| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A- |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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This film gives me hope...
by gonaye1 (movies profile)
Oct 30, 2005
10
of
10 people found this review helpful
My grades are shown nearby. I really appreciated this film, and I'll explain why.
(A) STORY:
I'm shocked that I didn't even know about this, nor do I remember it. I was in Nigeria in 1994, about 14 years old. I don't remember hearing about it on the news. But I'm really glad this story has been brought to the fore-front, thanks to this movie (and some other very good documentaries on the subject, I hear).
The story is so important, because not many individuals can imagine this as something that could be happening right now around us. When I saw Schindler's List in 1996, I cried, shocked at how cruel, depraved, dark, and wicked the human race could become. But that was during the second world war - THIS story happened in 1994!
(A+) ACTING:
Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina is such an appreciated performance; understated, to pull us into to his character, yet so powerfully reflective of the horror of the massacre occuring around him. We see his heart break, and realise our hearts are breaking also. Sophie Okonedo makes Tatiana so realistic, and so fragile, that it is almost unbearable to watch her go through the horrors of the killings that occur all around her. Joaquin Phoenix and Nick Nolte are the hardest to watch, not because of their very good performances, but because the words they say excuse NO ONE from the guilt and responsibility of the slaughters.
Most impressive of all, are the hutus that support the killings. Many of the murderous rebels don't even seem to be acting; the hatred is palpable and often not just physically violent but emotionally violent as well. Tony Kgoroge (really good is this movie) is very hateful as Gregoire; Fana Mokoena excels as the General Bizimungo - his arrogance and selfishness is so alarming that it is at times quite funny; but, powerful as he is, he is also horrifyingly uncaring, and very duplicitous. I really enjoyed his performance, as a character, he is unforgettable. These antagonists are gripping - you're never sure what any of these men will do next, and that creates an uncomfortable tension for other characters you really care about.
Yet, with all the tension of the film, it is at times laugh out loud funny. It is a credit to these performances that both horror and humor are communicated so efficiently, giving the story a realistic, relatable, powerful feel.
(A-) DIRECTION:
This has to be one of my favorite aspects of this film. In terms of the 'PG-13' rating it has received, rather than it being a hindrance, it elevates the movie even more. Many of the horrors shown in the film are shown at a distance, or heard just outside of view, or recounted by the characters - it is very effective. It feels like you're experiencing a horrible circumstance very much beyond your control, with no escape, and no turning back. The feeling of not knowing what will happen next, or only being able to IMAGINE what can happen, works really well in the film. To the directors credit, a little more graphic violence could have easily made Hotel Rwanda an 'R', but this film really makes clear the difference between communicative, and gratuitous - excellent directive decision, and it allows so many more of us younger ones to see this important story.
The style of filming is almost documentary-like, another way of bringing the viewer deeper into the film, and making the true story seem... well, true. Some parts are sentimental, but considering how sad the circumstances become, how could they NOT be?
(A+) VISUALS:
Falls very closely in line with the direction. You see victims being dragged to be slaughtered, but the slaughter is never shown. When it IS shown, it is from a distance. We see either the horrifying prelude, the shocking but shielded act of murder, or the creepy, dreadful aftermath. Much of the violence is emotional, and dialogue is used to paint a picture in your mind of what the person talking has seen. It is very powerful, and is a credit to the director. The PG-13 rating is owed to creativity, NOT conformity.
(A+) OVERALL:
You would think that a movie like this refects on a wickedness of 'common man' and an uncaring apathy of 'fellow man' that shall hopefully never happen again. Think AGAIN - the very same things happen every DAY, all the around the world, even as I type! Sudan is suffering the very same atrocities RIGHT now; Liberia's population endured several YEARS of slaughter leaving uncountable souls dead and/or missing an arm or a leg. And that's just two countries, and that's just in Africa.
The world is hurting. But we really already know that. We can blame the newstations for not showing enough of the horrors that occur outside our nation (and good, BLAME the newstations, because, most of the time, with their selective broadcasting policies, they ARE to blame... but only partly). Even if we had tv stations devoted entirely to showing the world in turmoil, there would always be more suffering and injustice going on that the stations could show. The real issue this movie raises is when we DO see it, what are WE going to do about it - each person, for him or herself. This movie shows what one man did. He used his talents (the things he could do best; things that he LIKED to do) to effectively save the lives of people he cared about, and learned to care about. We see and appreciate movies that show this precious human quality from time to time, but this is REAL folks. Just as there really WAS an Oscar Schindler, who didn't follow the crowd who had the power, but followed his own heart - there really IS a Paul Rusesabagina, who did what entire governments would not do at a certain terrible time in 1994.
If he can, I can. Theses are the reasons I really appreciate this film. I'm really sad it's not in wide release (it seems to only be showing in three theatres in all of Montgomery County, MD), but I'm really glad it's been selling out the way it has. I'm really glad I got to see Hotel Rwanda, and I hope you get to do the same. |
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