09 November 2009

Movie Review: Choke

Title: Choke
Director: Clark Gregg
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Brian Henke
Release: October 30, 2008
Country: America
Genre: Dark Comedy (maybe?)
Rated: R
First Viewing: June 20, 2009


Plot Synopsis

Vic, a sex addict who dropped out of law school and took a job in a colonial era theme park to pay for his mother's stay in a mental hospital, tries to find himself.

My Thoughts

This film was touted as a "dirty-minded satirical psychotic comedy". Yep. The film flirted with being profane, obscene, funny, and moving. I keep reading reviews saying things like "Even though he's a sex addict, Vic is still likeable". I'm not sure what is unlikeable about a sex addict. Perhaps that's why I liked this movie more than many of the critics. His sexual addiction isn't something sinful or violent; it's a pitiful cry for love in the same manner as Vic's choking con. Watch the film for the details. Sadness, not disgust is what I feel for Vic, so that was one obstacle I did not have to overcome to enjoy the film.

I think I was also in the right state of mind to watch the film. I wasn't looking for funny, and I didn't find it in this film. There certainly were some funny scenes and lines, but for the most part I found the film more focused on the eccentric relationships that exist between people and the fine line between sanity and insanity.

Go out and watch it. Decide for yourself.

On a bookish note, Chuck Palahniuk wrote the book this film is based on. Probably most famous for Fight Club, Palahniuk is a hit or miss with me. I adored Fight Club, book and film, but I've read other books by Palahniuk that I found more purposefully shocking than artfully intriguing. I've never read Choke, and I have yet to decide if I ever will. Has anyone read this book?

Rating: 4/5
Posted by Trisha at 7:43 AM
Labels:

6 comments:

  1. You've been splashed!! There is an award waiting for you at my blog:

    http://missysbooknook.blogspot.com/2009/11/mermaid-splash-award.html
    ReplyDelete
  2. I think I purposefully stayed away from this movie because of the book-- I wasn't a huge fan. I quite like a few of his other books aside from maybe Lullaby and Haunted.

    Maybe it's time to Netflix it!
    ReplyDelete
  3. I am on the fence concerning Choke. It was my first (and so far only) book by Palahniuk and I liked it but not as much as I thought I would. I may give the movie a try.
    ReplyDelete
  4. My husband has read all of Palahniuk's books (except the newest one so far). He thought the book was hilarious, but we haven't seen the movie.
    ReplyDelete
  5. My sister is a huge fan of his. I think she's read every one. She said Choke is her favorite. And that Fight Club was not as good as Choke.
    ReplyDelete
  6. Everyone - I definitely think you should watch the film, and now I'm thinking I should read the book.
    ReplyDelete

Talk to me baby!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)