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Brad William Henke, left, and Sam Rockwell are shown in a scene from Choke.
Jessica Miglio/AP

Review: 'Choke'

Adaptation of Palahniuk novel is a dark comedy about sexual addiction and mothers and sons.

By Peter Rainer

from the September 26, 2008 edition

The 1999 movie adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's "Fight Club" wasn't very good but it was just outré enough to keep the cinéastes humming. With Brad Pitt in the cast, it even managed to dip a toe into the mainstream. No such fate is likely to befall "Choke," the latest Palahniuk adaptation, starring Sam Rockwell as a serious screw-up. His day job is playacting in a colonial theme park, dressed in full colonial garb. (We are cued to sneer at what our forefathers have become.) Otherwise he attends a 12-step program for sex addicts, mainly as a way to score. Rockwell has an off-center charm and, as his gorgon mother, Anjelica Huston is more imposing than this movie deserves. Grade: C (Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, and language.)

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