Choke

Choke

Choke - Directed by Clark Gregg, starring Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald, and Brad William Henke. Rated R
Choke is about Victor (Rockwell), a "historical re-enactor" at a Colonial theme park, and his problems with his mother and his sex addiction based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club). If you know Palahniuk's work, then you know that this is going to be a strange film. Victor goes to restaurants and starts choking on food, getting a (hopefully) rich person to save his life...then start sending him money because they feel like they are responsible for his well-being. That works well in the book, but I thought it wasn't focused on enough in the film. The film dwells on the sex addiction aspect, which is equally funny and strange, but it felt like that was the focus because the filmmakers hoped it would lead to a buzz or some controversy or something, but it didn't. It just seemed like their was no heart in any of this film. I don't mean that in a moral way, but in a filmmaking way.

The acting is fine throughout. Rockwell turns in yet another good performance (when will this guy get some wide recognition?) and Henke is great as his co-worker/best friend Denny. THey work together well and I found myself hoping they would be in more scenes, but that would get in the way of all the sex scenes, wouldn't it? Huston is okay as Victor's senile mother and Macdonald does a decent job as a doctor, but they really didn't have much to do in this.
This film suffered from a bad translation from the novel. That's all there is to it. It was not nearly as dark as the book and it lacked focus. If you haven't read the book, then you might enjoy it, but I'm a Palahniuk fan and I was extremely disappointed in this. Even with a bad translation, there should have been a slew of great lines and interesting situations, but it just isn't there. By the time the movie gets into the whole second coming of Christ plotline, it had already ran out of steam and I no longer cared about any of the characters. It did make me want to read the book again, though, so I'll be entertained once I get into that.

Eric Harris - www.canneltoncritic.com

Choke

I was curious to see the film translation of 'Choke' ( after reading this superb book a while back) and Im a huge fan of Chuck Palahniuk and it might be perceived that I'd need a bit of persuading that this is a highly trust-worthy adaptation. Well it is and it does it just remar...( read more)kably well.
Clark Gregg ( who I'm not 100% sure but isnt he more known for his acting?) does a Stirling job of what in actual fact is a mammoth of a task in adapting this one to film. The fast pace is there, the intermittent multi- storyline structure is there.It actually fits a hell of a lot into 1hr and half. What more could you want? Have to admit I would have enjoyed it more if I wasnt aware of the twist from reading the book at the end. One of two things were missing like the moment when the viewers (some of who have been scammed) at home see Victor on TV suddenly go to see him at Dunnsborough. But still I thought this is an excellent interpretation and cant really do anything wrong. And its also worth giving a thumbs up to Kelly Macdonald(Trainspotting,No Country for Old Men) and Sam Rockwell (The Green Mile) what great talents they're proving to be.

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http://robinollysays.blogspot.com

Moon Minis - Choke

Film adaptation of a Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) novel (I can't say his name) about a man, Victor (Sam Rockwell) "attempting" to shake a sex addiction while dealing with his mother's recent illness. Victor's not so much a likable character as he is an interesting one, and director/screenwriter Clark Gregg has done a decent job at detailing Victor's out-of-control lifestyle and coupling that with seemingly normal people. Unfortunately, the shocks at the end coming from Victor's mother's nurse aren't as surprising as the movie would like us to believe considering her faulty ideas prior to the conclusion, and the emotions generated between mother and son are limited given that they both have a love/hate relationship leaning more towards the hate spectrum. There's also a question as to where the film is headed through much of the plot, which is fortunately wrapped up toward the end of the film and all themes are brought together. There are a few very effective devices used, one being the fact that Victor sees all women in flashes of who he has had sex with or what they look like naked. It is enjoyable characterization that really works with the film's topic. Choke has its moments but falls short of an emotional release, though the finale does well to provide a commentary on addiction. How true it is, though, I'm not one to judge.

Last updated: 2010-01-17 04:03:45 by user01