Customer Reviews

One Man's Hero

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

...is another man's traitor. That's the way it is: the San Patricios are heroes -rightly so- to us Mexicans and traitors -rightly so as well- to the Americans, for they fought for us and deserted them. To argue about whether they did the right thing or not is futile; it depends on which side you are on. History always has two stories to tell and that's what makes it fascinating.

However, I'm not so sure I liked this movie even if most of what it shows is true. I commend the fact that being this, to my knowledge, the only American movie ever made about the Mexican War, it does not repeat the same old clichés one finds in all those Alamo movies, where the Mexicans are but laughing hyenas and the Americans angels on the side of justice. Of course, it could hardly be portrayed that way in this case, given the unjust nature of this particular war. But I think the movie goes the other way a little too much: the Mexicans are idealized beyond recognition, and that doesn't help history either.

The truth is the United States invaded Mexico when that country was having a civil war of its own. That's why we were weaker, that's why we lost, and that should have been made explicit in the movie. Instead it goes for the 'suffering defenseless noble peasant' stereotype Hollywood always uses whenever it wants to show Mexicans in a better light. I've seen it in 'Viva Zapata!', I've seen it in 'The Magnificent Seven', in 'The Wild Bunch', in countless other pictures and, frankly, I'm as fed up with it as with the greaser one. Please portray us as normal people for once!

All that romantically patriotic menáge à trois between Tom Berenger, Daniela Romo and Joaquim De Almeida merely sinks the movie. Whoever thought those awful lines, let alone those characters? Mexicans don't talk that way! Don't do us no favors, it only makes us sound like tragic proud imbeciles! And as for historical accuracy, John O'Reilly did not "dissappeared into the mountains of Mexico" as the movie so cornly concludes, but ended his days a blind beggar in the streets of Mexico City, a fact that shames me as a Mexican. I think the San Patricios deserved better, both in real life and in the movie.

but I'm also one-half Irish.

For me, if a movie is good, it'll make me cry. (I'm a girl! Gimme a break!) This movie had me crying within ten minutes--when John Riley is listening to his men who are in the brig, awaiting the whip, for committing the unpardonable offense of having gone to Mass.

More Anti-Catholic sentiment right after that, with the Kamp Kommandant, Gaine, trying to refuse a pass to Riley so that Riley himself could go to Mass.

Riley goes to Mass and finds more US Army there, worshiping with Catholic Mexicans. (I recognized the Benediction from having gone to Catholic school for six years. That is definitely authentic.) They're Irish, and they're really concerned over the men who're scheduled to be flogged that night.

Riley rides with them and helps free his fellow Catholics, and they ride away, into the night, headed for Mexico...

...where they are ambushed by a bunch of ragged banditos, headed by de Almeida and his girlie friend, portrayed by Daniela Romos. This is where the truth and fiction become a bit blurred.

However, the fact is that the San Patricios fought on the Mexican side for Mexican land and the promise of citizenship; they probably did desert because America really was more Protestant than any other religion and had a British view of the Irish. It's true, just look in some of the publications of the day and really look at how Irish were portrayed in newspapers of the time.

They are still heroes to the Mexicans, and the town (in Co. Clare) where John Riley was born honors him on his birthday every year.

I do love this movie, but it is NOT a typical piece of Hollywood syrup--Our Hero is branded on both cheeks and his men are hung before his eyes for desertion. He is then depicted, as Tom Berenger's voice over tells us at the end of the movie, as having "disappeared into the hills of Mexico, never to be seen again."

I'm sorry that there are those that do not like this movie. I respect your opinion; I even understand why you don't like the movie. But I love it because it spoke to my soul in a way that no movie has, ever.

Here's why: Soy Irlandes y Norteamericana y Catolica. (My Spanish may suck, but you get the drift.)

Thanks for reading my review.

