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

Can't wait by SebastianHaff	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:25:22 AM
Choke is still my favorite of Chuck's novels. Can't say my favorite of his work though. That title goes to GUTS. Mmmmm, peanuts.
Palahniuk is great... by BadMrWonka	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:33:34 AM
I met him when he visited my college a while back. I got to have dinner with him since my roommate was the one that organized his event. we watched Fight Club and then did Q&A. he was a class act the whole way, and nowhere near as weird as you'd think from his writing. and I would verbally assault anyone that claims Rockwell isn't great. and if you think, "oh, he's grea,t but his range is limited," then you never saw Box of Moonlight, and you haven't seen Snow Angles yet. the man is a chameleon. plus, Rockwell in Galaxy Quest should have been nominated for a best supporting actor oscar. and you know this.
can't wait by tra1138	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:34:45 AM
Wish they would do more Chuck P Flicks...
Rockwell by Horace Cox	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:41:27 AM
Having read the book I never pictured Sam Rockwell in the lead role, but damn it makes perfect sense!
also, Clark Gregg was on The West Wing! by BadMrWonka	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:42:03 AM
big ups, Special Agent Casper! congrats on the film, if somehow you read this. see if you can slide into directing Sorkin's next script!
Survivior is Palahniuk's best by Punch Man	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:42:24 AM
After that things got repetitive.
Hope it lives up to the book by JacksParasites	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:43:42 AM
Here's to hoping we see a Survivor and Invisible Monster films in the near future.
Nice review by 5 by 5	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:43:45 AM
But the movie doesn't sound interesting. I'll pass.
PLEASE SAM ROCKWELL... by SouthSide_2010	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:46:14 AM
I plead with you...don't fuckin' die!!
Niiice by Kingdaddy	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:46:15 AM
Huge fan of Chuck's work. But always scared shitless they'll fuck it up on screen. Sounds like they got ballpark...which is 100% better than most dreck that hits screens...
Screenplay -- Jim Uhls by mithrandir16	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:48:10 AM
I would have liked to see Jim Uhls adapt another Chuck P. book after his work on Fight Club--which I literally just got back from seeing again at the theater here in Orlando. This one has a lot to live up to.
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 think I'm the only person on earth that finds Haunted brilliant. And Rant was really good as well.
I Want to Give Kelly MacDonald... by topaz4206	Jan 23rd, 2008 02:24:01 AM
a baby. But looks like somebody already did :(
Sounds very faithful. by Kubla_Khan	Jan 23rd, 2008 03:32:51 AM
It'll get my cash. Rockwell is excellent, I absolutely love Welcome To Collinwood, and Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind is an underrated gem. Btw, at any point in this movie does anyone get to say, "This Bellini is starting to look like a real Kapuchnik"?
Agreed, Punch Man by holden_oz	Jan 23rd, 2008 03:33:06 AM
Survivor is the cream of the crop. Loved it. I found Choke to be a little guilty of Fight Club envy, so didn't enjoy it as much. That being said, Haunted is pretty damn amazing. Reading Non-Fiction next. Oh, and Diary! I wrote that as a screenplay a year before Diary came out. The bastard stole my idea! I haven't read it yet, but I'm willing to bet he did it better. Even so, can't wait to see this flick.
Sounds great by DonnieDorko	Jan 23rd, 2008 04:18:59 AM
Sam Rockwell sounds perfect for the role! I really enjoyed the book and think it's a great choice for book-to-movie. Can't see Survivor or Invisible Monster or Lullaby as good movies though they are great books. Maybe Survivor but it's probably very difficult to adapt without making it too .. over the top. And I think Chuck is very repetitive but when it gets old, just read something else for awhile, it's a good place to back to after a while. And I'm sure there will be a great many memorable quotes from this movie just like Fight Club.
Haunted is damn good by s0nicdeathmonkey	Jan 23rd, 2008 04:45:27 AM
the nightmare machine shows Venus, btw.
Rant is my new favorite book of his... by dr_john_zoidberg	Jan 23rd, 2008 05:01:24 AM
...but Choke ranks right up there with the best of his work. Can't wait for the movie, I just hope they don't fuck it up too much. It was a quick read, so I doubt there will be any room for plot omissions in the translation to film. Fingers Crossed.
Love to see "Survivor" too as a movie... by moviemaniac-7	Jan 23rd, 2008 05:27:22 AM
Big fan of Palahniuk and I hope that all his books will be made into movies. This review makes me happy.
