20 Opening Movie Scenes That Are Totally Flawless
13. The Music Or The Misery - High Fidelity (2000)
Based on the novel of the same by Nick Hornby, High Fidelity is the achingly funny study of a man struggling to get over a breakup, and brought to his knees by the realisation that he's stuck in a rut of single-ness and seems - in his own words, at least - "doomed to be left alone."
Frequently breaking the fourth wall to relay his feelings, frustrations and secrets to the audience, the film starts with Rob (John Cusack) blaring music whilst his ex-girlfriend moves out of his apartment.
Noticeably dejected, he gives a brief speech about how music links with people's view of the world, before going off on a hilariously self-pitying rant about all the women who've broken his heart over the years.
It's a deeply personal and bleakly humorous scene, setting up the film's music-inspired themes, and Rob's self-destructive grievances and cynical worldview, whilst remaining true to the source material which gave it life.