Robert Chipman
Welcome to this column dedicated to my appreciation of physical media supplements called Feature Presentations. The goal of this column is not to say whether a film is good or bad and worth picking up or not — I would like to highlight the discs that go the extra mile and provide film fans with enough tasty tidbits to satisfy even the hungriest of cinephiles. Today’s article will focus on Dirty Pretty Things from the “After Dark: Neo-Noir Cinema Collection Three” collection via Imprint Films.
I never have or will claim to be an expert in reviewing the technical specs of a physical media release. There are plenty of knowledgeable people in this realm of commenting on the audio and video aspects of a disc with better setups than I’ll ever own. This column, Feature Presentations, is a way of highlighting the supplemental material within a given disc. With all that out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff and dive into my review of this Blu-ray release of Dirty Pretty Things.
As a disclaimer of transparency for this episode of Feature Presentations, my review of Dirty Pretty Things comes from a review copy that Imprint Films provided for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As Collection Three of the Imprint Films “After Dark Neo-Noir” set comes to a close, a sense of melancholy washed over me. As with Collection One and Collection Two, it’s almost like saying goodbye to an old friend or a warm and loving family member. Every individual movie unique in their own way, all with good and bad qualities, each undeniably unique. Most of them, I had a preconceived notion about them going in, whether I’d viewed them in the past or were keenly aware of what the motion picture entailed. With the curtain coming to a close, I found it fitting, in a sense, that the entry on this collection that I knew the least about would be the grand finale. And it was a hell of a way to bring the curtain down!
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Okwe, an undocumented immigrant residing in the United Kingdom, working non-stop with little sleep. While on shift at one of his jobs, working the front desk at a hotel, Okwe finds a human heart clogging a room’s toilet. Unsure of what to make with this discovery, he finds himself and another immigrant, Senay (Audrey Tautou), drawn deep into the ragged parts of the U.K., where finding a human heart may not be the most terrifying situation they find themselves in.
What’s most interesting about Dirty Pretty Things is one would assume the heart would be the central mystery. It launches the plot, but the film truly excels at highlighting the life of an immigrant and the world-building that a carefully crafted story such as this builds. Director Stephen Frears and writer Steven Knight work tirelessly for the viewer to understand the plight immigrants such as Okwe and Senay face daily when the mystery about the heart is unveiled; it only adds an extra layer of horror to people who experience horror on a constant basis.
Imprint Films includes a solo audio commentary with director Stephen Frears. The track is disappointing as Frears occasionally lapses into long extended periods of silence or habitually narrates the action on screen, only occasionally peppering his comments with anything of use. He does offer some perspective on shooting in England and ideas about the script, but more often than not, and without a moderator to guide him towards engaging topics, there is not much to be gleamed.
“Dirty Pretty Pictures” is a newly-recorded interview with director of photography Chris Menges. The chat with the cinematographer is extremely low-key and quiet, but Menges runs through his career and the tumultuous relationship he has shared with director Stephen Frears. Menges recalls a tempestuous shoot with the director and getting asked more than once to fire himself from various works they shot together. Menges also reflects on his career and opines on his work in Dirty Pretty Things and what he might do differently. “Dirty Pretty Pictures” might be a bit too leisurely-paced for some, but there are some intriguing stories for those needing more about the film.
Imprint Films also includes a brief, six-minute promotional featurette shot during the production. You get to hear comments from stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sophie Okonedo, along with writer Steven Knight, director Stephen Frears, and other crew members. Each discusses their thoughts on the in-production film and what drew them to the project. Not much here will blow your hair back, but it is the only disc appearance for the actors and writer, and certainly worth a watch.
Lastly, the film’s theatrical trailer concludes the supplemental material for Dirty Pretty Things.
And there you have it! When one thinks of neo-noir, Dirty Pretty Things may not be the first film that comes to mind, but it fits the subgenre to a T. Featuring an Oscar-nominated script, capable direction, and a perfectly cast core of actors, this film was the perfect sendoff for the “After Dark Neo-Noir Collection Three.” Will there be more dips into the grimy and brooding neo-noir cinema world by Imprint Films? One can hope, but until then, Dirty Pretty Things is dark and rich and encompasses everything great about the “After Dark” collection!
