Chuck Palahniuk, perhaps best known for the movie Fight Club rather than his long list of novels, is making another foray into cinema, this time with his 2001 novel Choke, in theatres fall 2008.
The Tangled Web
The conversion of this dark comedy was a long process for Clark Gregg, the actor turned director, who penned the screenplay. The film adaptation tells the story of disturbed sex addict, Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell), as he attempts to untangle the identity of his father and cope with his ill mother. The convoluted tale uncovers layers of depth and inner-turmoil as the audience delves into the lives of Mancini and those around him.
Victor works by day at a colonial-era theme park as an indentured Irish servant with his best friend Denny (Brad William Henke). After his days of historic re-enactments, Victor employs his ulterior method of making money, choking on food at fine restaurants. After choosing his unwitting hero Mancini allows himself to be saved, beginning a parasitic relationship with his new savior.
All of his hapless efforts work toward supporting his mentally unwell mother Ida Mancini (Angelica Huston) who lives in a full care psychiatric facility. Suffering deeply from dementia, she almost never recognizes her son during his frequent visits. Ida manages to slip out that she has been keeping Victor’s father’s identity a secret which unleashes in him a desperate need to solve the mystery.
Love and Other Feelings
With the help of the sweet Dr. Paige Marshall (Kelly Macdonald), Victor attempts to unravel his possibly divine conception. What he doesn’t know is that Paige has secret demons of her own that she is battling. As they work together to help Ida and to uncover his past he begins to fall for this one woman who he can’t seem to be intimate with.
When he isn’t playing dress up or choking, Victor Mancini attends a 12-step sex addiction program with Denny. They battle their inner deviants in a group of equally disturbed addicts. While Victor is stuck trying to make his ‘4th step’ and having passionless intercourse with another group attendee, Denny moves past his sexual compulsions. Eventually Denny falls in love with exotic dancer Cherry Daiquiri aka Beth (Gillian Jacobs) and together they continue to try and help Victor help himself.
In Review
Choke was an expectedly dark and surprisingly funny comedy. Sam Rockwell easily sweeps the audience into Victor Mancini’s world and is endlessly pliable in his ever-evolving role. As a supporting lead, powerhouse Angelica Huston (who plays her younger self as well in the movie) is moving in her representation as the mentally ill Ida Mancini. Constantly redefining herself, Kelly Macdonald, takes her career another huge step forward with Choke.
Choke premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival to much interest. The small budget project that was filmed in less than 30 days is a good representation of Chuck Palahniuk’s writing style. The film is not a direct translation of the novel but presents the story in a creative and humorous way while preserving the integrity of the characters.
Choke certainly stands strong as a low budget, imaginative film in a box office full of blockbusters.
