User reviews

"One Man's Hero" is set in the 1840's , Mexico was embroiled in turmoil . Renegades and revolutionaries ruled the mountains and the central government was trying to regain control . The neighboring United States saw the opportunity to invade . Across the Atlantic Ocean a different battle raged , as Ireland lost half its population to the potato famine . Desperate and broken two million Irishmen sailed across to the United States . Enticed by the promise of citizenship , scores of young Catholic Irishmen joined the predominantly US Army. For most , it was their only choice . The Saint Patrick's Battalion (Spanish: Batallón de San Patricio, later reorganized as the Foreign Legion of Patricios), formed and led by John Riley, was a unit of 175 to several hundred (accounts vary) immigrants and expatriates of European descent who fought as part of the Mexican Army against the United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. It is set in 1846 , the plot centers around John Riley (Tom Berenger) , an Irish immigrant soldier recruited in the American army during the Mexican-American War , being a sergeant in command of a battalion who are usually despised by the soldiers remaining . One day , John Riley and other Irishmen deserted to Mexico after in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. As the motley bunch flee to Mexico , there they are assaulted and imprisoned by a Mexican guerrilla led by deserters (Joaquin De Almeida , Daniela Romo) opposite the Mexico government . Later on , Riley and his men choose to be soldiers for the Mexican Army , waging war the US invader . Riley then is commissioned as a Captain in the Mexican Army and fights with soldiers on both sides of the border.

It tells the little-known story of the "St. Patrick's Battalion" or "San Patricios," a group of mostly Irish, and other immigrants of the Catholic religion, who are mistreated , humiliated by US soldiers and encountering religious and ethnic prejudice . The script revolves around the personal story of John Riley, an Irishman who had been a Sergeant in the American Army . Here Tom Berenguer gives a good acting as the Irish sergeant who faces off anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic bigotry from his fellow servicemen and defects to the Mexican army , subsequently commanding an Irish battalion, as he leads his men in battle. He is well accompanied by a good cast, such as : Joaquin De Almeida as a rebel officer , Daniela Romo as a stubborn Guerrilla woman who falls for Riley , Mark Moses as an US upright Colonel , Stephen Toblowsky as a nasty officer , James Gammon as General Zachary Taylor , Patrick Bergin as General Scott , and a cameo by Prince Alberto de Monaco . It packs a colorful and evocative cinematography by Peter Wooley . And a rousing and thrilling musical score by Ernest Troost , shot on location in Durango , Puebla , Morelos, Mexico . Lavishly financed by Spanish/US/Mexican producers as Julio Fernandez , Jaime Comas Gil , Conrad and Lance Hool . The motion picture was well written , produced and directed by Lance Hool.

