specifically the scene when Rob is going through the four things that Laura might have told Liz▶ 1:08:44
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsRob ended up with the wrong girl - should have been with Natasha Gregson Wagner's character (the reader) instead of Laura▶ 1:10:07
Chris RyanRob not reckoning with the wreckage of his past relationships - when Penny says she was sexually assaulted and Sarah says she's off her meds and unemployed, he just moves on▶ 1:09:29
Joanna RobinsonLily Taylor's character - too real and sad for the moment, needed more Elizabeth Banks energy▶ 1:09:04
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Joanna RobinsonWhen he says Laura's dad died, and Jack Black goes 'oh, drag' and then just chomps on a burrito▶ 1:20:34
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsSamantha Mathis — Discussed Jack Black being bullied into the role, David Arquette originally offered Dick's role (called it a 'yikes'), prefers Bob Dylan over Billy Corgan for the boss role, and suggested Samantha Mathis for Laura on the recasting couch▶ 1:30:53
Chris RyanLiz Phair — Expressed preference for Liz Phair over Lisa Bonet, called Liz Phair the 'number one seed' for 90s female musicians, and suggested Famke Janssen as alternative for Laura▶ 1:31:37
Joanna RobinsonLaura Linney — Brought up Bob Dylan vs Billy Corgan for the boss role, noted Lisa Bonet's amazing performance, and suggested Laura Linney as alternative casting for Laura▶ 1:31:12
Rob MahoneyLisa Bonet — Defended Lisa Bonet's casting over Liz Phair because Marie needs to feel 'like an alien' and 'from another planet', which isn't Liz Phair's deal▶ 1:31:45
Hanks or Cruise
Bill SimmonsTom Hanks — Hanks for the lead role, though acknowledges Cruise would be great as Ian▶ 1:47:25
Joanna RobinsonTom Cruise — Agrees Cruise would be great as Ian Raymond but doesn't clearly state preference for lead▶ 1:47:18
Rob MahoneyTom Cruise — Only mentions Cruise as Ian/Ray but doesn't clearly pick for lead role▶ 1:47:32
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsJack Black's character never got a chance to perform or sing despite being fantastic as a performer - couldn't even go to karaoke night▶ 1:48:32
Chris RyanThe musical influences on Jack Black's band flyer have nothing to do with the music he actually plays - it's completely inconsistent▶ 1:48:46
Rob MahoneyAfter the funeral, Rob jumps into mud then immediately gets in the car for sex - absolutely disgusting and vile▶ 1:53:19
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Joanna RobinsonProduction designer, especially like the record store they built from scratch▶ 1:56:50
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsEthan Hawke — Yes, suggests Ethan Hawke as Rob - describes it as 'evolutionary older Troy from Reality Bites' who is more self-aware▶ 1:57:11
Chris RyanEthan Hawke — Suggests alternative casting with Ethan Hawke in Tim Robbins role instead, making it a choice between 'two icons of Gen X'▶ 1:58:31
Joanna RobinsonNo - argues against Ethan Hawke because it would just be 'Troy from Reality Bites' and Cusack has essential likability that Rob needs▶ 1:57:04
Rob MahoneyJohn Cusack — Yes initially, but changes to no after considering Cusack's ability to do the 'alone in a room screaming' performance that Hawke might not have▶ 1:57:32
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsJohn Cusack — Jack Black, but then argues Cusack wins because he knew Jack Black would be perfect for the role and 'made' Jack Black▶ 2:05:17
Chris RyanJohn Cusack — Cusack - could have done an iconic generational role every 10 years and this was his 40s entry before going direct to video▶ 2:05:48
Rob MahoneyJack Black — Agrees Jack Black won his entire career from this, but acknowledges what Cusack gets is powerful with all the movie's iconography▶ 2:05:21
Movies Referenced (57)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Misery (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 40:35 |
| Con Air (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:04:19 |
| Say Anything (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 6:38 |
| School of Rock (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 28:12 |
| Sicario (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:00 |
| The Reader (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:10:12 |
| Troy (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:57:04 |
| Clerks (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 7:21 |
| Atonement (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:46:42 |
| Fight Club (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 1:46:31 |
| Ghostbusters (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:39:34 |
| Chasing Amy (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 7:11 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Frears | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney | Dangerous Liaisons | ▶ 33:26 |
| Kevin Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Clerks, Chasing Amy | ▶ 7:23 |
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 8:46 |
| Bridget Jones | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:46:54 | |
| Mike Newell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco | ▶ 34:34 |
| Sonic Youth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 45:06 | |
| Tom Brady | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Hot Chick | ▶ 35:15 |
| Cameron Crowe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky | ▶ 1:34:45 |
| Hal Hartley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 2:09:54 |
Actors Referenced (98)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Linney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 48 | Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:12 | |
| Jack Black | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 45 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan | High Fidelity, School of Rock, Nacho Libre | ▶ 26:35 |
| Ian Gray | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 44:24 | |
| John Cusack | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan | High Fidelity, 1408 | ▶ 3:35 |
| Billy Corgan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan | Ransom | ▶ 1:28:19 |
| Lisa Bonet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, Chris Ryan | Angel Heart, High Fidelity, Enemy of the State | ▶ 27:12 |
| Tim Robbins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan | Mystic River, The Player, Howard the Duck | ▶ 27:41 |
| Ethan Hawke | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | Training Day, Before Sunrise, Before Midnight | ▶ 8:24 |
| Liz Phair | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Rob Mahoney | High Fidelity, She's All That | ▶ 57:07 |
| Courtney Love | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan | Man on the Moon | ▶ 26:45 |
| Joe Robinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons | Diamonds Are Forever | ▶ 11:37 |
| Catherine Zeta-Jones | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 27:12 |
Writers Referenced (10)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Springsteen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan | The Wrestler, Philadelphia | ▶ 42:20 |
| Nick Hornby | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Rob Mahoney | ▶ 2:53 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 36:48 | |
| Andrew Cosby | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 48:41 | |
| Harold Ramis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons | Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Stripes | ▶ 1:14:14 |
| Lily Taylor | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Joanna Robinson, Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons | ▶ 27:38 | |
| Scott Rosenberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Beautiful Girls, Con Air | ▶ 35:12 |
| Luiso Berdejo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:38 | |
| Noah Baumbach | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Squid and the Whale, Marriage Story | ▶ 2:09:54 |
| Ryan Coogler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Rob Mahoney | Black Panther, Creed | ▶ 1:23:25 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Other Guys | ▶ 49:12 |
| Seamus McGarvey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Joanna Robinson | Atonement, Anna Karenina | ▶ 1:43:36 |