Chop Shop: a movie review
“Crash” was the last film to show the so-called dark side of America. It came as no surprise to many that racism is still very real in America. “Crash” is convoluted and preachy: perfect for colleges looking to show a film about racism. For all “Crash” accomplishes in showing, however, the film never escapes the clutches of Hollywood sensationalism. “Chop Shop” manages to avoid the sensationalism of Hollywood but can not avoid the shock value of poverty.
“Chop Shop” is more recent film (2007) in a similar genre as “Crash”. Cynics will say that the story is all too familiar, even over done and they are right. One critic called the film, “a beleaguered slab of neorealism.” The obvious narrative of “Chop Shop” is that of a preteen boy and his 16 year old sister’s struggle to survive poverty in the slums. Despite bordering on cliché the story is compelling. Good acting on the part of the protagonists carries the movie. But the real value of this movie is like that of “Crash”: context. The director does well to draw you into the story before revealing his true intention. The story almost lulls you into not caring where the movie is set but as the camera slowly pans you are given more and more conclusive evidence…New York city.
“Chop Shop isn’t so beautiful or artfully sculpted, and you can’t shake it off as just a movie. You want to head out on the 7 train and find this little boy—or someone like him.
Links:
IMDB for “Chop Shop”
David Edelstien’s review from New York Magazine