So I read the book and I immediately thought, Yeah, I could set it in Chicago.
But once you sort of switched those around and took away the British accents, they were the same.
We offered it to Stephen Frears, and he said he wanted to do it.
John Cusack as Rob Gordon.Credit: Everett Collection
And he directed the best movie in the world,Dangerous Liaisons.
I said, What?"
He said, Look at this filmMifune, and I did, and I could see it right away.
Iben Hjejle and John Cusack.Everett Collection
HJEJLE:We had a lovely conversation and he said, Id love to come and meet you.
I knew he was like one of those what do you call it, teenage heartthrobs?
And I lovedSay Anything, which I thought was wonderful, and he was gorgeous.
Todd Louiso, Cusack, and Jack Black.Everett Collection
But the terrible thing is, I said, Are you the guy fromFerris Buellers Day Off?"
And he said, Oh, yo dont worry, Ive had that happen to me so many times.
He was so nice about it.
Cusack, Black, Louiso, and Tim Robbins.Everett Collection
But the rest of it was all us.
CUSACK:I knew that Jack [Black] would be my secret weapon.
HIGH ON THE JOB
HJEJLE:We got it all shot in eight weeks in Chicago.
Cusack as Rob Gordon.Everett Collection
He would say little dry things now and then, but he wasnt that talkative.
And John, of course, so its actually quite funny when you see Jack Black today.
He was very sweet and very nice, but quiet.
Not wearing her hair pink to work anymore, you know.
There were a couple of bars we had to shoot in, but yeah, mainly we were indoors.
CUSACK:That scene with Liz in the record store?
Yeah, I knew that would be a fine idea.
I held onto those foryears.
And I was like, Thank you, sir.
And we had so much fun!
We were giggling all the way through it.
Its almost never like that in a sex scene.
But John, Jack, and I were really fighting for it.
Im really happy that it didnt get cut.
And Tim was the one who came up with his teeth flying out.
I dont know what they were, probably Chiclets?
Just grab some candy from a craft services table.
And he just paused and laughed and went, Yeah, sounds good.
It is my kind of humor, and weve seen all the movies, weve seenThePick of Destiny.
But I guess Jack doesnt know, because we havent talked for 20 years!
So I knew we had the ending, and I knew he was the perfect guy for it.
HJEJLE:Some of the more obscure bands I would have to look into or just ask about.
I dont remember what you did when you couldnt Google?
[Laughs] I guess I talked to John a lot, because he had such extensive knowledge.
But man, we really tried.
THE TAKEAWAY
CUSACK:In the end yeah, I think Rob ends up with Laura.
I still love that line.
This is the neuroses and craziness inside of our heads.
HJEJLE:Its become kind of a cult thing.
LOUISO:You read certain scripts and youre like, This is gonna be incredible."
“And withHigh Fidelityit felt like it was sort of a Gen-X moment.
[But] I am proud of it.
I put an enormous amount of effort and care into the film.
Denmark is a country of what, 6 million people?
So when I see some of those interviews I think, “You ungrateful little twat.”
LOUISO:Do I still get recognized for Dick?
Yeah, all the time!
Its usually just pointing, but its always nice when people come up to me.
I love the film.
Just to know that people still watch it and still love it makes me feel great.
CUSACK:I havent seenthe new
series, but I think the gender change is actually very cool.
I mean, why not?
But I would just say, you better get the music right.
[Laughs] You gotta get it right.