It is well based on facts , about Saint Patrick's Batalion , being composed primarily of Catholic Irish immigrants, the battalion also included Germans, Canadians, English, French, Italians, Poles, Scots, Spaniards, Swiss, and Mexicans, many of whom were also members of the Catholic Church. Most of the battalion's members had deserted or defected from the United States Army. The battalion served as an artillery unit for much of the war. Despite later being formally designated as two infantry companies, it still retained artillery pieces throughout the conflict. In many ways, the battalion acted as the sole Mexican counterbalance to the recent U.S. innovation of horse artillery. The San Patricios were responsible for the toughest battles encountered by the United States in its invasion of Mexico, with Ulysses S. Grant remarking that "Churubusco proved to be about the severest battle fought in the valley of Mexico".Disenfranchised Americans were in the ranks, including escaped slaves from the Southern United States. Only a few members of the Saint Patrick's Battalion were actual U.S. citizens. The Mexican government printed propaganda in different languages to entice immigrants in the U.S. Army to switch sides and offered incentives to foreigners who would enlist in its army including granting them citizenship, paying higher wages than the U.S. Army, and generous land grants. U.S. Army regiments from which members are known to have deserted include: the 1st Artillery, the 2nd Artillery, the 3rd Artillery, the 4th Artillery, the 2nd Dragoons, the 2nd Infantry, the 3rd Infantry, the 4th Infantry, the 5th Infantry, the 6th Infantry, the 7th Infantry, and the 8th Infantry.The San Patricios are honored in both Mexico and Ireland.The San Patricios captured by the U.S. Army were treated and punished as traitors for desertion in time of war. Seventy-two men were immediately charged with desertion by the Army.Two separate courts-martial were held, one at Tacubaya on 23 August, and another at San Ángel on 26 August. At neither of these trials were the men represented by lawyers nor were transcripts made of the proceedings. This lack of formal legal advice could account for the fact that several of the men claimed that drunkenness had led them to desert (a common defense in military trials at the time that sometimes led to lighter sentences), and others described how they were forced to join the Mexican Army in some form or another. The majority of the San Patricios either offered no defense or their defenses were not recorded. Wealthy Mexicans came to the San Patricios' defence at the trials, and members of Mexico's first families visited them in prison . There had strong sentences against the Irish soldiers . One soldier who claimed he was forced to fight by the Mexicans after he was captured by them, and who subsequently refused to do so, was sentenced to death by firing squad instead of hanging, along with another who was found not to have officially joined the Mexican Army. Most of the convicted San Patricios were sentenced to death by hanging: 30 from the Tacubaya trial and 18 from San Ángel. The rationale was that they had entered Mexican military service following the declaration of war. Execution by hanging was in violation of the contemporary Articles of War, which stipulated that the penalty for desertion and/or defecting to the enemy during a time of war was death by firing squad, regardless of the circumstances. Hanging was reserved only for spies (without uniform) and for "atrocities against civilians", neither of which activities were among the charges brought against any members of the Saint Patrick's Battalion. Although more than 9,000 U.S. soldiers deserted the army during the Mexican-American War, only the San Patricios (who unlike almost all other deserters had also fought against the United States) were punished by hanging. Those soldiers who had left military service before the official declaration of war on Mexico (Riley among them) were sentenced to "... receive 50 lashes on their bare backs, to be branded with the letter 'D' for deserter, and to wear iron yokes around their necks for the duration of the war . In all, 50 Saint Patrick's Battalion members were officially executed by the U.S. Army. Collectively, this was the largest mass execution in United States history-the hanging of 38 Sioux at the conclusion of the Dakota War of 1862 appears to be the largest execution by hanging at a single event. En masse executions for treason took place at three separate locations on three separate dates; 16 were executed on 10 September 1847 at San Ángel, four were executed the following day at the village of Mixcoac on 11 September, and 30 were hanged at Chapultepec.

Anyone who doubts the power of religion to sway a man's loyalties has never studied history. Likewise, anyone who doubts the power of a man's need to feel respect and a sense of "belonging" has simply never felt the lack. The Irish of the time came to our shores fleeing famine and disease, poor in the wallet but rich in pride and heritage. They asked for nothing but a chance, and took what was offered in good faith. The politics of the time made them much as the Mexicans are viewed today. Unwanted aliens who should be sent back from whence they came. Taking the offer of the US Army at face value, they were ridiculed and scorned and abused constantly. When battle was joined they found themselves fighting a people not so different from themselves. A people who shared ties of Catholicism, as well as spirit. They got nothing but hatred and ridicule from those who supposedly would welcome them, and could not be proud of fighting Mexicans, who shared so much in common with them. All they asked was a place to belong. Once they found it, they fought for it with all they had. It just happened, they found it in the ones they were supposed to be fighting.

This is one of the most powerfully moving films I've ever seen. Maybe it does lack some technical expertise, but I got so totally lost in the storyline, I didn't notice that. This film is precisely what I appreciate so much about Tom Berenger: it seems that Tom Berenger can take a small episode of history and make it memorable--so memorable, in fact, that I've seen this movie only twice, but scenes from it keep playing in my mind.

