DVD Review

Hotel Rwanda (2005)

More

CENTER OF CRISIS Oscar nominee Cheadle in Hotel

Hotel Rwanda: Frank Connor

Credits

Rated: PG-13; DVD Release Date: Apr 12, 2005; With: Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo; Distributor: United Artists (MGM)

By Ty Burr

Ty Burr

Ty Burr is a writer at large for EW and is no relation to Raymond or Aaron

An important movie made with passion and skill but no particular artistry, Hotel Rwanda plays with far greater impact on the small screen, where the human story feels appropriately large and it's harder to escape the film's accusing glare. As Paul Rusesabagina, the diplomatic hotel manager who saved more than 1,200 of his fellow Rwandans from death during the 1994 genocide, Don Cheadle gives a committed, controlled performance that turns shocking in the one scene when Paul finally snaps. What felt vaguely like a TV movie in theaters — the filmmakers consciously downplayed on-screen violence to get a PG-13 rating — hits home at last. EXTRAS Director Terry George prods the soft-spoken Rusesabagina to recall the horrific reality on a commentary track, and there's also selected scene commentary from Cheadle, a making-of doc, and a bone-chilling postscript in which the hotel manager returns to Rwanda for the first time since the genocide.

Posted Apr 11, 2005

More

Ask the Critic What great movie will you never watch again? (Nov 17, 2006) | Lisa Schwarzbaum
Movie Review (Jan 28, 2005)
Movie Review (Jan 28, 2005)
Movie Review (Jan 28, 2005)
Movie Review (Jan 28, 2005)
Movie Commentary Who'll win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 2005? (Mar 19, 2004)

Add Your Comments

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. You must have javascript enabled to submit a comment.