- Review: John Wick 3 (C)
Scott Sycamore - Weekend Box Office
May 17 - 19 - Crowd Reports
Avengers: Endgame - Us
Box office comparisons - Review: Justice League (C)
Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Hotel Rwanda
By Lee Tistaert Published December 10, 2004
US Release: December 22, 2004
Directed by: Terry George
Starring: Don Cheadle , Sophie Okonedo , Nick Nolte
PG-13
Running Time: 121 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $23,472,900
Directed by: Terry George
Starring: Don Cheadle , Sophie Okonedo , Nick Nolte
PG-13
Running Time: 121 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $23,472,900
B
16 of 120
A good film that boasts good performances ? and a great one by Cheadle ? but as other people might cheer on its message I?m rather calm in my reaction.
More than anything else, Hotel Rwanda is a great showcase for Don Cheadle. This is his film, and after watching him in various supporting parts for years it?s nice to finally see him lead a cast, and to do so marvelously. This is also an easy story to sympathize with and get emotionally involved with. And while it does have some powerful moments (specifically in the third act), I have to say Hotel Rwanda was missing a certain ingredient to make a leap to greatness.
There are a few films that Hotel Rwanda reminded me of, but most distinctly is Casualties of War (B+). I watched that film for the first time last year, and by the end of it my emotional involvement was pretty strong; and by the end of Rwanda my nerves were in similar conditions. And yet, despite having a tense third act and being a courageous story, this film was missing something. The story seemed incomplete, as if there should have been an additional subplot or something else going on aside from everything else.
The film is a true story about Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), who saved more than a thousand Tutsis refugees in Rwanda during genocide. Being a hotel manager, he housed these fleeing people who had nowhere to go, as they were running away from soldiers who were on a mission to slaughter them. This is Paul?s story of how he put up his guard to these soldiers and the government even when it meant risking his own life in the process.
In a way this film reminded me of The Motorcycle Diaries (B-) in the looseness of its tone as it got underway. As time progressed, though, matters were getting a little more complicated and there were scenes that had me truly attached. The scenes dealing with Paul?s struggle of grabbing these refugees are strong. This story is highly recommended for those who like to hear about people standing up for what they believe, even when it could cost them their life. I like those stories (when they?re not watered down), and I liked this film (and quite a bit at times), and while I might be attacked for saying this, its issues really weren't enough for me to consider it a great film.
Besides from its courageous theme and the major importance of some of the issues that are depicted, the story is actually quite simple. The entire plot of the film involves Paul trying to help the refugees, and while it definitely isn?t boring I wanted to see more than just that quest. Being a true story, it?s a little harder to label it as a formula film (for obvious reasons), but in a way it kind of is ? it?s just done so skillfully. I just wanted other issues to be involved with.
Pardon the word choice, but Casualties of War grabbed me by the balls due to the relationship between Michael J. Fox?s character and the female civilian he tries to save; the story also had more layers besides the moral deed of trying to save her. Casualties also featured more acting opportunities (especially for Sean Penn), and while Cheadle does deserve his much-needed nomination for this, I was more drawn to the performances in Casualties of War.
Hotel Rwanda can also be compared to David O. Russell?s Three Kings (B+). That film was about four soldiers who were on a specific mission after the Golf War ended, and they ended up breaking their code of conduct by attempting to save endangered civilians. I liked that picture quite a bit, partly because of the neat way Russell shot the film but also because the matters that his script brought up were thought provoking and controversial. It was more than just a well made film with a good message; it discussed the politics of the war with a very intelligent eye. Hotel Rwanda does investigate its subject matter intelligently, but its execution isn?t as fascinating and edgy.
Hotel Rwanda is a good film that boasts good performances ? and a great one by Cheadle ? but as other people might cheer on its message I?m rather calm in my reaction. I?m not sure how much Oscar consideration it will pick up considering its low-key stature (compared to The Aviator), but Cheadle deserves recognition even though he probably won?t win. This film isn?t one of my top favorites of 2004, but I strongly recommend it for those who appreciate this genre, for I sense that other people might praise it more than I do.
There are a few films that Hotel Rwanda reminded me of, but most distinctly is Casualties of War (B+). I watched that film for the first time last year, and by the end of it my emotional involvement was pretty strong; and by the end of Rwanda my nerves were in similar conditions. And yet, despite having a tense third act and being a courageous story, this film was missing something. The story seemed incomplete, as if there should have been an additional subplot or something else going on aside from everything else.
The film is a true story about Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), who saved more than a thousand Tutsis refugees in Rwanda during genocide. Being a hotel manager, he housed these fleeing people who had nowhere to go, as they were running away from soldiers who were on a mission to slaughter them. This is Paul?s story of how he put up his guard to these soldiers and the government even when it meant risking his own life in the process.
In a way this film reminded me of The Motorcycle Diaries (B-) in the looseness of its tone as it got underway. As time progressed, though, matters were getting a little more complicated and there were scenes that had me truly attached. The scenes dealing with Paul?s struggle of grabbing these refugees are strong. This story is highly recommended for those who like to hear about people standing up for what they believe, even when it could cost them their life. I like those stories (when they?re not watered down), and I liked this film (and quite a bit at times), and while I might be attacked for saying this, its issues really weren't enough for me to consider it a great film.
Besides from its courageous theme and the major importance of some of the issues that are depicted, the story is actually quite simple. The entire plot of the film involves Paul trying to help the refugees, and while it definitely isn?t boring I wanted to see more than just that quest. Being a true story, it?s a little harder to label it as a formula film (for obvious reasons), but in a way it kind of is ? it?s just done so skillfully. I just wanted other issues to be involved with.
Pardon the word choice, but Casualties of War grabbed me by the balls due to the relationship between Michael J. Fox?s character and the female civilian he tries to save; the story also had more layers besides the moral deed of trying to save her. Casualties also featured more acting opportunities (especially for Sean Penn), and while Cheadle does deserve his much-needed nomination for this, I was more drawn to the performances in Casualties of War.
Hotel Rwanda can also be compared to David O. Russell?s Three Kings (B+). That film was about four soldiers who were on a specific mission after the Golf War ended, and they ended up breaking their code of conduct by attempting to save endangered civilians. I liked that picture quite a bit, partly because of the neat way Russell shot the film but also because the matters that his script brought up were thought provoking and controversial. It was more than just a well made film with a good message; it discussed the politics of the war with a very intelligent eye. Hotel Rwanda does investigate its subject matter intelligently, but its execution isn?t as fascinating and edgy.
Hotel Rwanda is a good film that boasts good performances ? and a great one by Cheadle ? but as other people might cheer on its message I?m rather calm in my reaction. I?m not sure how much Oscar consideration it will pick up considering its low-key stature (compared to The Aviator), but Cheadle deserves recognition even though he probably won?t win. This film isn?t one of my top favorites of 2004, but I strongly recommend it for those who appreciate this genre, for I sense that other people might praise it more than I do.
Lee's Grade: B
Ranked #16 of 120 between Kinsey (#15) and Maria Full of Grace (#17) for 2004 movies.
Ranked #16 of 120 between Kinsey (#15) and Maria Full of Grace (#17) for 2004 movies.
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
'Hotel Rwanda' Articles
- Craig's review A
January 11, 2005 Director Terry George drives home the devastation, abandonment, and desperation with such force that you can only cry and shake your head in disgust. -- Craig Younkin
