April 18, 2009

Choke (2008)

4/5

Choke, according to IMDb, is about a sex-addicted con-man who pays for his mother's hospital bills by playing on the sympathies of those who rescue him from choking to death. Having read that blurb coming in, I was surprised at how much more story, characterization, and depth there was compared with what I expected. This is a movie remarkably unlike anything else I've seen; it is outlandish yet personal, irreverent yet honest. There is a strange tenderness permeating this graphic, mature, cynical film. And somehow it works. The plot and editing manage to be satisfying in length and brisk in pacing. The dialogue and performances are both meaningful and hilarious. The rest of the technical aspects are less than noteworthy, but all in all Choke is an unexpected delight that I highly recommend.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024715/