Choke (2008)

Choke (2008) is Clark Gregg's adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel, starring Sam Rockwell and Angelica Huston. The film is Gregg's directorial debut, though he's been in just about everything as an actor, usually as the semi-loser, semi-smarmy, all-harmless authority figure: the police chief, the protagonist's ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, the annoying middle manager. Here he plays the boss at the Colonial Williamsburg theme park where Victor Manicini (Rockwell) works, alternately romancing the main milkmaid, and trying to banish Victor and his best bud Denny for anachronistic infractions.

The movie follows the novel pretty closely, and is well-cast. Sam Rockwell is a pretty good representation of Victor, the sex-addict and con-artist who may or may not be the son of God, and manages to capture the simulatenous love and disgust you have for the character. Angelica Huston is amazing and gorgeous, as always, and manages to add layer upon layer to her crazy mother character, with just brief snippets of backstory. Who wouldn't want Angelica Huston as your crazy, quirky, kidnapping mother? Besides Victor, of course. The relationship between these two is crucial to the emotional progression of the film. Sam is pretty good, but Angelica is better.

Kelly MacDonald is adorable as usual, and I was happy to see her cast as the unconventional Doctor Marshall. She's quietly quirky and sweet, and plays cute with Rockwell's Victor. Brad William Henke as the adorably stupid best friend is also pretty perfect. And, he's on Lost! One of the good guys! Even Gillian Jacobs as Cherry Daiquiri ("not her real name") is funny and memorable.

So, cute, clever, well-acted adaptation of a pretty good book. What's missing? I'm not sure. Tim Orr, the dp, was already on my list for Pineapple Express and All the Real Girls, and the cinematography is fine, good. The acting, direction and editing are all fine, good. And though Choke isn't my favorite of Palahniuk's novels (that honor probably still goes to Survivor), the movie didn't improve upon my experience of the book. Maybe it's too much like the book. It didn't really add to my imagination. Still, a promising debut and a set of lovely performances.