Chop Shop

Name: Chop Shop
Released: February 27, 2008
Duration: 84 min
Rating: 83

2008

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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Chop Shop

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Movie Details & Credits

Koch Lorber Films | Release Date: February 27, 2008 | Unrated

Summary: Alejandro spends his days in an adult world, running errands and convincing customers to come to his boss's garage instead of a competitor's garage. He's also learning how to paint and repair cars. Although conditions are harsh, his life is sprinkled with moments of happiness as he carves out a life for himself in the wasteland of the IronAlejandro spends his days in an adult world, running errands and convincing customers to come to his boss's garage instead of a competitor's garage. He's also learning how to paint and repair cars. Although conditions are harsh, his life is sprinkled with moments of happiness as he carves out a life for himself in the wasteland of the Iron Triangle. The brightest of these moments is the arrival of his sister Isamar, who moves in with him in the tiny room that he has found for them perched in the back of the shop where he works. Knowing that creating a better life for the two of them is their best bet at staying together, Alejandro finds her a job in a food van cooking and selling meals to the workers in the Iron Triangle. With a mixture of childlike naiveté and adult ambition, Alejandro begins obsessively saving his money to buy a mobile food van. The two dream about owning and running a small business of their own. But when their dream--as well as their loving relationship--is threatened by the hard truths of life, work, and one another, the children find themselves forced to make the kinds of difficult decisions that most adults never have to face. (Koch Lorber)… Expand

Director: Ramin Bahrani

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 84 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

Bahrani's willingness to expose the shameful reality of third-world conditions in the Land of Plenty while telling a crackling good story marks him as a filmmaker as important as he is accessible. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

Now we have an American film with the raw power of “City of God” or “Pixote,” a film that does something unexpected, and inspired, and brave. Read full review

John Anderson

The director has created a not-to-miss gem for the discriminating viewer. Read full review

J.R. Jones

In this littered environment there's no such thing as trash, only salvage, and the biggest threat to the siblings' humanity is a creeping tendency to think of themselves as commodities as well. Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Iranian-American filmmaker Ramin Bahrani has followed up his well-received Man Push Cart with another penetrating portrait of life on the outskirts of New York. Read full review

Nathan Lee

Authentic as all this feels (and smells, and tastes), Chop Shop gives off a heightened sense of reality, a faintly idealized atmosphere akin to the Lower East Side milieu of "Raising Victor Vargas," a close relative in the New York branch of neo-neorealism. Read full review

Bill White

It is ironic that the core audience for Chop Shop is that very crowd that has recently taken steps to redevelop the Iron Triangle into something more Manhattan-friendly. Read full review

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User Reviews

tomziegler

Oct 30, 2020

I love this movie, it's so well directed, with a realistic and sensitive vision. Ramin Bahrani is a phenomenal filmmaker, no wonder Roger Ebert called him "the director of the decade." Can't wait for White Tiger on Netflix!

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SlaineE.

Jul 12, 2008

Wicked, deep, heavy, the reality that some kids live.

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himeeg

Dec 31, 2013

The sad life of these orphan siblings is heartbreaking. From the same director who gave us Goodbye Solo, this film is a strong dose of realism. A very beautiful, yet tragic film.

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JohnC.

Sep 23, 2008

Listen. It doesn't have a exact hollywood narrative or feel, but that shouldn't be a knock against the film. There are countless ways to tell a story, this one has more compassion for it's young characters then anything coming from a big studio. It's not perfect but I Listen. It doesn't have a exact hollywood narrative or feel, but that shouldn't be a knock against the film. There are countless ways to tell a story, this one has more compassion for it's young characters then anything coming from a big studio. It's not perfect but I guarantee the subject and the world are riveting. IF we can feel for 3d robots/cars, why not for this youngster?… Expand

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PaulK.

Mar 30, 2008

This movie is probably more like a 6.5, but I was feeling a little generous tonight. There's a lot to like about Chop Shop, especially the acting and grittiness of the cinematography. Ultimately though, I felt like the characters needed more development. Maybe more back story or more This movie is probably more like a 6.5, but I was feeling a little generous tonight. There's a lot to like about Chop Shop, especially the acting and grittiness of the cinematography. Ultimately though, I felt like the characters needed more development. Maybe more back story or more insight into the relationship of Alejandro and Isamar? Either way, I needed to care more about them and to understand more about the world in which they struggle to live in. The minimal feel of the movie works, but a more substantial ending would have been a nice counterbalance to the slow, introspective pace. Good, not great.… Expand

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BenM.

Aug 23, 2008

Disappointing; being the top rated dvd in metacritic i expected something amazing. instead i felt like this was filmmaking for the sake of the filmmaker; not for the audience. Some great imagery, but generally pointless.

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RobertF.

Aug 1, 2008

Quite possibly... no it is the worst movie I've ever seen in my entire life. I kept watching just to see if something was going to happen. It was pointless from beginning to end. Nothing happens... don't waste your time on this one.

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