Choke (2008)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Clark Gregg

Writers (WGA):

Clark Gregg (screenplay)
Chuck Palahniuk (novel)

Release Date:

30 October 2008 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A sex-addicted con-man pays for his mother's hospital bills by playing on the sympathies of those who rescue him from choking to death.

Plot Keywords:

Toilet | Loneliness | Foreskin | Sex In Bathroom | Pretending

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Kathryn Alexander	...	Agnes / Mousy Girl
Teodorina Bello	...	Jamaican Lady
Kate Blumberg	...	Edwin's Wife
Jonah Bobo	...	Young Victor
Willi Burke	...	Deranged Socialite
Heather Burns	...	Internet Date / Gwen
David Wolos-Fonteno	...	Edwin (as David Fonteno)
Matt Gerald	...	Detective Ryan
Clark Gregg	...	Lord High Charlie
Joel Grey	...	Phil
Viola Harris	...	Eva Muller
Brad William Henke	...	Denny
Paz de la Huerta	...	Nico
Michelle Hurst	...	Shapely Nurse
Anjelica Huston	...	Ida J. Mancini

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44083) | UK:18 | Ireland:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Singapore:R21 | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Brazil:18 | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

New Jersey, USA

Company:

ATO Pictures

Trivia:

The movie was finished 3 days before its screening at Sundance.

Quotes:

Phil: A lot of people would say it's a bad idea, on your first day out of prison, to go right back to stalking the tranny hooker that knocked out five of your teeth. But that's how I roll.

Movie Connections:

References "Gilligan's Island" (1964)

Soundtrack:

Reckoner

Conning, Cloning and Copulation

Greetings again from the darkness. Full disclosure: I have not read the novel by Chuck Palahniuk (who also wrote Fight Club). While very impressed with many elements of the story, I must say I was a bit disappointed in the film. Rather than seize the comedic elements or go very dark, it just kind of idled away in the middle - not too funny, not too dark ... which I find odd for a film with so many extremes!

Sam Rockwell is perfectly cast as the sex addicted, lost soul who is desperately trying to discover his family roots by tricking his mostly dementia riddled mother, played strangely by Anjelica Huston. He draws two others into his attempts - his best (and only) friend, played very well by Brad William Henke; and the best character of all played by Kelly MacDonald.

Scenes featuring both Rockwell and MacDonald are hands down the film's best. They really play well off each other. Whether attempting to capture the moment in the hospital chapel or alternatively caring for Rockwell's mother, we sense that these two could actually be soul mates in a very sad kind of way.

While there are many tasteless themes throughout, I must admit most were handled well - though again, deeper humor could have certainly helped. Additional supporting work was provided by (first time) director Clark Gregg (in an awful wig); (daughter of John Phillips) Bijou Phillips as one of the more interesting on screen milk maids; and a very unusual role by Joel Grey (Cabaret) as the leader of the sex addicts group.

Such fascinating material deserved a better treatment on screen, but Rockwell and MacDonald (and the supporting cast) prevent it from being a total waste.