Hotel Rwanda

I'm going to open this by saying that Hotel Rwanda is the most powerful movie of 2004, after The Passion of the Christ though the latter for different reasons.
Writer/Director Terry George created this masterpiece based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, who saved more than 1200 people during the Rwandan genocide in the 90s.

Paul is played by Don Cheadle, who gives such a strong performance, that I was picking him as the surprise to get the Oscar for Best Actor. Of course, I that was before seeing Ray earlier today, so now he could still surprise, but I don't think Jamie Foxx is going to lose.
But Cheadle plays it so great, keeping it together to manage the hotel, but also concerned about protecting his family, and then everybody else. Really excellent.
Sophie Okonedo also gives a strong performance as Tatiana, Paul's wife, and Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix play small roles to put some known names in the movie, and they're good.

There are many heart breaking scenes in the movie, and it all looks so real that you can't help but get goosebumps, or even shed a tear, starting with the scene when the American troops come to rescue all the Americans and they leave all the Rwandans behind, including little children.

I compare Cheadle's performance here and his chance to win the Oscar to Adrien Brody's win a few years ago for The Pianist, a movie that much like Hotel Rwanda, is based on a true story about people suffering a genocide.
I also predict Hotel Rwanda to get the fifth spot for Best Picture of the year after The Aviator, Sideways, Million Dollar Baby and Finding Neverland.