Dirty Pretty Things

Name: Dirty Pretty Things
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: July 18, 2003
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Okonedo

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 91 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 91 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: July 18, 2003 | R

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Okonedo

Summary: A thriller set in London's secret underworld, where everything is for sale. A young man (Ejiofor) and a Turkish chambermaid (Tautou) both work at the same West London hotel -- a breeding ground for illegal activity. They are put to the test when the man makes a shocking discovery late one night. (Miramax Films)

Director: Stephen Frears

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 97 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Andrew O'Hehir

The grandest and most vigorous movie he's (Frears) made in at least a decade. Like Okwe himself, it rises above its limitations, and it's just a little bit bigger than the landscape around it. Read full review

100

Dallas Observer Gregory Weinkauf

It's best appraised as a strong ensemble piece, a darkly dreamy slab of social commentary and definitely one of the year's best films. Read full review

A.O. Scott

This film has a conquering spirit. The dankness is replaced by an optimistic blast of sunlight at the end, a contrast to the earlier lighting dimmed with human misery. Mr. Frears blasts away the blight, though he doesn't have to work to restore Okwe's dignity. It shines through from the start. Read full review

David Edelstein

The whole movie is like that: gleaming, but with a whiff of the charnel house. Dirty Pretty Things doesn't quite cut to the bone, but it gets as far as a couple of vital organs. Read full review

Peter Travers

Fueled by gripping suspense, dark humor and outraged humanity, the film is a modern horror story that means to shake you, and does. Read full review

Jessica Winter

Slick and sober, fiercely contemporary, and rigged by a fail-safe three-act structure, Dirty Pretty Things nimbly straddles the line between realism and popcorn pop, but it knows which side its bread is buttered on. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Essentially a TV movie souped up by the divinely skittish cinematography of Chris Menges, the film suffers from a screenplay full of labored attempts at wit by Steven Knight, and characters who barely make it off the page alive. Read full review

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User Reviews

FrankO.

Jan 25, 2006

A great movie...seen it twice, once in theatre and once on television; enjoyed it just as much 2nd time, Ejiofor and Tautou were very good..kept my interest as to what was happening..good plot.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

AlanB.

Mar 31, 2004

One of the ten best films of 2003. Chiwetel Ejiofor offers perhaps the best male performance of the year. A touching, sharply crafted story.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

ShivvahnaR.

Apr 23, 2006

Great film that tackles the issues of illegal immagiants in a system that is used and abused by the corrupt. Beautiful performances which could have turned Sterotypical however became three dimensional characters through the wounderful direction of Frears. A classic in the making.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Spangle

Mar 4, 2016

Dirty Pretty Things is a stirring and moving portrayal of immigrants and how they can be exploited in their new nations. An at times tragic film, Dirty Pretty Things really elicits feelings of pathos quite often and also really manages to step on the gas at times with some incrediblyDirty Pretty Things is a stirring and moving portrayal of immigrants and how they can be exploited in their new nations. An at times tragic film, Dirty Pretty Things really elicits feelings of pathos quite often and also really manages to step on the gas at times with some incredibly thrilling sequences. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Audrey Tautou are both fantastic here and have adorable chemistry together. Their performances really make this film here, though the writing from Steven Knight and direction from Stephen Frears are both incredibly strong. On the whole, Dirty Pretty Things is a realistic and authentic look at immigrants and the struggles they face, which will truly move you and give you incredible amounts of sympathy for those facing these struggles in real life. A well made and well acted film, Dirty Pretty Things is both incredibly dramatic and thrilling and is a winner.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Pat

Sep 26, 2006

Great story, though the presentation is blunted. [***SPOILERS***]The cramming of most of Okwe's character development into the last 30 seconds of the film didn't work for me. There's an amazing tour de force in the middle of the film when an unexpected organ donor is found, Great story, though the presentation is blunted. [***SPOILERS***]The cramming of most of Okwe's character development into the last 30 seconds of the film didn't work for me. There's an amazing tour de force in the middle of the film when an unexpected organ donor is found, but then the film proceeds to go back to sleep.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Compi24

Aug 11, 2016

*tries to climb through a window and escape so I don't have to do this review.* Ugh. It's hard giving a movie a bad review. Especially when said movie contains a gallery of individuals that you unconditionally respect. Stephen Frears, Steven Knight, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou - all are*tries to climb through a window and escape so I don't have to do this review.* Ugh. It's hard giving a movie a bad review. Especially when said movie contains a gallery of individuals that you unconditionally respect. Stephen Frears, Steven Knight, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou - all are filmmakers, artists, and performers that I have incredible admiration for. But, the simple fact remains; I just couldn't get into "Dirty Pretty Things." It might've been the disjointed pacing, the generally ugly atmosphere and tone, the occasional stilted performance (Sorry, Audrey), or maybe a combination of all three. But it still just felt like there was some critical, interesting element missing from this film. Maybe it's just because I'm not British.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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