Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 2004

Ten years ago now, I feels like just two. Some great films came out that year, here are my favorites. 

 

5. Hotel Rwanda

A real beautiful film, which touches you and grabs you entirely. 

 

 

4. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Completely different from the number five, because this is one of the most ridiculously funny films I’ve ever seen. But when you let Will Ferrell play your lead character, you can expect that.

 

3. Million Dollar Baby

I looked like just another boxing movie, but there was a very dramatic twist. One of my favourite Clint Eastwood films. 

 

 

2. Kill Bill Vol. 2

I like this part even better than the first, not a lot of people would agree. But I love this movie, it’s my favourite Tarantino directed film. 

 

 

1. Shaun of the Dead

British humour is brilliant and this is a great horror comedy. If you don’t think it’s funny, you’re nuts! Ever since I saw this movie, I laugh every single time I hear “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Notebook, The Bourne Supremacy, The Incredibles

Movie Battle: Hotel Rwanda Vs. Shooting Dogs

The movies who will go head to head are both set in Rwanda and deal with the genocide. They’re both favorites of mine, but who will I choose as the winner.

CAST

Hotel Rwanda: Don Cheadle plays the leading character and he is the only memorable actor in this movie. His performance is so realistic and heartbreaking. Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix are also part of the cast, they’re just solid.

Shooting Dogs: John Hurt plays the role of Christopher, a man of faith who’s life is dedicated to the school and church he has set up in Rwanda. Hugh Dancy is the likeable Joe, a teacher who tries to make a difference. Both actor are very realistic and strong.

STORY

Hotel Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina is a hotel manager who housed a thousand tutsi refugees and it’s an amazing true story. It got a lot of attention at the Academy Awards.

Shooting Dogs: This movie has been based on actual events, the characters are fictional, but it's a bit more confronting then “Hotel Rwanda”. It’s really heart wrenching to see that the United Nations left all those people there and only the ‘white people’ could be evacuated. I think this movie was a bit overlooked.

EFFECTS

Hotel Rwanda: Nicely filmed, don’t really have any negative points here.

Shooting Dogs: It all looks very realistic. I’ve been to Uganda, the neighbour country and parts of it look similar to Rwanda. The color scheme that was used to film “Shooting Dogs” is perfect.

WINNER

A close call, but I will go with “Shooting Dogs”. Most people would choose the other one, but I think “Shooting Dogs” is just a little bit more confronting and touched me slightly more then “Hotel Rwanda”.

Movie Tip #1 - Hotel Rwanda

Director: Terry George

Starring: Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix

Description: Tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi lead to a civil war, in a country where corruption and bribes are routine. Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), the manager of Sabena Hôtel des Mille Collines, is Hutu but his wife is Tutsi. Paul and his family observe neighbors being dragged from their homes and openly beaten in the streets. He decides to help de Tutsi people and offers them chelter in his hotel, but the Rwandan Army General is not happy about it.

Review: This movie made me think and I was deeply moved by it. Paul is a man who is willing to do the right thing, when everything around him is going wrong. He stands strong and Don Cheadle did a great job portraying this man. Go see this movie and let it inspire you, like it inspired me.