When it comes films based on true events, it is in the filmmakers' best interest to keep all the facts as legitimate as possible without skewing the story all that much. The genre of films that probably receives the most critical of film buffs' attentions are the ones that have been historically recorded and not some fable spread by rumors and myths. Taking a deeper look, the type of historical film that gets this kind of focus is usually bio-pictures or war dramas. Further closing the gap, the war dramas that have received the motion picture treatment range; but several have depicted these tragedies during the Great War, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. Of course in world history, these are not the only confrontations that occurred, but for North American history, this is the usual batch. It is rare when another event is looked at that possibly was forgotten in the regular high school history books. The most recent that comes to mind is Heaven's Gate (1980), which was about a county war in 1890.

Turns out this movie takes place during the 19th century as well. Lance Hool, a producer to other various films like Missing in Action (1984), The Air Up There (1994), Flipper (1996) and Man on Fire (2004), takes a turn in the director's chair to cover the Mexican-American War in 1846. Written by Milton S. Gelman (who passed practically a decade before this film's release), the story is about real-life soldier Sergeant John Riley (Tom Berenger) and his men who abandoned the U.S. army after being persecuted because of their Catholic faith. While leaving, they find refuge with fellow Mexicans led by Cortina (Joaquim de Almeida) and Marta (Daniela Romo). There, they both decide to join Mexico and fight for their freedom. Meanwhile, Colonel Benton Lacy (Mark Moses) attempts to get Riley back to the north before General Winfield Scott (Patrick Bergin) blows them all away. Running parallel to that, Marta and Riley start to become more attracted to each other every minute they spend together.

For problems, there isn't all too much to gripe about. The only script issues that are obvious deal with character motivations. From what is known, John Riley is somewhat a mystery but only after the Mexican- American war ended. There are documents of his existence but there isn't a clear answer as to what he did post-war. Did he marry for real? In this feature, Marta is Riley's love interest as is she to Cortina. The passion that Riley has for Marta is a constant subplot that is brought up every half-hour or so. Yet Cortina repetitively reminds Riley to stay away, but Riley doesn't listen. Soon, Riley and Cortina fight and immediately right after; it's water under the bridge for some odd reason. What was all the antagonizing for if it was going to be settled so quickly? Was it even worth writing in? The only other dilemma in this movie is more technical and that's the depiction of war. This film was Orion Pictures last release and many of the studio's films were rated R (as was this one). Still there seems to be almost no blood or gore.

That particular aspect was probably the most inaccurate component. War is not light and fluffy stuff. There are a couple scenes where blood does flow but it's rated R. Gettysburg (1993) also should have been R but it was PG so the depiction of violence was much less gruesome and that's only appropriate because of its rating. Why give a movie the label of rated R if won't even play out as an R rated film? It's misleading. The cast to the film was also entertaining. Hearing Tom Berenger with an Irish accent is definitely a change in his usual speech pattern and it does sound authentic, as well as the soldiers played by Stuart Graham, Gregg Fitzgerald, Don Wycherley, Wolf Muser and Luke Hayden. Each actor equally matches Berenger in amiability. Daniela Romo as Marta is very pretty and it is obvious as to why Riley falls for her so quickly. Joaquim de Almeida is always fun to watch but in his role as Cortina, it's hard to know how trustworthy he is. Mark Moses performance as Colonel Lacy is another great show. Moses knows how to have a presence.

Visually, the film had an appealing look to it. All effects looked like they were executed practically, of which regularly gives a movie a more realistic viewing. Credit to João Fernandes as the director of photography for capturing wide shots of the western North American terrain. The actual depiction may not feel it has the right temperature to walk in casual clothing but it rightfully matches the environment of what the west was like. Fernandes was also the cinematographer for Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984), Missing in Action (1984) and Red Scorpion (1988). The film score produced by Ernest Troost was another great element. Troost also composed the music to both horror comedies Tremors (1990) and Dead Heat (1988). Unlike Dead Heat (1988) though where the orchestra sounded like it came from an oldies monster film, Troost's orchestra to this film is much more full and contemporary. The main title is very applicable to the setting, with bagpipes representing Riley and his men. There's also a choir to boot.

It has some weird character motivations and underwhelming violence for an R rated war film, however it is an immersive film. The story provides a new history lesson to those unfamiliar of the Mexican-American war, the actors perform great, and the cinematography is befitting to the setting as well as the film score.

