Rating: 
Summary: A thriller that's actually about something.
Review: You can view director Stephen Frears' DIRTY PRETTY THINGS one of two ways, maybe even more than that.It allows viewers the chance to see a side of London that is never shown, an underground world of illegal immigrants trying to get by and gain legal citizenship while trying to evade authorities. It also shows viewers a rather creepy and twisted plot involving the black-market sale of human organs and how willing some people are to pursue their dreams. The film also gives Audrey Tautou her first English-speaking role and features her prominently in a rather odd, completely compelling love story. I was rather pleased with this movie, which though flawed is never boring. And the ending of it was particularly satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: Dirty rather than pretty
Review: They're in the shadows, the people that no one sees. "Dirty Pretty Things" can be classified as many things -- horror, drama, thriller, social commentary or some combination of the above -- but in the end it is merely a wonderfully gritty, realistic film that will leave you thinking. Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Nigerian immigrant in London, lives with (but is not involved with) prickly Turkish immigrant Senay (Audrey Tatou), both of whom struggle against immigrant officials -- and their own feelings. Okwe works by his own strong morals, hampered by a dark secret. But one day Okwe makes a grisly discovery in the hotel where he works -- a clog in a toilet that turns out to be a human heart. His boss Juan (Sergi Lopez) tells him to not say anything. Does Okwe obey him? Of course not. He digs deeper, and soon uncovers a sinister web that hits close to the heart: Desperate immigrants sell their organs in exchange for forged papers and passports. As the immigration officials start to close in on Okwe and Senay, they must figure out what to do about the organ smuggling ring. A lot of movie moralizing is contrived and poorly-scripted. But Stephen Frears manages to stick the moral dilemmas in the faces of the viewers and make them stick. Okwe's conflicted feelings when he discovers the organ trafficking are wonderful, especially as he himself is a doctor who could help people, but working for an evil man. Similarly we see Senay, a religious girl, in a slow, inexorable downward slide. We see many immigrants, all with different dreams, goals, and pasts. And Frears makes them all come alive. He shows London as a city with a dark underbelly, with plenty of sinister big buildings where immigrant workers struggle to remain anonymous. Most sinister of all: That people will sell their organs or their bodies in order to find a better life. Audrey Tatou shatters the public perception of her in "Dirty Pretty Things," shifting into the role of a trodden-on Turkish maid. She's absolutely masterful, fragile and sad. Chiwetel Ejiofor brings wonderful expressiveness and dignity to his role, but doesn't have quite the dimension of Lopez or Tatou. Sergi Lopez is one of the best screen villains in quite some time, absolutely making the screen sparkle. But you'll hate his guts. Also good is Sohie Okonedo as an upbeat hooker and Zlatko Buric as the likable doorman. Not for the faint of heart, "Dirty Pretty Things" left me staring at a semi-dark screen when the film had ended. Powerful, gritty, and stark. One of the must-sees of the year.
Rating:
Summary: Excellenly done and moving
Review: "Dirty Pretty Things" is part mystery, part thriller and part off-beat love story. It is also a brilliant portrait of the plight of illegal immigrants. Somewhat overlooked, this movie is one of 2003's best. It is a prime example of the axiom that 'it's not what you say but how you say it'. Under Stephen Frears' assured direction, what could have been a mere soap opera becomes an insightful look at people in the crossroads of life. Okwe [Fjiofor] is a Nigerian working two jobs in London. He drives a taxi by day and works at the front desk of a hotel at night. He is an illegal immigrant, as are many of the people we meet, including Senay [Audrey Tautou], A Turkish woman who works as a maid at the hotel. Okwe sleeps on Senay's couch. Their relationship is chaste, mainly because of Senay's strict Muslim upbringing. That they are in love is apparent, but here we have a classic example of culture clash. Meanwhile, at the hotel, Sneaky [Lopez] rules the nefarious underworld that goes on underneath the hotel's proper exterior. Sneaky is the one that can get you a false passport for price. Or even a fresh kidney. Okwe and Senay detest Sneaky, but he is the one who can get them the things that they need. "Dirty Pretty Things" is a first class adult movie. The actors are excellent, the story is both moving and surprising, and the ending is one of the best I have seen in a long time.
