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Sundance: Quint gives the Heimlich to the Chuck Palahniuk adaptation CHOKE, starring Sam Rockwell!!!

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Up front I have to confess that I’ve never read any of Chuck Palahnuik’s books. I actually have bought a few and have them at home (CHOKE and SURVIVOR… and I will put in order in for HAUNTED soon).

So I can’t review this movie from the perspective of someone familiar with Palahnuik’s written work; this story in particular (Rav is a little more in the know and will have his own review shortly, I’m sure), but I can say that I really flipped for this movie.

Why isn’t Sam Rockwell the biggest name in Hollywood? Last year he blew me away with his fantastic performance in SNOW ANGELS (soon to be released). He’s always consistent and goddamn he’s funny. In Choke he plays a sex-addict whose 9-5 is being a historical reenacter. His other job is to purposefully choke in restaurants and latch onto his rescuer, often receiving cards and money every month as they soon feel responsible for him.

Oh, and he may or may not be Jesus Christ’s half-clone and/or son.

While visiting his demented mother (played wonderfully by Anjelica Huston) in a specialized Catholic hospital he meets a beautiful doctor by the name of Paige Marshall, played by the Scottish hottie Kelly Macdonald. This woman throws Rockwell’s life into a spiral. He fucks practically anything that moves, but suddenly he can’t perform with her. He’s numbed himself to the point where unattached emotionless sex is all he can do. When he starts having real feelings for this girl his world is turned upsidedown.

This movie is crazy and about as hard R as you can get. One of the critics afterwards described it as a light dark comedy, meaning it doesn’t go into any real dark dramatic places, but it has some really cynical humor.

Macdonald is good in the film, but I think her American accent handicaps her a bit, some of her dialogue sounding stilted and performed. If she had been able to keep her Scottish accent (her heart-stopping Scottish accent, I might add) I think that would have benefited the character a little.

But everybody is good in the film and most of them go beyond just good. Brad William Henke plays Rockwell’s best friend, a chronic masturbator determined to keep his hands off his junk and break his habit. Henke is a giant of a dude, but a big teddy bear. He basically acts as Rockwell’s moral center, his own Jiminy Cricket.

This is actor Clark Gregg’s directorial debut and he does a fine job of it. I’ve seen a lot of first or second-time features at the fest so far and his is the most accomplished of the batch I’ve seen. His style is loose, but smart. He plays with narration and freeze-frames, but doesn’t get decadent with them.

Gregg’s also really funny in the small role he has as the dickish boss at the Historical reenactment, always docking Rockwell’s pay whenever any modern item is on his person. The dude refuses to speak in anything but Old English and is the butt of many jokes.

Anyway, I can’t speak to how well it is adapted, but without knowing anything about the story before seeing the film, I can say that it stood out from the pack for me. I had a blast with it and I can’t wait to see it again.

I scored a four on one interview with Huston, Gregg, Rockwell and Palahniuk. I’m a little behind on posting my interviews, but hopefully I’ll get that one out by this weekend. Keep an eye peeled for it!