This movie could have been great. It could have shown people a part of what happened in what is a forgotten war by many Americans. It could have been balanced and neutral in showing both American and Mexican soldiers. But that did not happen, at least not in this movie. The American soldiers are shown charging wildly again and again. The war was fought in orderly lines and columns, not like some 19th century "Braveheart" The acting in my opinion was poor overall, with poor accents by the actors doing the Irish deserters. People should know that many of the deserters went over to the Mexican side due to the fact that Mexico was offering large land grants to American deserters. It also fails to note that more than half of the historical battalion was made up of native Mexicans. It also fails to note that the VAST majority of the immigrant soldiers stayed loyal to the American cause in the face of extreme hardship. Nearly all the battles were fought with the Americans outnumbered in at least one case 3 to 1 and yet the United States won. So if you are looking for a balanced historical movie look elsewhere. But if you want a movie where most Americans are depicted as evil and the Mexicans are mostly saints then this is the movie for you.

Anyone who has studied the history of the Mexican-U.S. conflict will have no doubts come across the story of the St. Patrick's Battalion. It could have been made into an excellent movie, maybe even an Oscar contender, but instead it ends up like a bad B-Movie. Terrible acting, awful accents and worse of all are the action scenes, they made me cringe with embarrassment. My favorite part was when the credits came up at the end so I could check the director's name so I could avoid his future movies at all cost. It's a real shame though, if Scorcese or Spielberg had got their hands on the history of the St. Paddy's battalion they could have put together a fine cast and an excellent script. Let's hope like many movies, they decide to make a remake and let's hope someone can tell this fantastic historical event the way it should be told.

Someday, perhaps, when this film achieves the reputation as a classic that it deserves it will be widely re-released. A labor of love for Berenger, it features the acclaimed actor in possibly his greatest performance as an Irish sergeant who fights with his men on the side of the Mexicans during the Mexican war. Tom is incredible here, especially in the closing scenes, but everything is superb here, the music, photography, direction by Lance Hool, supporting performances, everything you could ask for in a spectacle like this.See this film.

While I found the movie slow and boring, I also had a hard time feeling sympathy for a group of U.S. Army deserters that decided to enter the war against their fellow U.S. soldiers. I also had a hard time swallowing the hypocritical scene of a Mexican general arguing that the captured deserters should be considered as prisoners of war and therefore not be executed. The then Mexican president Santa Anna was not known for how well he treated his own prisoners of war. Example: How many heroes of the Alamo were allowed to live and tell their tale? The saying "Remember the Alamo" was created for a reason.

"One Man's Hero" is a beautiful film. Beneath any flaws in style and editing, discussions of touchy subject matter, etc. etc., it presents the incredible true story of a group of Irish immigrants who deserted the US army to fight with Mexico during the Mexican War to become the San Patricios. For an $18 million film and fairly unknown director, it stands the test well and emerges an educational and compelling piece of moviemaking.

Truth be told, there's nothing spectacular about the battle scenes or any groundbreaking aspects, but the collective strength of the cast and the solid script pay homage to these men. The film boasts several brilliant "moments", a sub-plot romance, wonderful performances from supporting cast, a thought provoking subject from the archives of history, and the drama and charismatic profundity of a lost cause and ultimate tragedy. Kudos to great score and utilizing the terrain to the benefit of the film.

Though it's not a blazing Oscar candidate, this is a wonderful, sad, and highly personal film about human beings trying to make the best of an unusual and dangerous situation. It has a layered cultural atmosphere that is refreshing and enlightening, and no doubt you'll end the film with a new appreciation of history and belief in good film.

OMH is a poorly made film. The acting is mediocre, even from the normally good Berenger, and what passes for "action" is, well, not very passable. The war scenes are badly done and looks fake as well as cheap in production values.

The story is interesting. Irish deserters join the Mexicans in the Mexican American war. of course, you'll have to be completely biased toward one side in order to LOVE or HATE this movie. I, on the other hand, would rather take the film at its own merits, and, well, it isn't very good.

