Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7877 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-03-23
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 89 minutes

Synopsis
Though FIGHT CLUB has reached cult status, CHOKE is surprisingly only the second of writer Chuck Palahniuk's novels to make it to the screen. This adaptation from actor-writer-director Clark Gregg stars Sam Rockwell as a man with a sex addiction. Anjelica Huston, Brad William Henke, and Kelly Macdonald co-star in this darkly comic film that charmed Sundance audiences.

Customer Reviews

"What would Jesus not do?"
First of all, I should probably point out that Choke - Chuck Palahniuk's novel on which this film is based - is one of my favourite books, so there's an element of bias to this review, since unless they'd made an absolute pig's ear of it, I would feel obliged to give it full marks.

In actual fact, this is a pretty faithful adaptation of Palahniuk's book and as a movie it works well. Starring Sam Rockwell as Victor Mancini, a sexaholic who pretends to choke in restaurants in order to generate funds to meet the escalating costs of his mother's hospital bills, it explores a myriad different themes and ties them all together into a surprisingly moving, darkly funny tale of love, escapism and the power we have over our own destinies.

Like the book, Choke contains some fairly sordid moments, but they are balanced by scenes of a strange pathos - especially those between Victor and his ailing and deluded mother. The film benefits immensely from a strong cast, which includes Anjelica Huston, who is simply superb as Ida Mancini and Kelly McDonald (Trainspotting, No Country For Old Men) who just broke my heart as Doctor Paige Marshall. Brad William Henke, meanwhile, is almost precisely how I had envisaged Denny - another sex addict and Victor's best friend whose transformation over the course of the film is central to Choke's message.

It's certainly not going to be to everyone's taste, but this is a daring and, in places, downright hilarious film that succeeds in capturing Palahniuk's twisted vision. If you have no prior knowledge of the book, or of Palahniuk's work, I recommend it nonetheless - but be prepared: despite the promotional taglines, it's not quite what you might expect. And, in my opinion, all the better for it.

Matt Pucci

Offbeat Brilliance
This film has it all - sex, pathos, humour, wackiness and superb casting and music. The pedigree IS good and the execution is bob on for me. There is the requirement to suspend a little disbelief but that IS cinema. I watched this because I thought Sam Rockwell was super. Now I think he is Jesus. Great fun - had to watch it a 2nd time the following day and was not disappointed.

spit it out
Given the pedigree this should have been much better. It's funny in parts. The characters are wacky enough. The story bumps along. There's a decent enough twist. But it doesn't gel. It's hard to stay sympathetic with the main man. And.. it just doesn't manage the balance between 'ain't life wacky' and 'ain't life deeply tragic'.