The only book by red_weed	Jan 23rd, 2008 05:55:25 AM
I've ever read of his is Haunted. It's also the first book I ever bought. I only have 4. what can I say, I'm not much of a reader. But the idea of some short stories seemed manageable for me. I can't wait to see some new stuff form him though. Maybe i should get his other stuff.
Did you steal the other three books? by DonnieDorko	Jan 23rd, 2008 06:25:21 AM
red_weed, or did you write them yourself?
HAVE YOU READ HIS ESSAYS? by Err	Jan 23rd, 2008 07:14:21 AM
Marvelous writing and very funny and insightful.
paula-nick [phonetics] 's second best book after survivor by ironic_name	Jan 23rd, 2008 07:28:44 AM
survivor would be hard to make into a movie.. because, well, there is a SECRET ending to the movie, that would be hard to film.
In a perfect world . . . by Nice Marmot	Jan 23rd, 2008 07:28:54 AM
. . . Fincher would have directed every Palahniak film adaptation.
loved Choke by Kloipy	Jan 23rd, 2008 07:43:29 AM
I wish, but I know we never will see Haunted. Survivor would be great. Lullabye too. Only one of his books I didn't like was the Stranger than Fiction book. Started off good, but then just kind of boring
Adapt HAUNTED! by ricarleite	Jan 23rd, 2008 08:04:35 AM
I wanna see the short story "Guts" on the big screen!
Sorry... by rutgersjaffo	Jan 23rd, 2008 08:17:32 AM
But this guy is the over-blown hipster favorite of the new millenium. I guess if you have had a partial labotomy, you can ignore the huge plot holes and obviously contrived devices strewn throughout them. Otherwise, try something lilke House of Leaves (by Mark Danielewski) to read something actually groundbreaking and not requiring you to shut down half of your brain to enjoy it...
Choke is my fav Chuck book. by Sailor Rip	Jan 23rd, 2008 08:18:32 AM
Should have got Vincent Gallo to play Victor.
Ever read that thing where a guys colon is ripped by norrinrad	Jan 23rd, 2008 08:39:00 AM
A guy gets his intestine or colon or some crap yanked out from his but by a pump in a swimming pool. Chuck is nuts.
Yeah, that's "Guts" from Haunted. by Sailor Rip	Jan 23rd, 2008 09:02:22 AM
I like the one about the cpr dummy that gets constantly soiled.
Re: a "Survivor" movie by Rickey Henderson	Jan 23rd, 2008 09:17:55 AM
Yeah, that's my favorite of his too... But I'm not sure if Hollywood has the stomach to make a movie in which the protagonist hijacks a plane.
And how awesome would that Superbowl scene be? by Rickey Henderson	Jan 23rd, 2008 09:20:59 AM
Argh, I'd love to see that pandemonium on the big screen...
haunted spoilers by Kloipy	Jan 23rd, 2008 09:44:44 AM
i highly doubt they would ever make that movie, because of stuff like "guts" and the slow cannibalism and the flying penis. I would love to see the short story "The Box" though
Invisible Monsters is his best by blanket5	Jan 23rd, 2008 09:46:17 AM
It's about a supermodel who has half of her face blown away by a shotgun, and she meets up with a transvestite and together they show real estate, but only so they can steal prescription medicine from the bathrooms. You can't make that stuff up ... well, I guess he did.
Node32774 by Sailor Rip	Jan 23rd, 2008 09:50:40 AM
You sure? I'm at work or I'd check the book.
Rickey Henderson, it'd also be difficult because.. by ironic_name	Jan 23rd, 2008 10:06:33 AM
supposedly, chuck left out the "jump out of the plane and leave a recorded message providing a fake alibi, with the black box recording tender's explaining till the end" end, who would you film that.. I guess you could have two cops interpreting the recording, and then have them work it out after the credits, and show the plane flying into the bush with a small recorder next to the pilot's black box microphone.
HOW, not who.. by ironic_name	Jan 23rd, 2008 10:09:09 AM
and they could interpret him dying in the plane, a usual suspects, "none of this happened" thing
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 10:34:34 AM
Sounds pretty faithful Quint. Also, why does the headline sound negative? Had me worried for a second there...
I'll be amazed if they keep the dramatic climax by jimmay	Jan 23rd, 2008 10:42:25 AM
from the book. If you haven't read it, let's just say the shit really breaks loose.