Rating: 
Summary: A unique story from London's underground
Review: This film is about the lives of illegal aliens in London, United Kingdom, and their dreams, struggles and battle for survival. Illegal aliens live in every country and every city. They live under the radar without rights yet with tons of responsibilities. They are exploited, harassed, blackmailed and manipulated in the most inhuman ways when all they want to do is to provide for their families and to lead a happy life. In this film, we look at the story of two illegals trying to make a better life for themselves. The reasons with which they became illegal are different and so are their final destinations. But they have to work together to get out of London. The film is full of thrills, twists and a sad but very satisfying ending. I totally recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: What a terrific cross-genre film
Review: What is this film that's so difficult to stick a label onto? Is it a thriller? A mystery, a romance, horror, social commentary...? I think I'd call it a thriller with a heart and soul, and it all begins with a hotel clerk finding a human heart stuck in an overflowing toilet.
The setting is London, the characters are primarily illegal immigrants trying to stay one step ahead of deportation. Some of them are so desperate to get legal that they're willing to trade their body parts for a passport. Okwe, the hotel clerk, was a doctor in Nigeria before some secret that's not revealed till the end of the film forced him to flee. Shenay, Audrey Tatou (she of Amelie fame), is a Turkish maid at the hotel and Okwe's friend. There's a rogue of a doorman who is an opportunist with a good heart; there's a hooker with an even better heart; and there's without a doubt the best villain ever created, Juan, the manager of the hotel. He doesn't have a moustache, but he's so slick and smarmy and smiling that you can just see him in a top hat, twirling his moustache and plotting the maiden's downfall in return for her virtue.
Ordered by Juan to ignore the disembodied heart, Okwe does the opposite: he digs into the soft and smelly underbelly of blackmarket body organ trafficking. And when desperate Shenay appears to be headed down that road, things get really, really, really interesting, complete with quirky, brilliant denouement.
You'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely a film of substance ---
Review: I went to "Dirty Pretty Things", tired of summer blockbusters and non-funny comedies. I walked away impressed by the edgy, quirky portrayal of harsh life in a large, cosmopolitan city (it was London, but it could have been anywhere in the world). I'm a bit stuck on Director Stephen Frears, and think his "Dangerous Liasions" to be perhaps one of the best character studies and most disturbing period pieces ever filmed. I believe this was Audrey Tautou's (Senay) first film in English, and she did an admirable job as the vulnerable Turkish immigrant, whose fear of being discovered and imprisoned or deported grows. Applause for both Tautou and Frears, and one of my favorite character actors, Sergi Lopez, who plays Juan, the repugnant night manager of the hotel. I came away, however, most admiring the film's central focus, the performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor, (a virtual unknown, unless you struggled to get through "Amistad") as Okwe. Okwe is a Nigerian immigrant with a secret past that he refuses to share. His quiet persistence, and reluctance to get caught up in the gritty life of crime that Juan offers, are presented in a believable way. You will agonize with him over the choices he must make to insure his and Senay's safety, all of which go against the grain of a "man of character". He eventually solves the mystery of the hotel, but along the way we are treated to a masterful portrayal of his his attraction and protectiveness of Senay. In this capacity, Ejiofor is an awkward, tender man who finally realizes he is in love. There are moments of quiet horror at the degradation illegals must face to keep their status hidden. The plot does twist in the final scenes, but the way in which it ends is unworthy of the drama that has unfolded through most of the film. It is for this reason that I give it 4 stars. "Dirty, Pretty Things" will hold no attraction for those seeking a thriller or a mystery. A fine film that combines understated cinematography with a fine script and terrific character development, even in supporting roles, it is definitely worth viewing for the serious film buff.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: "Dirty Pretty Things" is the story of two immigrants, Senay (Audrey Tautou), a young Turkish girl and Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Nigerian doctor who both work menial jobs in the Baltic Hotel in London. Okwe is in London illegally, and Senay is not supposed to work until her immigrant status changes. Life doesn't exactly look promising for either Okwe or Senay, but then Okwe accidentally stumbles into an illegal organ transplant business. This discovery has serious ramifications for both Senay and Okwe. I bought a copy of "Dirty Pretty Things" mainly because of Audrey Tautou. I really enjoyed her performances in "The Venus Beauty Institute" and "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" so I wanted to see her in this film too. Many