Movie Review: Choke

CHOKE
Main Players: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald, et al.
Calling the shots: Clark Gregg
What's it about? Victor is a sex addict. And like most addicts, he's struggling to get over the said addiction. He's stuck on step 4. What ever step 4 is. To make things worse he's a tour guide (though he denies that) at a Colonial America themed park and he's mother is in the hospital with dementia. He also begins a bizarre relationship with his mothers doctor. All the while trying to come to terms with the terrible child life he had. He even "pretends" to choke at restaurants to be rescued and feel "loved". Yeah...weird.

What did I think? Well...much like my summery of the plot, I found it a little weird. It wasn't very well made is the problem. And though I haven't read the book, surely it's much better than this.

Given that the book which the film is based on is written by Chuck Palahniuk, the man behind 'Fight Club', I expected a whole lot more. But than again that's probably unfair to do. Like I mentioned before, the directing wasn't exactly great. It was competent enough but there wasn't anything significant about it. The movie felt like it was in first gear all the way through and just got stuck on the clutch. Perhaps having first time director and many times TV star Clark Gregg behind the lens didn't do the book justice. At times it did have a TV feel to the film.

The actors though did a fantastic job. Sam Rockwell is a totally underrated actor who always performs strongly and is no different here. He pulls off a very difficult role rather convincingly for what it is. Anjelica Huston, now well and truly a screen veteran, is also as solid as ever. The supporting actors do just enough as well.

It's a very hard movie to enjoy. It has a few funny moments but it's mostly snickers or the "OMG I can't believe they..." types. The story as you can tell is very weird and strange and is not delivered cohesively enough.

All in all disappointing for the potential it had and the performance delivered.

2 out of 5.