Hotel Rwanda

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda is the subject of writer-director Terry George's powerful film based on the experiences of Paul Rusesabagina, a moderate Hutu who saved more than a thousand Tutsis, offering them refuge in the posh hotel he managed in the capital of Kigali while the radical members of his tribe engaged in the systematic elimination of the Tutsis. By focusing on Rusesabagina, Hotel Rwanda transforms a tale set against the most grotesque sort of human brutality into an ultimately uplifting story of decency and courage, thanks in no small part to the Oscar-nominated lead performance by Don Cheadle, who perfectly conveys the man's deceptive imperturbability, inventive mind, and growing desperation in the face of a barbarity he finds nearly impossible to comprehend. Oscar-nominated Sophie Okonedo beautifully complements Cheadle as Rusesabagina's frightened but iron-willed wife, while Nick Nolte costars as the well-intentioned but ineffectual commander of the United Nations peacekeeping contingent in Rwanda. Serving up a scathing indictment of the West's failure to stop the slaughter, Hotel Rwanda could have explored the background to the Hutu-Tutsi conflict more fully, and its structural similarity to Schindler's List is a bit of a drawback--but these are minor flaws in a film that's deeply affecting as well as impassioned. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary (by director Terry George, real-life subject Paul Rusesabagina, and select commentary by musician Wyclef Jean), select scene commentary by Don Cheadle (22 min.), the production documentaries “A Message for Peace: Making Hotel Rwanda” (28 min.) and “Return to Rwanda” (15 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid set of extras for one of 2004's more notable films.] (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—May 24, 2011—MGM, 122 min., PG-13, $19.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2004's Hotel Rwanda sports a fine transfer with DTS-HD sound. Blu-ray extras are identical to the standard DVD release, with audio commentary (by director Terry George, real-life subject Paul Rusesabagina, and select commentary by musician Wyclef Jean), select scene commentary by star Don Cheadle (22 min.), the production featurettes “A Message for Peace” (28 min.) and “Return to Rwanda” (15 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray debut for a moving drama.]