-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com



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Can't wait
by SebastianHaff
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:25:22 AM
Palahniuk is great...
by BadMrWonka
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:33:34 AM
can't wait
by tra1138
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:34:45 AM
Rockwell
by Horace Cox
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:41:27 AM
also, Clark Gregg was on The West Wing!
by BadMrWonka
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:42:03 AM
Survivior is Palahniuk's best
by Punch Man
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:42:24 AM
Hope it lives up to the book
by JacksParasites
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:43:42 AM
Nice review
by 5 by 5
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:43:45 AM
PLEASE SAM ROCKWELL...
by SouthSide_2010
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:46:14 AM
Niiice
by Kingdaddy
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:46:15 AM
Screenplay -- Jim Uhls
by mithrandir16
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:48:10 AM
This years JUNO?
by DerLanghaarige
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:53:34 AM
everyone loves Survivor
by Jarek
Jan 23rd, 2008
02:18:32 AM
I Want to Give Kelly MacDonald...
by topaz4206
Jan 23rd, 2008
02:24:01 AM
Sounds very faithful.
by Kubla_Khan
Jan 23rd, 2008
03:32:51 AM
Agreed, Punch Man
by holden_oz
Jan 23rd, 2008
03:33:06 AM
Sounds great
by DonnieDorko
Jan 23rd, 2008
04:18:59 AM
Haunted is damn good
by s0nicdeathmonkey
Jan 23rd, 2008
04:45:27 AM
Rant is my new favorite book of his...
by dr_john_zoidberg
Jan 23rd, 2008
05:01:24 AM
Love to see "Survivor" too as a movie...
by moviemaniac-7
Jan 23rd, 2008
05:27:22 AM
The only book
by red_weed
Jan 23rd, 2008
05:55:25 AM
Did you steal the other three books?
by DonnieDorko
Jan 23rd, 2008
06:25:21 AM
HAVE YOU READ HIS ESSAYS?
by Err
Jan 23rd, 2008
07:14:21 AM
paula-nick [phonetics] 's second best book after survivor
by ironic_name
Jan 23rd, 2008
07:28:44 AM
In a perfect world . . .
by Nice Marmot
Jan 23rd, 2008
07:28:54 AM
loved Choke
by Kloipy
Jan 23rd, 2008
07:43:29 AM
Adapt HAUNTED!
by ricarleite
Jan 23rd, 2008
08:04:35 AM
Sweet.
by Node32774
Jan 23rd, 2008
08:12:31 AM
Sorry...
by rutgersjaffo
Jan 23rd, 2008
08:17:32 AM
Choke is my fav Chuck book.
by Sailor Rip
Jan 23rd, 2008
08:18:32 AM
Ever read that thing where a guys colon is ripped
by norrinrad
Jan 23rd, 2008
08:39:00 AM
Yeah, that's "Guts" from Haunted.
by Sailor Rip
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:02:22 AM
Re: a "Survivor" movie
by Rickey Henderson
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:17:55 AM
And how awesome would that Superbowl scene be?
by Rickey Henderson
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:20:59 AM
Kelly MacDonald
by Node32774
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:30:28 AM
Guts is Palahniuk's most fucked up work.
by Node32774
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:43:42 AM
haunted *spoilers*
by Kloipy
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:44:44 AM
Invisible Monsters is his best
by blanket5
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:46:17 AM
Node32774
by Sailor Rip
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:50:40 AM
Sailor.
by Node32774
Jan 23rd, 2008
09:55:48 AM
Rickey Henderson, it'd also be difficult because..
by ironic_name
Jan 23rd, 2008
10:06:33 AM
HOW, not who..
by ironic_name
Jan 23rd, 2008
10:09:09 AM
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
10:34:34 AM
I'll be amazed if they keep the dramatic climax
by jimmay
Jan 23rd, 2008
10:42:25 AM
Lullaby is the best
by waggy
Jan 23rd, 2008
10:42:26 AM
Sailor Rip you shut your goddamn mouth
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
10:43:43 AM
jimmay
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
10:46:45 AM
Haunted = HBO miniseries
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
10:47:45 AM
HBO series for haunted
by BigTexas42
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:12:07 AM
choke was mediocre
by cpt. tim
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:18:15 AM
Hey Quint
by tbransonlives
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:21:05 AM
Quo Vadimus...
by DanielKurland
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:26:35 AM
Fucking forgot about Invisible Monsters!...
by DanielKurland
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:27:14 AM
Tbransonlives...
by DanielKurland
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:30:00 AM
i said it too, danielkurland
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:33:28 AM
Burgundy82
by Sailor Rip
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:36:06 AM
thats funny
by tbransonlives
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:38:47 AM
Rip
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:43:19 AM
tbranson
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:45:06 AM
the brown bunny
by Kloipy
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:45:13 AM
Survivor will be made one day.
by Sailor Rip
Jan 23rd, 2008
11:54:32 AM
(may be TOO SOON but) ROCKWELL for Joker in B3
by George Newman
Jan 23rd, 2008
12:11:26 PM
Newman
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
12:14:45 PM
Newman, con't.
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
12:17:38 PM
burgundy
by George Newman
Jan 23rd, 2008
12:20:26 PM
Oh and by the way...
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
12:21:40 PM
um, guys...
by BigTexas42
Jan 23rd, 2008
12:48:27 PM
I wish...
by cinemaniac1979
Jan 23rd, 2008
12:59:19 PM
No way
by Sailor Rip
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:18:35 PM
Haunted was a disappointment....
by The Dum Guy
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:21:55 PM
haven't read Rant yet, but...
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:39:31 PM
Well, technically THREE Ledger posts...
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:41:12 PM
Sure
by Redundant23
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:41:53 PM
Well, its SORTA his first directing
by Dmann
Jan 23rd, 2008
01:52:07 PM
Dmann
by Laserhead
Jan 23rd, 2008
02:02:41 PM
I hope it's better on the screen.
by hst666
Jan 23rd, 2008
02:09:19 PM
YEs I am!
by Dmann
Jan 23rd, 2008
02:32:33 PM
I think Chuck may be a bit crap
by Sepulchrave
Jan 23rd, 2008
03:17:22 PM
Get Over It
by m_prevette
Jan 23rd, 2008
03:19:09 PM
Quint: DON'T READ HAUNTED!!
by GiggityGoo
Jan 23rd, 2008
03:25:02 PM
I wonder if Rockwell still thinks...
by ChrisTuckersOnlyFan
Jan 23rd, 2008
04:34:23 PM
Whatever Happened To LULLABY?
by LaserPants
Jan 23rd, 2008
04:55:52 PM
Rape
by Quint
Jan 23rd, 2008
05:57:21 PM
Thank God...
by rutgersjaffo
Jan 23rd, 2008
06:12:17 PM
Hot springs story from Haunted is the most fucked up
by ricarleite
Jan 23rd, 2008
06:12:34 PM
Not a big Palahniuk fan
by mraig
Jan 23rd, 2008
06:25:25 PM
Thank God!!!
by dancetothebeatofthelivingdead
Jan 23rd, 2008
07:23:32 PM
Chuck Is So Awesome
by skoobyx
Jan 23rd, 2008
07:23:50 PM
And Listen To His Commentary on the 'Fight Club' DVD...
by skoobyx
Jan 23rd, 2008
07:25:26 PM
Quint
by Burgundy82
Jan 23rd, 2008
07:52:21 PM
House of Leaves may be better...
by DanielKurland
Jan 24th, 2008
12:28:26 AM
Sepulchrave
by DonnieDorko
Jan 24th, 2008
03:06:00 AM
My friend was telling me about Survivor a year or so ago
by IndustryKiller!
Jan 24th, 2008
03:43:33 AM
Did I say that there weren't other nasty gay writers?
by Sepulchrave
Jan 24th, 2008
05:01:12 AM
No you didn't
by DonnieDorko
Jan 24th, 2008
08:28:50 AM
Choke's a great book
by Whitemouse
Jan 24th, 2008
04:35:25 PM

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