Hotel Rwanda

[Nuts]

If you haven't yet seen this film, you are missing out. Seldom does the American public get a chance to see such a realistic depiction of true events through the eyes of Hollywood. Thankfully, Paul Rusesabagina (the focus of the story) was on set as a consultant to the film. Mr. Rusesabagina contests that the story is approximately 90% factual, with doses of exaggeration thrown in for effect.

Sadly, I am one of the millions whom was oblivious to the plight of Rwandan's during the early 90's. Fresh out of high school, world events were the last thing on my mind. Instead, I was too busy chasing tail and playing chicken on the roadways. How was I to know that hundreds of thousands were dying while I was busy screwing around? Seeing this movie makes me feel guilty for complaining about anything in my luxurious life. I haven't a single instance in my life that can compare to even the most mundane days during those times in Rwanda.

Do yourself a favor and sit down on a quiet evening without any distractions and watch this movie without interruption.

[Kabam]

Ebert and Roeper said it was Fantastic! I myself think it was boring :/

[Nuts]

Ebert and Roeper said it was Fantastic! I myself think it was boring :/

A movie that centers around the mass genocide of 800,000+ people is boring? You do realize that this is a non-fictional accounting of actual events, right? Why did you bother replying to the thread if you have nothing constructive to add?

[Black.Ice]

I'm in a film class at college at the moment, and the professor was talking very highly of this film. I haven't had the opportunity to see it as of yet, but I fully intend to when my schedule lightens up a bit.

For some reason, I always assumed it was some type of a documentary. I don't know why or how I got that impression.

Anyways, how long of a movie is it?

[Markpyro]

I just saw it the other night. I remembered one of the comments from a man in the film "After people see this, they'll say "Oh, thats horrible" and continue with their dinners." That part really stood out to me...

Kabam, comon. Make good comments. If you thought it was boring... then, you must be six years old or you only watched the first two minutes. What Nuts said.

[wraizyr]

I saw it; very thought provoking, a definite recommendation from me.

[EdvardMunch]

I would have preferred if the movie gave more information on the genocide. I guess the problem was my expectations, I thought I would be getting an informative yet entertaining docudrama, and not a straight drama based off of an event and contained within it. Not to say the movie wasn't well researched, but I was hoping for a wider picture of the genocide.

Nonetheless, once I accepted Hotel Rwanda on its own terms, I became caught up in the movie and enjoyed it. It's nice to see a film about people being good, as opposed to all of these films that give us a pessimistic view of human nature. This is a thinking person's superhero movie.

[Ragnarox]

I really badly want to see it, especially after learning a bunch of stuff about the genocide in history class.

I just haven't had the time to see it yet.

[Morkeliph]

This is possibly my very favorite movie of all time. What a great movie. If you haven't seen this one definately rent it. We had to watch it for my psychology class last semester and it blew me away. If you can sit through this movie and not be moved at all then you have some severe moral development problems and probably should seek psychiatric help. Also, the acting is wonderful! No wonder it was nominated for Best Picture. Personally, I think this should have won instead of Million Dollar Baby. Anyway, go see it, it's one of the gems of Hollywood.

[Sikawtic]

Can I get an overview? I've never even heard of it :(
All I know is... lots of ppl died. Which is what was stated by all you folks.

[EdvardMunch]

No wonder it was nominated for Best Picture. Personally, I think this should have won instead of Million Dollar Baby.
Actually, it's a common misconception that Hotel Rwanda was nominated for best picture. Although it was nominated for best actor, best supporting actress, and best adapted screenplay, there is no best picture nomination. Here's the nominations for best picture, as stated by the Oscars website: http://www.oscars.org/77academyawards/nomannc/index.html

Best motion picture of the year

“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
A Forward Pass/Appian Way /IMF Production
Nominees are still to be determined.

“Finding Neverland” (Miramax)
A FilmColony Production
Richard N. Gladstein and Nellie Bellflower, Producers

“Million Dollar Baby” (Warner Bros.)
A Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Nominees are still to be determined.

“Ray” (Universal)
A Universal Pictures/Bristol Bay Production
Taylor Hackford, Stuart Benjamin and Howard Baldwin, Producers

“Sideways” (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)
A Sideways Productions, Inc. Production
Michael London, Producer

My bet is that most people forgot either Ray or Finding Neverland was nominated for best picture and put in Hotel Rwanda which, admittedly, had Oscar-bait written all over it.

Can I get an overview? I've never even heard of it :(
All I know is... lots of ppl died. Which is what was stated by all you folks.
In the 90's, the government of Rwanda engaged in a genocide of a certain population of its citizens. This movie is the story of one man who ran a hotel and who used his government and diplomatic connections to keep thousands of endangered Rwandans safe as residents in his hotel.

[Morkeliph]

You know, you're right, I can't believe that I thought that as well. Speaking of which though, Finding Neverland was a really good movie too, and a very clean, family flick as well. Johnny Depp just amazes me everytime how different he can be in each role, though admittedly when he was playing with the children as Captain Hook, I was having Pirates of the Carribean flashbacks.

[Toucan]

I havent seen this. With what everyone is saying about it I may have to check it out.
I remember this clearly, the amount of death in the world at this time was terrible, every night there were images on the news of women screaming over dead bodies and people just walking around with moschetti's and swords, just walking into people's homes, pulling people out on to the street and killing them, every boy, not matter how old, it was bullshit.
Stuff like this is just out right shocking, go's on though.

[EdvardMunch]

You know, you're right, I can't believe that I thought that as well. Speaking of which though, Finding Neverland was a really good movie too, and a very clean, family flick as well. Johnny Depp just amazes me everytime how different he can be in each role, though admittedly when he was playing with the children as Captain Hook, I was having Pirates of the Carribean flashbacks.
I remember an interview Bill Gates did, and the interviewer asked him which movie he was rooting to win best picture. He said Hotel Rwanda. Just because it's impossible doesn't mean it isn't good taste.

I hear Finding Neverland was supposed to come out in 2003, but the makers of the Peter Pan movie from the same year used some voodoo copyright laws or something to keep it from coming out. What a shame, they would have been perfect companion movies and I'd easily bet they would have increased each other's business. I want to see the new Peter Pan movie after having seen Finding Neverland.

I was hoping Finding Neverland would win best picture, so it could boost fantasy films for grownups (of the nominated films. If there were justice, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind would have won). Million Dollar Baby was a very good movie, but it winning makes studio execs more likely to go with small character films that are really about nothing, a genre I'm getting tired of.