critics claimed that this role would allow Tautou a chance to play something a bit different. I thought her performance was abysmally wooden and mealy-mouthed. The film was saved from being a complete disaster by an incredible performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor as the soulful Okwe. Witty, bright performances were also delivered by Benedict Wong as a philosophical morgue attendant, and Sophie Okonedo as a savvy, tough London prostitute. The plot was problematic--why, for example, is there a heart stuffed down the toilet? Where is the rest of the body? Okwe deals with a tough gang of Russian gangsters. It's hardly credible that the thugs would be as careless as this film portrays them. This would have been a much better film if the plot had focused on the struggles of the immigrants, and saved the entire organ transplant thuggery for some Steven Seagal extravaganza. For a really great film about the immigrant experience, I recommend "Bread and Roses"--displacedhuman
Rating:
Summary: Dirty rather than pretty
Review: They're in the shadows, the people that no one sees. "Dirty Pretty Things" can be classified as many things -- horror, drama, thriller, social commentary or some combination of the above -- but in the end it is merely a wonderfully gritty, realistic film that will leave you thinking. Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Nigerian immigrant in London, lives with (but is not involved with) prickly Turkish immigrant Senay (Audrey Tatou), both of whom struggle against immigrant officials -- and their own feelings. Okwe works by his own strong morals, hampered by a dark secret. But one day Okwe makes a grisly discovery in the hotel where he works -- a clog in a toilet that turns out to be a human heart. His boss Juan (Sergi Lopez) tells him to not say anything. Does Okwe obey him? Of course not. He digs deeper, and soon uncovers a sinister web that hits close to the heart: Desperate immigrants sell their organs in exchange for forged papers and passports. As the immigration officials start to close in on Okwe and Senay, they must figure out what to do about the organ smuggling ring. A lot of movie moralizing is contrived and poorly-scripted. But Stephen Frears manages to stick the moral dilemmas in the faces of the viewers and make them stick. Okwe's conflicted feelings when he discovers the organ trafficking are wonderful, especially as he himself is a doctor who could help people, but working for an evil man. Similarly we see Senay, a religious girl, in a slow, inexorable downward slide. We see many immigrants, all with different dreams, goals, and pasts. And Frears makes them all come alive. He shows London as a city with a dark underbelly, with plenty of sinister big buildings where immigrant workers struggle to remain anonymous. Most sinister of all: That people will sell their organs or their bodies in order to find a better life. Audrey Tatou shatters the public perception of her in "Dirty Pretty Things," shifting into the role of a trodden-on Turkish maid. She's absolutely masterful, fragile and sad. Chiwetel Ejiofor brings wonderful expressiveness and dignity to his role, but doesn't have quite the dimension of Lopez or Tatou. Sergi Lopez is one of the best screen villains in quite some time, absolutely making the screen sparkle. But you'll hate his guts. Also good is Sohie Okonedo as an upbeat hooker and Zlatko Buric as the likable doorman. Not for the faint of heart, "Dirty Pretty Things" left me staring at a semi-dark screen when the film had ended. Powerful, gritty, and stark. One of the must-sees of the year.
Rating: 
Summary: Unrealistic.
Review: 'Dirty Pretty Things' is a film about two illegal immigrants who have to flee England before the authorities crack them down. This is a great idea for a story, but it is ultimately unrealistic. As the movie progresses, I hardly got the feeling they were illegal immigrants. They seemed to live comfortably and didn't look exploited at all. Nice performanced by the two leading actors though.
Rating:
Summary: excellent, especially for Tatou fans!
Review: Seriously, in the last few years, all the great movies seem to come from outside America. Especially when the wondrous actress Audrey Tatou is involved! Here she plays Senay, a Turkish-Muslim immigrant living illegally in London. She is a chambermaid at the Baltic Hotel, where Okwe -- also illegal --- is a porter/receptionist. Senay has the authorities on her tail, if she is caught working she will be deported. The two form a rather mistrustful friendship as they navigate London's underworld, staying one step ahead of the authorities. What Senay goes through as a woman, when people find out they have the power to report her so extort from her instead, is gross, mainly because you know it is what really happens. Also shocking is the discovery that people are selling their organs to gain citizenship -- literally swapping their insides for a passport. Senay and Okwe, who is a trained doctor in his native Lagos, stumble on this -- one sees it as an abomination, the other as the answer to her prayers. Seeing those who are disenfranchised trapped and threatened by those who have the law on their side keeps you on the edge of your seat. Watching them survive is fantastic, especially when you are sure that they won't.
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