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‘High Fidelity’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson, and Rob Mahoney

December 16, 2025 · High Fidelity (2000) · Comedy · Drama · Music · 2:10:34

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 45:11DJ 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
Joanna Robinson▶ 45:35The 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

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:57The Green Mill bar from Heat (agrees with the pick, calling it 'a good one')
Chris Ryan▶ 1:08:44The Green Mill bar from Heat, specifically the scene when Rob is going through the four things that Laura might have told Liz
Rob Mahoney▶ 1:08:51The Green Mill bar from Heat (agrees with Chris's pick)

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:07Rob ended up with the wrong girl - should have been with Natasha Gregson Wagner's character (the reader) instead of Laura
Chris Ryan▶ 1:09:29Rob 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
Joanna Robinson▶ 1:09:04Lily Taylor's character - too real and sad for the moment, needed more Elizabeth Banks energy

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Joanna Robinson▶ 1:20:34When he says Laura's dad died, and Jack Black goes 'oh, drag' and then just chomps on a burrito

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:30:53Samantha 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
Chris Ryan▶ 1:31:37Liz 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
Joanna Robinson▶ 1:31:12Laura 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
Rob Mahoney▶ 1:31:45Lisa 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

Hanks or Cruise

Bill Simmons▶ 1:47:25Tom Hanks — Hanks for the lead role, though acknowledges Cruise would be great as Ian
Chris Ryan▶ 1:47:29Tom Hanks — Hanks, since it has to be for the lead role
Joanna Robinson▶ 1:47:18Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise would be great as Ian Raymond but doesn't clearly state preference for lead
Rob Mahoney▶ 1:47:32Tom Cruise — Only mentions Cruise as Ian/Ray but doesn't clearly pick for lead role

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 1:48:32Jack Black's character never got a chance to perform or sing despite being fantastic as a performer - couldn't even go to karaoke night
Chris Ryan▶ 1:48:46The musical influences on Jack Black's band flyer have nothing to do with the music he actually plays - it's completely inconsistent
Joanna Robinson▶ 1:50:59Rob can't afford that apartment, nor can he afford to pay Dick and Barry
Rob Mahoney▶ 1:53:19After the funeral, Rob jumps into mud then immediately gets in the car for sex - absolutely disgusting and vile

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:56:46Jack Black supporting
Joanna Robinson▶ 1:56:50Production designer, especially like the record store they built from scratch

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:57:11Ethan Hawke — Yes, suggests Ethan Hawke as Rob - describes it as 'evolutionary older Troy from Reality Bites' who is more self-aware
Chris Ryan▶ 1:58:31Ethan Hawke — Suggests alternative casting with Ethan Hawke in Tim Robbins role instead, making it a choice between 'two icons of Gen X'
Joanna Robinson▶ 1:57:04No - argues against Ethan Hawke because it would just be 'Troy from Reality Bites' and Cusack has essential likability that Rob needs
Rob Mahoney▶ 1:57:32John 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

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 2:05:17John Cusack — Jack Black, but then argues Cusack wins because he knew Jack Black would be perfect for the role and 'made' Jack Black
Chris Ryan▶ 2:05:48John Cusack — Cusack - could have done an iconic generational role every 10 years and this was his 40s entry before going direct to video
Rob Mahoney▶ 2:05:21Jack Black — Agrees Jack Black won his entire career from this, but acknowledges what Cusack gets is powerful with all the movie's iconography

Movies Referenced (54)

Reality Bites (1994)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson▶ 7:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Con Air (1997)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:04:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Say Anything (1989)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson▶ 6:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

School of Rock (2003)

5 mentions · Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 28:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sicario (2015)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Reader (2008)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:10:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clerks (1994)

4 mentions · Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 7:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

4 mentions · Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons▶ 33:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fever Pitch (2005)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 2:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Atonement (2007)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:46:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fight Club (1999)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson▶ 1:46:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ghostbusters (1984)

3 mentions · Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons▶ 1:39:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (9)

Stephen Frears

8 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney · Known for Dangerous Liaisons▶ 33:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Smith

4 mentions · Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Clerks, Chasing Amy▶ 7:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Hughes

3 mentions · Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons · Known for Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club▶ 8:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bridget Jones

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 1:46:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mike Newell

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco▶ 34:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sonic Youth

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 45:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Brady

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Hot Chick▶ 35:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cameron Crowe

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky▶ 1:34:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hal Hartley

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 2:09:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (98)

Laura Linney

48 mentions · Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 10:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack Black

45 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan · Known for High Fidelity, School of Rock, Nacho Libre▶ 26:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ian Gray

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson▶ 44:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Cusack

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan · Known for High Fidelity, 1408▶ 3:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Billy Corgan

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan · Known for Ransom▶ 1:28:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lisa Bonet

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, Chris Ryan · Known for Angel Heart, High Fidelity, Enemy of the State▶ 27:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tim Robbins

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan · Known for Mystic River, The Player, Howard the Duck▶ 27:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ethan Hawke

10 mentions · Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson · Known for Training Day, Before Sunrise, Before Midnight▶ 8:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Liz Phair

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Rob Mahoney · Known for High Fidelity, She's All That▶ 57:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Courtney Love

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan · Known for Man on the Moon▶ 26:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Robinson

6 mentions · Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons · Known for Diamonds Are Forever▶ 11:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Catherine Zeta-Jones

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson · Known for Chicago, Traffic▶ 27:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (10)

Bruce Springsteen

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Chris Ryan · Known for The Wrestler, Philadelphia▶ 42:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nick Hornby

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Rob Mahoney · Known for Wild▶ 2:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson▶ 36:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Andrew Cosby

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, Joanna Robinson▶ 48:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harold Ramis

4 mentions · Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons · Known for Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Stripes▶ 1:14:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lily Taylor

4 mentions · Joanna Robinson, Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons▶ 27:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Scott Rosenberg

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Beautiful Girls, Con Air▶ 35:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Luiso Berdejo

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 26:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Noah Baumbach

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Squid and the Whale, Marriage Story▶ 2:09:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ryan Coogler

1 mentions · Rob Mahoney · Known for Black Panther, Creed▶ 1:23:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Michael Grantland

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Other Guys▶ 49:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Seamus McGarvey

1 mentions · Joanna Robinson · Known for Atonement, Anna Karenina▶ 1:43:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