On an aside, isn't it wonderful how evil all the American characters are? The Mexicans look like saints! LOL. What a laugh. Of course, I am a student of history, and I know that the burgeoning Americans were WAY OUTNUMBERED by the Mexicans, who had a stable and massive army as opposed to the ragged and sometimes undisciplined American army. And YET the Americans still won! So what exactly is the "truth" being told here?

All in all, a mediocre film. Not all that great as a war movie, and sometimes too cheesy and obvious as a drama. I do wish they'd treat everyone as people, not just cut-out stereotypes. Unfortunately, in order to make our deserters and traitors the "good guys" the filmmakers went out of their way to paint every single American soldier as less than human.

Too bad, because this is a very interesting piece of history. Unfortunately it looks like a bad High School production, and that's insulting High School productions everywhere.

I was fortunate to attend the premiere. Now I am trying to find out when OMH will be released to the SF Bay Area so that I can tell my friends to be sure to see it.

I am very familiar with writer Michael Hogan's work in both his The Irish Soldiers of Mexico and Molly Malone and the San Patricios. Michael is a superb poet too. I happen to know too that he served as a consultant on the troop movements, the uniforms, the flags etc. when the Hools were filming in Durango.

The film depicts a little known episode in the U.S.'s quest to dominate the northern hemisphere. We know that this quest was successful, but we also know that the price in blood was much higher than any of the proponents of Manifest Destiny ever dreamed.

The acting is superb. I especially liked Joaquim Alameda for his portrayal of a renegade patriot. I think there is another great story there that perhaps the Hools should do. What did happen to him? Did he spawn Zapata?

Finally, the score, the scenery, and the battle scenes were really well done. Pity the poor lads who had to pay even more than the price named in the Military Code of Justice. That was a shame, but we must remember their memory will live on forever. Even more so now that Lance and Conrad Hool have immortalized them on film.

Nice people who rated this movie 10 stars don't have a clue about the Mexican War and if they were in my history class,I would flunk the lot. One critic heresaid, "This movie is worth fighting for." If it is, its because its a movie I would really fight against,because it gives a totally wrong recounting of the basic history of the conflict. The movie fas a storyline is well crafted and well cast and Tom Berenger does a great job as Sgt/Captaine Riley. Yet,like the movie JFK by Oliver Stone, the script writers really don't know their subject and make up things while making up things. This movie is told to achieve audience appeal and emotional involvement,something like a Star Wars movie. Both movies tell a story, and the problem of this movie like so many other "historical movies" is that uninformed movie goers buy into the basic premise. Hear of the "Stockhome Syndrome" where the kidnapped start to feel sympathy for the Kidnappers. This movie is a mix of accurate fact and fiction. The potato famine did not really get going till 1846 onward but the Irish deserters are described in 1846 America as Potato Famine rejects? The potato blight was not named, the Potato famine till many years later.The English government who was sovereign over Ireland would not even admit its existence till much later. Yet, "No Irish Need Apply" was a real fact and a million Irish died of starvation. On the other side the 1846 Army was not half Irish. Does it matter if history can be used in a creative manner? Judging from the reviews here, yes it does matter because the basic facts of "The Mexican War" are terrible muddled here. I thought that Riley's question, "Do you know the difference between deserters and traitors was a great line and a good question. I know but did the audience? Have your heard of the Goliad Massacre, you would if you were Texan, how about the execution of the men of the Alamo. At the end of the movie some of the Irish of the San Patrico Btn are hung. It's accurate. I have no sympathy for men who deserted to the enemy to fight for the Mexicans. My people help found Maryland, my 6th? Great Grandfather, Govenor William Strong, led the force for toleration, in the Battle of the Severn against Cromwell in the last Battle of the English Civil War. Lots of the family were or are Catholic. So as with many famous films, you get a distorted view of history while watching a nice story. What a crock. I watched Gettysburg and I was only able to catch one wrongheaded fact because they had some of the best historians in the business worked on it. Its no wonder that we as Americans have a really weird view of the world when we watch films that distort the truth. So in summary, this is bad history and not a bad film. I personally agree with the courts marital, and I will waive the flag who I served as did most of my family as we shoot traitors to the United States. George Washington is my 2nd Cousin.. It's too bad, Hollywood movies are like Real Estate agents, some can be sold anything and think they have a great deal, its all in how you market your product or write the story line. When history and legend conflict, "Print the Legend" So for the Long Gray Line of the United States Army, on our honor, "My Country Right Or Wrong, May She Ever Be Right."

