Hotel Rwanda

Release Year: 2004

Director: Terry George

Review: There's a certain amount of guilt felt watching movies like 'Hotel Rwanda'.  Knowing that these kinds of atrocities could be avoided, or at least contained if people actually cared.  This feeling of guilt, also turns into anger.  That is the feeling most relevant.  Above all the film serves to show the horrors that occurred in Rwanda, and were largely ignored by the rest of the world.  Sure, it is manipulative, but it doesn't make it any less powerful.  Don Cheadle plays the role of Paul Rusesabagina perfectly, containing the emotion just enough so that we can believe that this was a man that could actually pull off saving a hotel full of refuges.   I take some issue with the story being based on a real person, since undoubtedly the movie has to take creative liberty with this person's character.  Certainly there are dramatic embellishments which I thought were not needed to make a compelling movie.  Not every dramatic work needs a love story crammed in.  I would have appreciated it more if this aspect was handled in a more subtle way.  None the less, the actions and events are undeniably powerful and at the same time despicable. Regardless of its means, the film gets its point across and is a chilling, yet inspiring, story.
Rating: 4/5