Most reviewers on this or any reviewable website tend to review only the movies they loved or hated. But I am in between on this one. I love indie films, and I was really impressed with the naturalness of the entire cast. It seemed like a camera was present to record the daily experiences of Ale and Isi. Very real. But there was almost no story, and very little is changed in their sad go-nowhere lives. This may impress critics and many viewers, probably because of its grittiness, but I know already how bleak many lives are in New York, having been there many times. A good story should either change the characters or their circumstances in some way to be satisfying. A slice of life is fine, but this film goes nowhere, and then ends with an artificially happy moment that doesn't fit or give any closure. Good camera work, good performances, but not much story. So, I give it a generous 6 for its strengths, as I neither loved nor hated it. I guess the message is "life goes on".
Review of Chop Shop
