Dirty Pretty Things

Returning to the English roots of his early films that linked contemporary social problems with personal drama, director Stephen Frears' Dirty Pretty Things highlights the plight of illegal aliens trying to eke out a living in present-day London, but it does so in the form of an intriguing thriller with perversely comic overtones. The linchpin of the story is Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Nigerian doctor trying to survive by taking multiple jobs, including one as a night clerk in a hotel. He shares a flat with Senay (Audrey Tautou), a Turkish refugee who's a maid at the hotel although her visa forbids her to work. The plot kicks in when the manager of the place, a superficially attractive but sleazy fellow (Sergi Lopez), is revealed as a trafficker in body parts secured from desperate immigrants with promises of cash or forged documents, and he draws both Okwe and Senay unwillingly into his nefarious schemes. The hybrid character of Dirty Pretty Things causes some problems, with the suspense mechanisms occasionally threatening to trivialize its social concerns, and the depiction of the exploitation of the refugees sometimes seeming heavy-handed (especially in the sequences involving some nasty but inept British officials). Overall, however, this is an impressive addition to Frears' (High Fidelity, The Grifters, Dangerous Liaisons) diverse and increasingly impressive body of work. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Stephen Frears, a six-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, and trailers. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a fine little film.] (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—July 3, 2012—Echo Bridge, 97 min., R, $14.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2002's Dirty Pretty Things sports a good transfer and features a DTS 5.1 soundtrack. Extras are identical to the DVD release, including audio commentary by director Stephen Frears, a behind-the-scenes featurette (6 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine thriller makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]