Terry George directed this inspirational real-life story about Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu working at a four-star hotel in Kigali in Rwanda. The film is Cheadle's finest work till date, and sees him nominated for an Academy Award, with pretty good odds to win.

When civil war breaks out, Paul opens the hotel to all Tutsi and Hutus seeking refuge from the carnage. Painstakingly collecting on all the favours he'd piled up over the years as hotel manager, he cashes in on them to save over a thousand lives.

Don Cheadle excellently essays the character of an ordinary man compelled to do the extraordinary. His work here is sublime, with both frantic internal struggling and glib silver-tongued persuasion. On the whole, in this very demanding role, Cheadle is absolutely wonderful.

It is a performance born of passion.