Review of Dirty Pretty Things (2002) by Gregory G — 07 Jul 2010
An intelligent, daringly original thriller about the immigrant subculture of London. Chiwetel Ejiofor is superb as an insomniac Nigerian doctor, employed as a cab driver and hotel desk clerk, who gets immersed in a black market business where illegal immigrants sell anatomical parts for asylum.
Written by Steve Knight and expeditiously directed by Stephen Frears, this is a suspense film that is also a pointed social commentary on illegal immigration. The filmmakers present a sympathetic view of the desperation among those people on the fringes of society living in constant fear of deportation.
Despite the horrors the characters are subjected to, it is slyly funny. The ending is a bit tidy. There are similarities here to Frears's "My Beautiful Laundrette." Sergi Lopez is scarily effective as the shady hotel manager.
Audrey Tautou is affecting as a Turkish refugee with dreams of living in New York. Haunting, low-key cinematography by Chris Menges. With Benedict Wong, Sophie Okonedo, Zlatko Buric.
This review of Dirty Pretty Things (2002) was written by Gregory G on 07 Jul 2010.
Dirty Pretty Things has generally received very positive reviews.
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