The struggle by many to get MGM to release this epic movie was worth every effort as you watch this beautiful movie on the big screen.

This is one of the performances of Tom Berenger's life.There is no denying the magnitude to which he portrays John Riley's great strength and character. His scenes, quite literally, draw you in like no other role he's played since Sergeant Barnes in Platoon. You'll gasp out loud when witnessing the consequences the San Patricios and John Riley face for desertion.

Berenger brings to this movie his heart and soul (along with an excellent Irish brogue)and it shows in the first frame to the last.

Artistically shot under Director, Lance Hool, and enhanced by the beautiful score from composer Ernest Troost, this is a film that will stay with you long after you leave the theater.

Tom is supported by an equally impressive and strong cast. Daniela Romo, as the fiercely independent and beautiful Marta, is captivating in every scene she is in. Mark Moses, as American Col. Benton Lacy, is a stand-out as John Riley's friend and one of the few fair-minded soldiers in John Riley's former American unit. Character actor James Gammon, who played coach Lou Brown in Major League and Major League II, brought to the movie his homey, down-to-earth talent as the likable Zachary Taylor.

This movie tells a little known chapter in American and Mexican history--a chapter that deserves to be told.

Tell everyone you know to go out and support this film to ensure a wider release throughout the United States.

THIS IS A MOVIE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

I was surprised by this movie. Not only is it incredibly interesting, but it has fine production values, good acting, and is alternately stirring and touching, yet ultimately tragic.

Apparently the film received little or no press and release because of it's subject matter: The San Patricios or St. Patrick's Brigade for the Mexican Army who

deserted the American Army because they were being discriminated against

during the Mexican American War. It's a captivating story which I'm surprised I'd never heard before, though I don't understand why some people took so poorly

to it, it's just history.

All in all the filmmakers and cast did a fine job presenting this story very nicely.

Recommended.

One Man's Hero details a little known chapter of the very unpopular Mexican American War. The acting is superb, Tom Berenger aches with conflicted loyalty to his church, to his "boys" and to his adopted country. In many ways this is a diffucult film to view. Often, Americans feel my country right or wrong. This film fairly reveals both sides with warts and all. There is never a winner in any military confrontation. Everyone loses - their own lives, the life of a loved one, a cherised home land. The US army of the 1800's often employed less than honorable tactics to lure uneducated immigrants into its rank & file. What they found was a prejudice not just reserved for the those of a different color skin or on the "other" side of the confrontation. The prejudices of the army were cruelly devisive & a socially acceptable behavior among the rank and file of the US troops. Often an ethnic groups loyalties were not grounded in the flag and mission of their adopted homeland, but among their own, where they shared traditions, culture and church. This is the story of One Man's Hero. The cast is excellent. The story will make you think. Today we talk about human rights, human dignity .... In the 1800's our country was far from the equality, freedom and dignity we are still striving to achieve today. One Man's Hero will make you think. It will make you think twice before you utter an unkindness or that "funny" joke from the water cooler. When we hurt others, we are only hurting ourselves. This is the lesson of One Man's Hero. Can we ask any more of a film.

Once again I sit here a watch a movie that is supposed to be history. Sadly the bias in Hollywood movie making is cringe worthy. Once again we the people of the United States are reduced to bigots. This time to Irish Catholics. There is some truth to the story. But it is slanted to teach you how awful we are.

I feel a great need to comment on this film. One Man's Hero is a beautifully written film. The actors did a superb job in this film, which we also feel was incredibly directed. Why has it taken so long for Hollywood to do a film on the subject of this war? I was lucky enough to see this film while on vacation. Who knows how long I would have to wait to see One Man's Hero if I were to wait for it to be shown in Kentucky? Can MGM not see the error of their ways by not giving One Man's Hero the larger release it deserves and needs to succeed?

