Top guest reviewer Mike N:

Dirty Pretty Things

Ever heard the urban legend about the guy who went to a party, someone put something in his drink and the next thing he knew, he woke up in a bathtub full of ice and discovered that someone had removed his kidneys? This movie is reminiscent of the urban legend, except it’s about impoverished immigrants who are so desperate to remain in the UK, they are willing to sell their kidneys at the risk of death resulting from a lack of sterile operating procedures. The cast in this film is terrific. Although he does not receive top billing, actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is the main character of this movie, playing a Nigerian Immigrant (Okwe) who just wants to keep his nose clean and survive. Okwe is eventually pulled into the midst of the dirty pretty secret in order to save a friend. Audrey Tautou (Amelie) is sweet and sympathetic as Okwe’s friend. Sergei Lopez plays a great bad guy and would make a great Andy Garcia stunt-double. This thriller gets a little gruesome and gritty in places, but the end is worth the trip. (B)