Rating: Summary: Atmospheric Thriller/Character Drama Hybrid. Review: Okwe (Chjwetel Ejiofor) is an illegal Nigerian immigrant in London, who drives a taxi by day and works as a hotel desk attendant at night. He rents a couch, on which he catches an occasional few minutes of sleep, in the apartment of Senay (Audrey Tautou), a young Turkish woman who works as a maid at the hotel. When tending to a backed up toilette at the hotel one night, Okwe makes a bizarre discovery: Clogging the commode is a healthy human heart, obviously adrift from its owner. And so Okwe begins to unravel the hidden activities behind the respectable facade of the Baltic Hotel."Dirty Pretty Things" is a hybrid atmospheric thriller and gritty drama, written by Steven Knight and directed by the brilliant Stephen Frears. The story takes place exclusively among normally "invisible" service workers: taxi drivers, maids, porters, and prostitutes. Telling a tale of people who go largely unnoticed, even as they perform tasks that make the city tick, gives the film a covert atmosphere that supports the seedy and suspenseful narrative. The film's performances are outstanding. Chjwetel Ejiofor commands attention and inspires empathy as Okwe, an ethical man seemingly living in an unethical and intractable world. Audrey Tautou is sympathetic as Senay, who tries to preserve something of her culture's values while living in London's underbelly and dreaming of someplace better. Benedict Wong gives an interesting turn as a resident physician at a local hospital and friend of Okwe's. The most impressive performance may come from Sergi Lopez, a Spanish actor who does not speak English, but turns in a powerhouse performance as Juan, the hotel's manager, in English, nevertheless. I have to attribute the decision to hire two actors who didn't at the time speak English -Tautou and Lopez- to play key English-speaking roles to Stephen Frears' eccentricity. But it works remarkably well. "Dirty Pretty Things" is billed as a thriller, and although the film is a drama about disillusionment more than anything else, it plays by the rules of a thriller. It stretches credibility. I wouldn't have trouble believing what goes on in that hotel if it were in a third world country,but I don't buy it in London. It's not realistic. "Dirty Pretty Things" gets away with this because it is so emotionally authentic. It's very effective as a character drama, and typically fantastic as a thriller. Writer Stephen Knight has imbued the film with enough comedy that the drama doesn't become oppressive, and it's a great credit to him that he was able to make us laugh, given the film's subject matter. This great script has a distinct subversive feel, and the film is filled with great character actors. "Dirty Pretty Things" is an odd, atmospheric, but enjoyable hybrid mystery, with the kind of character writing that big budget thrillers can only dream of. The DVD: The extras aren't thrilling. Bonus features include a "making of" documentary entitled "Behind the Scenes" and an audio commentary by director Stephen Frears. "Behind the Scenes" is short and says very little. The audio commentary is uneven. There are a few interesting tidbits amidst a generally humdrum narration about filming and locations. Captioning is available in English. Subtitles are available in French.
Rating: Summary: A Nice Surprise. Review: Dirty Pretty Things is an exceedingly worthwhile viewing experience that features a terrific performance by "Amelie's" Audrey Tautou and superb direction from Stephen Frears based on a very lean & probing script. Do not miss this little sleeper, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Rating: Summary: Is Audrey Tautou the 'pretty things' ? Review: It's awfully nice to watch a well-crafted, interesting & engaging film that allows you to explore a world you know nothing about, teaches you about that world & never preaches. "Dirty Pretty Things," does this, & it's really quite marvelous to watch. It's purely marketing that puts Audrey Tautou on the cover, scantily clad & looking a bit 'come hither.' This is not a sexy movie. It's gritty & suspenseful. I was impressed all around by the actor's various accents- great acting! I certainly understand what's dirty in this film- black market organs, the sketchy world of illegal immigration, sweat shops & no sleep- but what's pretty? Miss Tautou? The lovely ending? Nice people trapped in a dirty world? Just pondering here... Highly recommended!
Rating: Summary: A GEM ! Review: This drama/thriller (more drama than thriller although it does have thrilling and nerve-wracking scenes) never whacks the viewer over the head with its portrayal of the injustices of current immigration regulations. In fact, even if one thinks that immigration laws should be enforced, the film can still be appreciated. This is because it shows the realities of the immigrant life. But Frears never moralizes or lectures or tries to hit the viewer over the head with his views. "Dirty Pretty Things" takes place in a London that we do not usually see, but could have been in any big city in the world. Immigrants, especially illegal ones, are drawn to places like this so they can try to be anonymous and get easy employment. They live lives of degradation which they accept matter of factly and grow accustomed to being constantly watched by the authorities......knowing that if they make one mistake, they will be forced to leave. The moral dilemma faced by one of the main characters is an interesting one and gives the story an unexpected twist at the end. Okwe, as played by Chiwetel Ejofor, is exceptional. Audrey Tautou is her usual charismatic self playing Senay, who is desperate and weary, seeming to accept her fate yet showing sparks of rebellion. The movie follows what these characters do to make a living and survive while hoping, not very optimistically, for better lives, and living in constant fear of the immigration authorities. This story of people who cannot live in their native land or find a safe haven anywhere else is clearly presented with great thoughtfulness. Highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: The Real "Sting" Review: Ever have that sinking feeling that once you've checked out of the hotel you left something behind? If so, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS will definitely make you think twice. Fans of THE X FILES, chillers, thrillers, and horror films can find plenty to get excited about in a yarn centering on a hotel who's residents keep leaving things behind that you'd never possibly guess! Audrey Tautou (AMELIE) is absolutely stunning as the young woman intent upon finding her future in America, and Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Okwe, a doctor on-the-run who might have the right stuff to make her dreams come true ... if they can keep themselves in one piece! Tightly plotted and very well shot, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS is one risky thriller not intended for the squeamish.
Rating: Summary: A sublime thriller... Review: The kind and overworked Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is an illegal immigrant from Nigeria that lives and works in London where he has several connections through his different occupations. Okwe, once a medical doctor, works now as cab driver in the daylight and at night as portiere, and in between shifts he visits his friend Guo Yi (Benedict Wong) at the morgue with whom he is playing chess in his short leisure time. The few hours of sleep that Okwe gets is when he rests in Senay's (Audrey Tautou), a Turkish asylum seeking woman, apartment while Senay is at work. Both Senay and Okwe work at the Baltic Hotel in London, and in one of the rooms of the hotel Okwe makes a macabre discovery as he finds a human heart in a clogged toilet. The complexity of Okwe's situation makes it impossible for him to go to the police, but his conscious tells him to be honorable. However, Okwe has more problems with the immigration police and his past as he attempts to balance the issues at hand, which brings him more trouble. Dirty Little Things is a good story that balances societal issues with a ghastly crime in an environment where laws cannot be applied. Thus, Frears creates a sublime thriller that will provide food for thought as well as suspense.
Rating: Summary: A Dirty, Pretty Little Movie Review: This is a slick, atmospheric gem of a film from the always-reliable director Stephen Frears. It's got one of those stories that might sound silly on paper---I won't say any more, because surprise is responsible for much of the fun in watching this. At various times, I was reminded of Jules Dassin's "Rififi," Francis Coppola's "The Conversation" and Samuel Fuller's "Pickup on South Street." It's hard to find movies anymore that aren't derivative and that can genuinely show you something you haven't seen before. "Dirty Pretty Things" does this--not in a major way, but even that is part of its charm. It's modest but finely crafted, and that combination can result in high praise indeed. Grade: A
Rating: Summary: London's Dark Underworld Review: The main characters in this film, played fantastically by by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Audrey Tatou, discover a black market trade of body parts occurring at the hotel where they work as a desk manager and housekeeper, respectively. Ejiofor, plays an African immigrant, Okwe, who has many secrets--he's an illegal immigrant and a doctor, and more is revealed about his past as the film progresses. He works constantly--hotel at night, and taxi-driving in the day. He uncovers the black market scheme one night at the hotel, aftering finding a human heart in a hotel lavatory. He tells his friend and roommate, Shanai, an illegal Turkish immigrant (played by Tatou) about the trade. At the same time, she is being hounded by two immigration officials, ready to deport her for working as an illegal alien. She is nearly starving, and is forced to work in a sweat shop when she has to flee the hotel. Both Okwe and Shanai are tempted by the black market trade: giving up a kidney will get you a passport. With a passport they would not have to run from the officials anymore, and could live peacefully. The acting was superb, I truly believed in the characters, and their plight. Chiwetel Ejiofor has a subtle, yet commanding presence on screen, and his strength played well with Tatou's demure and naive character. _Dirty Pretty Things_ is Tatou's English language debut, and she did a remarkable job. I hope to see Ejiofor and Tatou in many more films.
Rating: Summary: "We are the people you do not see." Review: Wow. It's been a while since a movie has kicked me in the gut quite the way this one did. Dirty Pretty Things is a thriller, but it's a bleak one. The lead characters are illegal aliens and, as a result, they have no rights. The police are their enemies and there is no place they can turn for help. Exploited by their employers, chased by immigration officers, these are people who are constantly on the edge of losing everything. So, when you throw in a horrific murder-mystery, things quickly go over the top. This movie succeeds on every level. As a social conscious raiser, it works. You realize that these people do exist in every city and that their situation is inhuman. The actors make these characters "real." At no point do you think, "Well, that's exaggerated," or "It's just a movie." There is a sense of authenticity to the whole thing that makes you furious as you realize that people really do live like this, and not just in some faraway country. As a "thriller," this movie far surpasses the usual Hollywood nonsense. With no place to turn, the lead characters are helpless as the world slowly closes in around them. The villain of the piece isn't some crazed serial killer or faceless conspiracy; rather, his is the face of capitalism at it's most banal and inhumane. One of my favorite scenes is the rationalization of the horrific crimes being committed. "My job is making people happy." Dirty Pretty Things is, without reservation, a 5-star movie.
Rating: Summary: reality Review: made me lose hope in humanity. that powerfull.
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