Lullaby is the best by waggy	Jan 23rd, 2008 10:42:26 AM
Then either Survivor or Invisible Monsters. Have to admit the clip i watched of Choke did not instill me with confidence at all. Gotta wait for a review from someone who's read the book (no offense Quint). Admittedly it's impossible for me to read any of his books without David Fincher directing in my head.
Sailor Rip you shut your goddamn mouth by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 10:43:43 AM
Gallo is a crazy right-wing turbotwat (and also, might I add, a fucking hack of epic proportions) and Sam Rockwell is talent incarnate. He's perfect for the role — though I admit, when reading, I couldn't help but think of Ed Norton (Palahniuk uses pretty much the same voice as in "Fight Club.")
jimmay by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 10:46:45 AM
I really hope they do. I can't even imagine this film without the "rape" scene, which I hope is in there word-for-word. I've rarely laughed so hard at written word.
Haunted = HBO miniseries by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 10:47:45 AM
Make it so.
HBO series for haunted by BigTexas42	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:12:07 AM
EXACTLY what I was thinking. It would play a bit like Lost, intermingling the events in the theater and the short stories (flashbacks). they could do "guts" without showing all the gory details. But that wouldn't be very fun. OF course , the insinuation of what was happening might be more disturbing than seeing it, which would just be gross. How would you like to be the propmaster for that? "you want a WHAT turned inside out?" man, I can't remember some of the stories - looks like I'll have to get that one out again...
choke was mediocre by cpt. tim	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:18:15 AM
Here's how you make survivor work: Kevin spacey + lots of Voiceover
Hey Quint by tbransonlives	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:21:05 AM
Was there a "rape" scene in the movie? One of the funniest things in the book just curious if they kept it in.
Quo Vadimus... by DanielKurland	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:26:35 AM
Great book, and I really, really hope the "rape" scene, with the safe word is kept in the movie. It's definitely one of the funniest scenes Palahniuk has done. Haunted would be incredible as an HBO mini-series, and I'd love to see Rant adapted in some form. Lullaby and Diary, while containing the same elegant prose, and skewed perspective and narration, were not my favorites, and I could live without seeing them adapted. Lullaby just got too damn ridiculous. Floating sex?
Fucking forgot about Invisible Monsters!... by DanielKurland	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:27:14 AM
NEED to see a movie of that.
Tbransonlives... by DanielKurland	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:30:00 AM
Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way about the rape scene, and that you and I both referred to it as the "rape" scene.
i said it too, danielkurland by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:33:28 AM
Notice me!! I need a gold star. Something.
Burgundy82 by Sailor Rip	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:36:06 AM
I don't know, when I hear a name like Victor Mancini I picture someone, you know, Italian looking. Gallo is great, Buffalo 66 proves this. Rockwell's great too. In fact, I could see him in Survivor. He looks like he grew up in a cult a received years and years of shitty kitchen haircuts.
thats funny by tbransonlives	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:38:47 AM
I didn't even see either of your posts, just proves how important it is lol.
Rip by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:43:19 AM
I still just can't picture Gallo speaking/thinking in Palahniuk-prose. But you're right about Rockwell, he would have worked well in 'Survivor,' which will unfortunately probably never be made.
tbranson by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:45:06 AM
Just shows how much Quint needs to answer us.
the brown bunny by Kloipy	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:45:13 AM
enough said
Survivor will be made one day. by Sailor Rip	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:54:32 AM
So the guy hijacks a plane. He lets the passengers go and the only one who dies(maybe) is him. I really think it's more of Hollywood's disinterest in the picture then any post 9/11 sentamentalities. Remember, Fight Club had Brad Pitt and made what, 26 mil at the BO. Sure it's a classic now but not many bothered to see it in theatres. This is most likely whats holding back adaptions of Chuck's work. Hollywood see's a fringe audience. If Choke does well that will end.
(may be TOO SOON but) ROCKWELL for Joker in B3 by George Newman	Jan 23rd, 2008 12:11:26 PM
if the joker continues into Batman 3, which I'm pretty sure was their intention . Ledger will be great, but Rockwell was my choice all along
Newman by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 12:14:45 PM
I think he'd be good in the role, but I really despise recastings of any kind within the same series. If I didn't hate Katie Holmes so much I'd have been be really opposed to the Gyllenhaal switch, too.
Newman, con't. by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 12:17:38 PM
I say, whether the character dies or not, let the Joker be Ledger's (at least in Nolan's world) and let Nolan finish the trilogy with a Dent-centric (as was planned) but also Joker-less third entry.
burgundy by George Newman	Jan 23rd, 2008 12:20:26 PM
i hate recasting, too. It's just that I recall an old spoiler outline of batman 2 and 3 that told of joker carrying over into 3. something like in 2, being involved in Harvey's turn to Two-face, and then being on trial or something to that effect in 3.
