NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (February 2021): Criterion have transferred Ramin Bahrani's Chop Shop to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "High-definition digital master, supervised and approved by director Ramin Bahrani". The image quality shot in 1.78:1 HD, is immaculate. The image is tight, consistent and pristinely clean proving a wonderful 1080P presentation with depth, realistic colors and sublime contrast. The HD presentation is one worthy of the film.  

NOTE: We have added 40 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language. There are separations, mostly notable in the automobile workshop. There is a score credit to M. Lo, but the film is filled with beautiful, understated, Spanish music (performed by Los Borrachos, Lisa M. feat. Las Chivinitas, Jenasis, Bachata Con Siento and various artists) plus the start of the haunting, Kubrick-like, closing theme. It sounds as tight and impacting as the image. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray offers a commentary, recorded in 2006, featuring director Ramin Bahrani, director of photography Michael Simmonds, and actor Alejandro Polanco. In it Bahrani discusses his approach to filmmaking; locations, casting and the other two participants chime in frequently. I found it revealing. In the fall of 2020, assistant director Nicholas Elliott sat down with director Ramin Bahrani and actors Alejandro Polanco and Ahmad Razvi to discuss the experience of making Chop Shop. This runs 27-minutes. Also included is a conversation, recorded remotely for the Criterion Collection in fall 2020, where director Ramin Bahrani and author Suketu Mehta discuss the portrayal of working migrant communities in Chop Shop and Man Push Cart, the notion of global cinema, and the changing appeal of chasing prosperity in America. It is entitled In Search of the American Dream. There is some rehearsal footage from 2006 featuring Polanco and actors Isamar Gonzales and Carlos Zapata (Ale at the Shop - 20:25 / Ale and Izzy - 13:28). Inspired by the naturalistic performances in the films of Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, and Abbas Kiarostami, Ramin Bahrani rewrote the original script for Chop Shop based on improvisations staged with his lead actors. Excerpts of those taped rehearsals, featuring Alejandro Polanco, Isamar Gonzales, Rob Sowulski, Ahmad Razvi, and Carlos Zapata, provide insight into the way key moments in the film were shaped before production began in summer 2006. Lastly, is a theatrical trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen.  

Ramin Bahrani's Chop Shop is absolutely brilliant - probably the most Dardenne-esque cinema I have seen in a long while. It reminded me very much of La Promesse. This is devastatingly pure and effective film expression making it highly impacting and unforgettable. The Criterion Blu-ray has a wonderful presentation, commentary and other extras of an essential film - top 10 of the 2000s. Our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze