"Dirty Pretty Things"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| ***** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Audrey Tautou as SENAY Sergi Lopez as SNEAKY (JUAN) Chiwetel Ejiofor as OKWE Sophie Okonedo as JULIETTE Benedict Wong as GUO YI Zlatko Buric as IVAN Rated R Studio: Miramax Directed by: Stephen Frears Back to DVD Review Home |
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Every few years, I stumble across a movie that is delightfully twisted and bizarre but wrapped in a non-assuming cocoon. The last film like this that I remember was Tod Solondz’s masterpiece “Happiness” - a film a urged my sister to watch and later received a voice mail from her saying, “I hate you for making me watch that movie.”
Like “Happiness,” “Dirty Pretty Things” deals with some seriously demented subjects, but it’s veiled by the mundane manner in which it is presented. Much of the nastiness happens off-screen which, of course, making it even more twisted - because we all know the human mind will imagine things far worse than any filmmaker could present on celluloid.
“Dirty Pretty Things” shows the underside of a world we see every day. It’s a world of fancy hotels, cab rides and charming five-star restaurants. However, instead of showing it from the point of view of the guests, or from the sanitized servant view we saw in “Maid in Manhattan,” it is told from the street level by the people forced to work these jobs because they have no choice
Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a Nigerian exile living in the underbelly of London. His checkered past is only alluded initially, but we later find out his dirty, little secrets. With professional medical training he cannot use, he lives under the constant fear of arrest or deportation. Okwe burns himself out working as a hotel porter and a cab driver.
One day, Okwe is called to clean up a room in the hotel. While doing so, he discovers a blockage in the toilet. Okwe digs out the blockage to discover a fresh human heart. He brings this to the attention of Juan, the hotel manager, but is told to forget about it. Of course, this sends Okwe on a mission to unravel the insidious mystery of human organs being flushed down the hotel’s plumbing.
During this time, he is also trying to help his Turkish girlfriend Senay (Audrey Tautou), who is also a maid in the hotel. She is a political refugee and restricted from work or earning any money. British immigration officials are attempting to deport her while she secretly works gritty jobs to be able to pay rent. Ultimately, Okwe discovers the truth about the nefarious practices happening at the hotel, and he gambles with his life - and Senay’s - to get them both out of the country.
“Dirty Pretty Things” is a sharp thriller with a genuine creepiness that leaves you feeling a little uneasy. The acting is superb, with powerfully understated performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Audrey Tautou. Not only does it bring to life the seedy life some folks are forced to live, but it also presents a mystery that unfolds into a chilling reality. If you are into believing in urban legends, the most powerful part of this film is that this kind of thing happens in all the time in every big city. And if you’re not into believing urban legends, it still makes a meaty (pardon the pun, please) thriller.
Even if there was nothing else on this DVD but the movie itself, “Dirty Pretty Things” is a must see. It is one of the creepiest, yet inspiring movies of the past few years, and it is worthy of notice. Fortunately, the DVD gods are smiling upon this film because it comes with some extras. There’s a decent behind-the-scenes documentary as well as a feature commentary by director Stephen Frears. The man who directed such modern classics as “Dangerous Liaisons” and “The Grifters,” Frears gives some excellent insight into the story, the characters and the casting.
But be warned. This film is not for young children. While very little violence happens on screen, there are several scenes that are disturbing if kids understand it - and pose a seriously awkward moment if they ask it to be explained. In particular, one scene alludes to a similar act seen in films like “Last House on the Left,” which is completely warranted and justified, but not at all appropriate for the kiddies.
Ultimately, “Dirty Pretty Things” is a thriller that tells the story of people who are forced to do the jobs that no one else would want to do. The catch here is that these aren’t migrant farm hands or slaughterhouse workers. These are people that we run into every day and every vacation. It doesn’t just provide a sharp, snappy thriller, but a hard core look at the underbelly of any major city and the lives of the folks who do the hard work.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Widescreen (1.85:1), enhanced for 16x9 televisions. French language track. Spanish subtitles. English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.