Oh and by the way... by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 12:21:40 PM
Did anyone see that fucked up video of Jack Nicholson being told about Heath and responding, "I warned him.." Weird.
um, guys... by BigTexas42	Jan 23rd, 2008 12:48:27 PM
the batman/ledger talkbacks are that way...(points to the Top Talkbacks bar on the right)... Would Burton ever do a film based on a Palahniuk novel? Would it be good?
I wish... by cinemaniac1979	Jan 23rd, 2008 12:59:19 PM
Chuck would get back to writing books like this. His last 3 have been woefully below the standard of his previous works. Quint: I'd avoid Haunted in favor of Lullaby-- a much better read. But start with Survivor, which is by far his best book to date.
No way by Sailor Rip	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:18:35 PM
Not his best but Rant was definitely his most ambitious book to date.
Haunted was a disappointment.... by The Dum Guy	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:21:55 PM
I liked some of the side storys, but the main narrative was lacking. I would like to see someone's visual interpretation of 'Guts' though.
haven't read Rant yet, but... by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:39:31 PM
I got it for Christmas and it's waiting on me to get a moment of free time (he says as he checks AICN again at work) but I'm really looking forward to it.. Meanwhile, BigTexas, it was just one Ledger post — and I've already said plenty about my hopes for "Choke."
Well, technically THREE Ledger posts... by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:41:12 PM
but who's counting?
Sure by Redundant23	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:41:53 PM
A sex-addict slash historical reenacter whose other job is to purposefully choke in restaurants and who may or may not be Jesus Christ’s half-clone and/or son. Sure. That sounds plausible. Has Palahniuk ever written a book that won't buttfuck my suspension of disbelief? His books are more fantasy than Tolkien's.
Well, its SORTA his first directing by Dmann	Jan 23rd, 2008 01:52:07 PM
First feature. Gregg directed the first few episodes of both the Wire and the Shield, being instrumental in the look of both shows, as , and acting in the final season of the wire. Both of those shows are better than at least half the features playing at Sundance.
Dmann by Laserhead	Jan 23rd, 2008 02:02:41 PM
You're thinking of Clark Johnson.
I hope it's better on the screen. by hst666	Jan 23rd, 2008 02:09:19 PM
Out of the four Chuck P. books I have read, Fight Club, Survivor, Lullabye, and Choke, I liked Choke least. I did not hate it, but it was just so-so. I like Sam Rockwell a lot and hope this does well, so I can see eventually see Survivor Goddamit.
YEs I am! by Dmann	Jan 23rd, 2008 02:32:33 PM
I am retarded!
I think Chuck may be a bit crap by Sepulchrave	Jan 23rd, 2008 03:17:22 PM
I'm not saying he's not enjoyable and 'edgy', whatever THAT is in the horrible, horrible world of marketing. But I have a feeling that he was hand-picked by just such a besuited reptile who licked his eyeballs and thought; HERE'S an alienated man with an interest in body-horror and alienation whose terse prose style (short simple sentence structure) will go down with the average chunkety-ass US twenty-something. Not that I'm not unhappy that a gay guy can be so patently nasty and unfabulous. Kudos to him. But no book goes anywhere without marketing and the recognition of a fruitful niche. mmm...fruitful niche...
Get Over It by m_prevette	Jan 23rd, 2008 03:19:09 PM
The guy is a hack.
Quint: DON'T READ HAUNTED!! by GiggityGoo	Jan 23rd, 2008 03:25:02 PM
Quint, Save yourself the disappointment and don't both with "Haunted". Unfortunately, it's Chuck's "jump the shark" book. Read "Lullaby" and "Invisible Monsters" instead.
I wonder if Rockwell still thinks... by ChrisTuckersOnlyFan	Jan 23rd, 2008 04:34:23 PM
Somebody's watchin me......
Whatever Happened To LULLABY? by LaserPants	Jan 23rd, 2008 04:55:52 PM
Wasn't Fincher tapped to direct that too? Or did I dream that? Also, DIARY would make a great flick.
Rape by Quint	Jan 23rd, 2008 05:57:21 PM
Indeed the scene you're referring to is in the movie, in all its glory it sounds like.
Thank God... by rutgersjaffo	Jan 23rd, 2008 06:12:17 PM
...i'm not the only one who thinks this guy is WAY overblown. Again, House of Leaves is better by far.