I am the mother of a school aged child. One Man's Hero, in my opinion, could and would be the topic of MANY history class discussions. Please wake up MGM--the vast majority of people I have spoken to are waiting for a larger release. You need to give the people farther East the opportunity to see this beautiful film--you will NOT regret it. Thank you!

Sincerely, Lisa Murley

"One Man's Hero" tells of the Saint Patty's Battalion of dissident Irish soldiers who fought for Mexico during the American-Mexican war of 1846-1848 and their leader, John Reilly (Berenger). This very mediocre film tries to do too much with a story which is fundamentally not very interesting as war stories go while spicing it up with a fictional and lame romance. Generally a poor production, "OMH" gives us little reason to care about any of the characters, features a typically shallow performance by Berenger, and wanders off into an esoteric bit of history which is of little interest to most. This film is to Irish-Americans as "Glory" was to African-Americans but fails where "Glory" succeeded.

I had the extreme fortune of seeing "One Man's Hero" at a test screening in Los Angeles, and frankly, it blew me away.

Once in every long while Hollywood lives up to its responsibility to portray subject matters of substance and import to society and humankind at large. "One Man's Hero" is one such example.

The US-Mexican War is the pivotal chapter in the history of North America. It is the war that sealed the fates of it's two participants. For the United States, the War garnered huge amounts of territory and wealth, bootstrapping the fledgling democracy onto the world stage. For Mexico, the War sent the emerging nation into a tailspin that it is still reckoning with today, one hundred fifty years later.

In the United States the US-Mexican War is virtually forgotten, and for good reason, as it is the clearest example of our historical hypocrisy. The US-Mexican War was waged upon Mexico out of pure greed and moral righteousness. The remarkable part of the story is that at the time of this unjust invasion of our peaceful Catholic neighbor, Irish immigrants fresh off the coffin-ships from the Famine identified with Mexico's plight.

Over a hundred years before the conscientious objectors of Vietnam, the 'San Patricios' were true heroes who fought and died for their religion, their convictions, their brethren, and their adopted homeland Mexico. While Henry David Thoreau invented civil disobedience in Massachusetts, refusing to pay his taxes to support this unjust invasion of Catholic Mexico, and while Abraham Lincoln stood in opposition to President Polk's scheme in Congress, the 'San Patricios' fought to the death in the front lines against the invading Yankees.

Through the eyes of these Irish immigrants, we come to see the underbelly of North American history, and come to understand how we have arrived to such debates as anti-bilingual education in California, our collective guilt manifest in NAFTA, and anti-immigration xenophobia.

Rarely does one film illicit such critically profound self reflection, and "One Man's Hero" makes us consider who we are and how we have arrived at the United States' Empire here at the turn of the millennium. The acting is superb, melding a stellar cast of as-of-yet unknown talent with Tom Berenger's best performance to date. The script is Shakespearean in it's tact and art. The direction demonstrates an unparalleled intimacy with the subject matter which leaves us gasping for air one moment and reaching for kleenex the next.

This is a film in the grand tradition of Hollywood, a huge epic wrought large on the silver screen in the tradition of "Braveheart" "Dr. Zhivago" and "Dances with Wolves."

Domingo Espada, San Francisco, Norte America

I have to be honest: my high vote (8) is due to my admiration for Tom Berenger, one of my favorite actors. I have read other viewers comments, both negative and positive, and have to confess my ignorance about the St. Patrick Batallion. That's why I decided to read the book Shamrock and Sword: The Saint Patrick Batallion by Robert Miller, which is very interesting. I don't have anything against this group of Irish soldiers but my sincere admiration goes to the seventeen totally Irish companies who participated in the US-Mexican war (on the US side) and were highly recognized for their courage and dignity. I can understand that the Saint Patrick Batallion is respected and admired in Mexico; however, this group of soldiers can only be seen as traitors in the U.S. As I said in the beginning, I admire Tom Berenger and he is an excellent actor. Don't accept the facts expressed in the movie because most probably this is total fiction. Look for the truth.