One Man's Hero depicts an important part of United States and Mexican history that is not taught in the schools in the U.S. It tells the story of persecuted Irish immigrants landed in the U.S., moving to and becoming Mexican citizens and their role in the subsequent Mexican-American War making them Mexican heros. In Mexico, St. Patrick's day celebrates the heroism of the San Patricios. The history does not compliment the U.S. government and therefore is most likely the reason those of us in the U.S. have not been told about it. While the movie seems to drag in the begining, subsequent viewings reveal more important details to the viewer. While I would not give the movie 5 stars, the importance of the story itself surpasses the average qualtiy of directorship and hollywoodizing and therefore deserves 5 stars in the knowledge it reveals.

Without going into the plot (others below have done it) I'll just say that this a fairly good historical pic about a period in U.S. history you don't hear much about, the Mexican War. It was not the most shining moment in our history, as basically we were the aggressors and the war was a land grab. Those who call this movie "anti-American" must be the "we-can-do-no-wrong" types (as opposed to the blame-America-first liberals, who think we are the source of the world's problems! The truth, of course, is somewhere in between.)

Anyways, while obviously not a big-budget film, director Lance Hool does a good job with what he has. Go into this expecting it to be at the quality level of a good made-for-TV pic and you won't be disappointed. Also, if you're the type of viewer who needs an action scene every five minutes or else you think the movie is "boring," give this one a miss. It has more to do with story and character than with battle sequences. Berenger is quite good in the lead (although I couldn't help picturing Mel Gibson in this role, what with its William Wallace-type overtones) and most of the rest of the cast is ok too, with a couple exceptions in secondary roles. I do agree with the other reviewers that the romance should have been scrapped. As important as the film's quality, though, is the story it tells, and it's apparent that those who made this film cared about that story. Some sequences are quite moving, and even though I am not a Catholic, I can sympathize with the characters in this story who have to make a choice between loyalties to their country and their faith.

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."

Traitors?... Honourable men?... This is a question than touchs inside our patriotic feelings... unfortunately in the both sides the true history is covered by their convenience or by fears to our "friendly" northern nearby country.
The fact is than the history related is true, the files exists, but U know... the winner always tell the story at their own convenience. Those infamous war was one of the firsts in all over the world yankee invasion.
I hope many mexican see this film, and begin to consider at their real size to the american (by the way... all of us are american, the U.S.A. ones are GRINGOS) to despise their way of life and maybe to feel sorrow for ther poor lifes with lack of familiar and personal values.
About the technical resources... yes, they are poor, but the feeling and performance is the important fact, but I know in USA market the important are not the contents, is the lights, efects and a big budget...
Thanks Mr. Hool and Mr. Berenger for having the courage to tell the true story.

This film is based on true events in history. It is NOT anti- U.S. propaganda! Most U.S. citizens don't know the true facts
of this least discussed dirty U.S. war.

The acting is good and the story even better. I recommend this
film to people who wish to be enlightened and educated concerning Mexico & U.S. history.

I also recommend the book "The Irish Soldiers of Mexico" by Michael Hogan. (Available on Amazon.com!)

I enjoyed the movie. Granted, I am a HUGE Tom Berenger fan, but I enjoyed the premise. I didn't think the story moved too slowly. The romance was a bit dry, but I think it kept the story from being overshadowed. I find that alot of T. Berenger's roles are more about character conflict than event driven, and I think this qualifies. I thought the history was interesting, enough to make me want to go read about it myself, and I enjoyed finding something interesting about St. P's day (besides green beer, which is obviously the influence of American consumerism) I would recommend this movie to anyone who is willing to watch with an open mind, if not for the filming alone.

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 $ 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 film.

American's need to watch the PBS special on the American President and see how American Politics started the Mexican American war. Mexicans were not the enemy they were merely defending against the more powerful American Army. Thank God history is being rewritten to show this. War is ugly when a more powerful nation just butchers a weaker nation. Also, looking forward future film projects about what happen to the people of Mexican Descent after the Mexican American War. A people displaced and killed for their lands. American History that seems to repeat itself over and over. The movie is a must see if your interested in American history. A Good subject matter of todays view of the Mexican American War compared to the ones in the 1840's.