Hot springs story from Haunted is the most fucked up by ricarleite	Jan 23rd, 2008 06:12:34 PM
Even more than Guts. It's pretty gruesome and horrible, even worse than Guts, because with Guts, it was just gross, not absolutely fucked up and freightening as people melting. I wanna see THAT one on big screen, along with Guts and the one about Marlyn Monroe.
Not a big Palahniuk fan by mraig	Jan 23rd, 2008 06:25:25 PM
I enjoyed Fight Club, the movie & book, when they came out, but the more time passes, the less weight they have with me--I feel like there's a lot more suggestion or pretension of substance and depth than there is actual substance or depth. I have read a couple of his later books, and they read to me like the same thing over and over--the same jaded, ironic, pseudo-post-meta-intellectual voice, the same obnoxious artificial ticks in the writing repeated over and over, no differentiation of characters or voices, just the same calculated envelope pushing again and again. I think he has talent as a craftsman, but I wish he would use it for something other than just trying to shock or disgust people. It's not so much that he's a bad writer as it is that so many people act like he's the BEST writer who's ever walked the earth. He's not. But I think it could be a decent movie depending on how it's filmed. I think Fight Club the movie holds up better than the book because it has so much of Fincher's visual style and great performances by Norton and Pitt. Choke's got stuff that could be pretty funny on screen if it's handled with the right touch (especially if it didn't take itself too seriously).
Thank God!!! by dancetothebeatofthelivingdead	Jan 23rd, 2008 07:23:32 PM
I was really freaking when I heard this was going to a first time director. Then cating 40 year old Sam Rockwell as 25 year old Victor was another worry. STOP!! Befpre you all start screaming about how brilliant Sam Rockwell's work has been. I agree. I just thought a Ryan Gosling, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Nick Stahl, or I'll say it, DiCaprio was better suited for the role. Based solely on this short review by someone who never read the book, it looks like it comes close to hitting the mark, though. This is a movie that will fall on it's ass if not done perfect. But considering the director shopped his screenplay for four years before taking an offer that left him in control of the finished product, I'd say he's passionate about the book and I hope he nails it. Chuck's books are either love it/ hate it material. It takes a different kind of mind to "get them" not smarter, not more ironic, not deeper, just different. To all those who get him, I'll see ya there!
Chuck Is So Awesome by skoobyx	Jan 23rd, 2008 07:23:50 PM
My gf had a creative writing class with him one time. His book about Portland is the coolest thing written on the city. 'Haunted' or 'Rant' might make a better movie but after 'Survivor' got axed post 9/11 its just nice they're adapting another one.
And Listen To His Commentary on the 'Fight Club' DVD... by skoobyx	Jan 23rd, 2008 07:25:26 PM
Its hilarious. He tells how he got beat up over the weekend and when he went back to the office on Monday everyone went to extensive lengths not to mention how he looked in order to avoid getting involved in his life...
Quint by Burgundy82	Jan 23rd, 2008 07:52:21 PM
Thanks for answering us, man. Glad to hear it's in there.
House of Leaves may be better... by DanielKurland	Jan 24th, 2008 12:28:26 AM
But there's absolutely NO way you could adapt that into a movie.
Sepulchrave by DonnieDorko	Jan 24th, 2008 03:06:00 AM
I'm no expert in gayness, but Clive Barker sure can write some nasty and unfabulous books too, but his creatures are a bit overdramatic when I think about it.. Nevertheless, I don't think writing styles are too dependant on wether you like more dicks than your own or not.
My friend was telling me about Survivor a year or so ago by IndustryKiller!	Jan 24th, 2008 03:43:33 AM
And what an excellent book it was and how casting it would be tough but the first name that came to his mind was Heath Ledger. Seems odd now. Sorry, just can't get the guys death off my mind.
Did I say that there weren't other nasty gay writers? by Sepulchrave	Jan 24th, 2008 05:01:12 AM
Fuck, try Genet for a start. Just that gayness has gotten so lavender and suburban lately. Have you SEEN Barker lately? Man's almost certainly on HIV meds. He has that strained and bloated steroid-y look; carved cheeks, very flushed.
No you didn't by DonnieDorko	Jan 24th, 2008 08:28:50 AM
And I haven't seen Barker lately, sounds bad.
Choke's a great book by Whitemouse	Jan 24th, 2008 04:35:25 PM
and from that review it sounds like a pretty spot on adaptation. someone should make Guts into a TV short...someone should really really try that!

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

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