Choke is a vulgar film, obscene and obsessive. Sexual addiction, chronic masturbation, colonial theme parks, mental institutions, and one lady's woo woo. Culled straight from the mind of iconoclastic author Chuck Palahniuk, the film is a juggling act of childhood trauma, compulsion, and redemption, all brought to life by first-time director Clark Gregg, and starring the colorful oddball Sam Rockwell. The three of them were recently in New York doing press for the film, and when you're around such depraved individuals, asking the typical, overused junket questions (what was it like working with such and such?) becomes, well, mind-numbing. For Sam, Chuck, and Clark, a different approach was used, and the results were enlightening. Up next, why Clark Gregg wants to be Hayden Panettiere's Siamese twin, why Sam Rockwell wants to live inside Heavy Metal , and why Chuck Palahniuk wants to have sex with a giant panda.

The first two episodes of Californication are already online before the show’s September 29 season 2 premiere. I watched them both the other night through the gauze of David Duchovny’s recent entry into rehab for sex addiction. It was bizarre seeing him play a character who’s constantly turning down sex from attractive extras (because of his character’s current involvement in a monogamous relationship) and wondering when exactly he propositioned them on set -- before or after they shot their scenes? I can't help but think that when an actress suggestively licked a popsicle to seduce Hank Moody, the real Duchovny must have been all riled up. Duchovny’s admission has sparked a debate of sorts on the nature of sex addiction.

It used to be easy to think Woody Allen’s best years were behind him. Match Point changed that; not an altogether great film, but a good one, and enough to induce speculation about a possible late-career renaissance. After an interval of two abject stinkers (Scoop, Cassandra’s Dream), that expectation is belatedly, but joyously fulfilled with Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It’s easily Allen’s best film in a decade.