John Cusack was in San Francisco on Sunday night (Dec. 14) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest films ever made about music — 2000’s “High Fidelity.”
The actor, who is also known for roles in such popular films as “Say Anything …,” “Better Off Dead” and “Hot Tub Time Machine,” sat down for a conversation with Bay Area music journalism legend Ben Fong-Torres following a screening of the film at the Golden Gate Theatre.
The screening/Q&A drew a large crowd of “High Fidelity” devotees, many of whom could probably quote lines from this incredible film — which addresses romantic relationships through the eyes of a snarky music-obsessed fan — probably better than Cusack could himself.
Here are some interesting tidbits that came out of Cusack’s conversation with Fong-Torres, which also drew upon some questions from the crowd.
1. One disappointing thing about the “High Fidelity” film that still bothers Cusack to this day:
Toward the end of the film, Cusack’s character — Rob — has a let’s-get-real conversation with the main love interest Laura (played by Iben Hjejle). Cusack, who also co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced the film, really wanted to use The Beatles’ “I’m So Tired” for the scene — but he couldn’t get the rights.
2. How did he “luck” into casting a then-relatively unknown Jack Black?
“There was no luck at all,” Cusack said in response to Fong-Torres’ question. “I had inside information.” By inside information, Cusack was referring to that he had the chance to see Black perform live before — with his comedic-rock duo Tenacious D — and knew that he was a tremendous talent. Thus, Cusack wanted to cast him in the film.
3. How the whole Bruce Springsteen cameo in the film happened:
Turns out that Cusack has had the chance to meet — and hang out with The Boss — on occasion over the years. So, he figured he’d take a chance and ask Springsteen if he wanted to appear — as himself — in the movie. “I thought, “Sometimes you got to throw the Hail Mary ‘” Cusack reasoned. In this case, the Hail Mary was successful — and the film was much better off because of it.
4. The go-to band if you need a song for your movie:
“The Kinks always works in film,” Cusack said. And he’d prove his point by including “Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy” in “High Fidelity.”
5. Rob’s competition for Laura’s affection in “High Fidelity” comes from the pony-tailed, patchouli-scented Ian (played for great laughs, and pretty much to perfection, by Tim Robbins). How much of Ian does Cusack see in himself:
“I’d say about 0 percent,” Cusack said without hesitation.
6. (Spoiler alert) What happens to the Rob and Laura characters after the film ends:
“Hopefully they stayed together,” Cusack reasoned.
7. What Cusack would be if he wasn’t actor:
“Probably a criminal,” he joked. “Not a violent one.”
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