An powerful portrayal of genocide, some improvements though

Rating: 8/10 (28 May 2008)

Based on the true story, Hotel Rwanda is a film centred around the genocidal acts that took place in Rwanda during 1994. Don Cheadle gives a riveting performance as Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of a European-owned hotel in Rwanda, who created a secret refugee camp for the Tutsi people during the brutal genocide committed against them by the Hutu people. While the killing happened all that the western powers did was ignore this atrocity. Cheadle gives some terrific acting and this film really opens the eyes of the western world when they refused to open it during these events. If you liked the movie "Shooting Dogs", which involves almost identical events but in a Rwandan school, you will enjoy this movie. The gripping tension in some of the key scenes keeps you on the edge of your seat. There is an all-star cast with cameos from Jean Reno and Joaquin Phoenix. However, I would not rate this 5 star as the cruel acts could be have been shown a bit more. I do not mean that it has to be vile and a gore-fest. But to really have a more deeper impact on the audience, a few more scenes could be used to show how the Tutsis were killed.