Holiday Movie Preview 2004

Hotel Rwanda

When civilization begins to crumble, there's usually one person who holds it all together. In the case of the 1994 massacre in Rwanda, that miraculous soul was Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of a swank European hotel that became a hiding spot for thousands trying to escape the machete-wielding Hutu militiamen who killed more than 800,000 people in just 100 days. Comparisons to Schindler's List are inevitable, but Irish director Terry George is not attempting drama on such a large scale. He's trying to personalize the tragedy, so he stays focused and doesn't stray from Rusesabagina's plight.

That's all the better for moviegoers, because Don Cheadle's performance is so captivating that he really is a sea of calm in the storm around him. You can't take your eyes off him or get enough of the lilting accent he puts on for the role. When he says goodbye to his wife (Sophie Okonedo) and children because he thinks he'll never see them again, hearts will break.

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