Just got back from seeing "Dirty Pretty Things". I've been looking forward to it because I'm a huge fan of director Stephen Frears. This is definitely his best film. The performances were amazing. Especially Chiwetel Ejiofor. The screenplay was also excellent. I predict that both Frears and it will get nominated come Oscar time (at the very least). I highly highly recommend this movie, it's one of the year's best.

No mention of Tatou? (She seems to be the biggest draw as far as marketing is concerned.) It opens in my area next week, so I'm looking forward to it...

trailer link?

Trailer

Official Site

I swear I don't work for the studios!

Tauto is indeed the draw. And she IS amazing. As always. But trust me. When you see the movie, you'll see that the lead actor shines the brightest. His performance is so subtle and extremely powerful.

I saw the movie a couple of weeks ago. Tautou is great.

Hmm... could be good. Didn't really snag my interest too much, but I'll probably check it out.

Check out the reviews on rottentomatoes. At last count, out of 65 reviews, 60 were positive. Getting a 92%. I can't tell you how great this film is. And it's one of those that stays with you. With a very sad ending.


Here are a few words from my one of the critics from the Washington Post:

Frears is at home in this world: He made his name in the mid-'80s with a batch of brilliant films set in the lower-caste London neighborhoods of color and tumult: "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid," "My Beautiful Laundrette", "Prick Up Your Ears" and "The Hit". Frears segued easily enough to Hollywood, where his work was less consistent but still reached extraordinary heights, with "Dangerous Liaisons" probably his American masterpiece.
In this one, he's working top-form in one of the year's best films.

Not a very good trailer (IMO), but the movie definitely looks interesting. I will have to check it out when its released.

I don't like the trailer too much, but I'm hoping one of my local theatres starts playing it soon. I love Audrey

The trailer is terrible. And I'd like to shoot the person who did it. I hope it doesn't turn too many people off.

Just want to say that I think "The Grifters" is Frear's American masterpiece. But "DPT" is his best movie to date.

Glad to hear that. I too didn't think much of the trailer, but Audrey is just way too cute to miss that.. If the movie is great, it's just a bonus.

I saw this last night. I thought it was ok - I don't think it'll make my year's top 10 by any means.

The acting was very good as mentioned - both Ejiofor and Tautou are used well. And I like the exploration of the side of London you never see anywhere (whether it exits or not) - practically everyone in the film is of foreign origin.

My problem with the film is the plot and some of the dialogue. I think they might be relying too much on an urban myth for the main mystery. And even if it is real and rampant, I think it would be more secretive and secure. The main characters found themselves in dire circumstances but seem to have found a way out a little too easily IMO. Some of the other characters I found were just caricatures (including yet another hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold.)

As an aside, I was amused by the shocked expressions whenever something bad happened to the Tautou character - I guess people have gotten too used to her Amelie persona.

Anyway, it wasn't my cup o' tea, but it might just be me.


6/10.

What can I say, MrN, but....told ya! You shouldn't have gotten excited about the film, really.

I liked this film a lot, but if this film or Frears earns any Oscar nominations, I will walk straight down the main street of my hometown naked.

But still go see it if you have a chance.

I thought that the advance word on the film is overrated.

The film flaws are that the tone of the movie is all over the place and inconsistent. There is not enough back story of the central characters. Tauto's acting is stuck in monotany and as a result gets tiring. The movie had potential but the director and screenwriter never seem to delve into the subject matter for greater effect.

It didn't help either that the screening I attended where Frears did a Q&A after the movie, he came across as stand offish and a man of few words.

This movie was disappointing. It's a huge mess.

There's no real point except to say how desperate people
are to get a citizenship/green card or whatever.

Chitawi Elijor (badly spelled) is great in the lead role though.

I sure wouldn't say that it's Frears best work.

It was a nice idea in theory, but just didn't translate to
a good film, IMHO.

I finally caught this over the weekend. Of course the main draw for me was Audrey, who is, you know, positively the most beautiful creature to ever walk the earth, and a good actress to boot!

Anyway, the ending seemed a little too pat, to me, and the movie never really delved into the cynicism I was expecting. For such a somber subject, the movie still seemed pretty light, and never really explored the horror of the plot. I'm not saying I was disappointed, or that I wanted it darker necessarily...I was just surprised.

Audrey is good, but Ejiofor is GREAT. He really makes the film, and I'd love to see him in more things.

So overall it wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped, but I did enjoy it.

A huge mess!?? Please explain.

An OK movie but not as good as I was hoping. To many plot holes. And the Doctor's back-story was pretty weak.

i'm seeing it tonight, its honestly the first "thought provoking" movie I'll see this summer with my dad (brain dead action flicks that everyone here hates)

I thought the movie was pretty good. Nothing absolutely spectacular, but an above average thriller.

I'm curious as to how someone can label it a "wreck." Hm.

Who labeled it a "wreck"?

On an unreleated note, my wife and I saw the new trailer for this movie (which is cut to make you think it's an action film and prominently features just about everybody except the male lead) and we just had to laugh.

Actually, Frank TJ Mackey called it a huge mess. I think Corvin was referring to that. Regardless, I don't think it's either. We're not talking about "Battleship Earth" or "Town and Country" here.

Aye.