Review of Chop Shop (2008) by Lori B — 21 Sep 2013

This film has been sitting in my Instant Queue forever, probably ever since I saw Bahrani's other excellent film, Goodbye Solo. But I could never bring myself to watch it; perhaps I thought it might be too depressing.

The amazing thing about Chop Shop is that it was made without professional actors. But rather than handicapping the film, Bahrani's carefully constructed masterpiece is enhanced by the realism and naturalism the actual inhabitants of the area bring to the movie.

This is not a happy movie, especially considering the sad reality of American poverty. But it strangely is not depressing either. It is just very real.