Netflix Leaving: Hotel Rwanda and Leaving Las Vegas

2004's "Hotel Rwanda," starring Don Cheadle, is unfortunately expiring on Netflix Instant by the end of the month. The film is a harrowing experience. Called the "African 'Schindler's List'" on more than one occasion, the film is about the real-life Rwandan genocide that took place as recently as spring '94. An estimated 800,000 (mainly Tutsi) were killed by Hutu extremists. Both "Schindler's List" and "Hotel Rwanda" tell the uplifting and hopeful side of disturbing real-life events and focus on one man who risks his own neck to save the lives of many. Don Cheadle plays the hotelier Paul Rusesabina, who tries to rescue his fellow citizens by allowing them to take refuge in his hotel. His performance is powerful yet subtle. Nicke Nolte is also (as usual) equally great in it. He plays a colonel of the UN Peacekeepers. His character is not allowed to intervene on the genocide. I watched this in 2004/2005 in Portland, Oregon with some friends from college. Roger Ebert put my experience into words perfectly: "The film works not because the screen is filled with meaningless special effects, formless action and vast digital armies, but because Cheadle, Nolte and the filmmakers are interested in how two men choose to function in an impossible situation. Because we sympathize with these men, we are moved by the film." One of the greatest things about the film that I can remember is that the film does not show brutal violence. It mostly focuses on its aftermath. It's use of music leaves much to be desired in that it's very conventional. There are some scenes that are contrived, but overall the film is worth watching. Check it out on Netflix Instant before it's too late. It is an overwhelming experience that boldly forces you to reflect on global responsibilities.

Mike Figgis's 1995 bittersweet, tragic romance "Leaving Las Vegas," featuring one of the best (if not the best) performances by Nicolas Cage, is, alas, also leaving Netflix Instant. The film tells the autobiographical story of John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage plays a Hollywood screenwriter who dumps everything and now plans to drink himself to death in Las Vegas (O'Brien killed himself shortly after filming began). In Las Vegas he meets a prostitute (Elisabeth Shue) with an abusive pimp. The film focuses on these two sad, self-destructive individuals in their relationship, which surprisingly seems very loving. Figgis used 16mm to shoot with, composed his own (fantastically moody jazz) score, and was forced to avoid cops on The Strip as filming permits were not allowed. It is a shoestring Indie that accomplishes what it sets out to do with fervor. The film succeeds because it sticks to the principle of observing the behavior of these two individuals from a sort of objective distance. We don't "see" into their minds, and the film is not trying to pretend they can be saved. There's never a moment in the film where it gives the viewer false hope that Cage's character won't kill himself and that Shue's character will save him with her love. It's my favorite kind of narrative-based film-making. Think "The Wire" rather than "The Sopranos." The score compliments the film exceptionally well. On the whole, the film is both charming and disturbing. Sometimes I think of it as a Lynch film that takes place in the real world rather than the Lynchian universe. The film is an exception to the rule that critics like sad endings and audiences only like happy endings. It did quite well both critically and at the box-office. You'll surely fall in love with this film. Be sure to check it out before it's too late.