An epic, slow grinding war story of source accounts with romance, faith and loyalty streaming through. I don't know how true it is to the facts, but you couldn't help but admire its powerful scope and sound performances led by Tom Berenger. Irishman John Riley leads his fellow countrymen who desert to Mexico just before the American-Mexican war after encountering religious and ethnic prejudice in the US cavalry. While holding up in Mexico, war is ignited and the men form the St Patrick's brigade where they become allies with the Mexicans. The story shows how much in common these two sides shared in their viewpoint of freedom, which the Irish men saw when they lived and fought side by side with the Mexicans. They kept fighting on, despite the odds being stacked up against them. The war scenes are dramatically staged with strategic precision and bravery, as it becomes a stirring display of chemistry and spirit between the cast. The characters do provide good insight and form lasting impressions, making the entire ordeal even more effective when they meet their fate. Joaquim de Almeida is perfectly strong willed as a Mexican outlaw and Daniela Roma as the Mexican lady caught in a love triangle."One man's hero. Is another man's traitor I reckon sir."

I saw the movie, One Man's Hero at Chicago State University in 2002 or 03,on cable, and I enjoyed the movie. Althrough One Man's Hero had some historical inaccuracies, it is symbolic of the period in American History that have few coverage. I enjoyed the scenes with the battle of Churubusco and Chapeltepuc Castle. Nevertheless, more description of the Battle of Buena Vista, and the actual desertion of the soldiers should been presented. The movie, One Man's Hero, should be shown on available time periods on CBS, NBC,PBS, and UPN or CW.In addition, more movies about the Mexican War 1846-1848 should be made in Hollywood, such as Shaara's book, Gone for Soldiers, for big screen and/or television.

John Riley did indeed lead Irish deserters for Mexico in the war. The Irish were ill-used by Nativist officers who didn't like 'croppies.' Protestant America was feeling threatened by the huge influx of Catholic Irish flooding into the US from famine-struck Ireland. Few troops have been given more reason to desert. However, the movie tells it all wrong. Riley wasn't a sergeant and didn't plan to return after getting his men to safety. He was a private who swam the Rio Grande a month before the war was declared. He responded to 'desertion leaflets' that the Mexicans had sneaked into American Camps. No US army ever had higher desertion rates.The treatment of Winfield Scott is rather harsh. Riley was actually sentenced to hang with virtually all of his men but it was Scott who commuted his sentence (the still harsh 50 lashes and branding), along with that of more than a score of his men. This infuriated Scott's Nativist officers.Riley remained in the Mexican Army after the war for a year or so and almost certainly returned to Ireland thereafter. Also, he was a young fellow, about thirty, which made it hard to accept Tom in the role. Another thing that was irritating is that there is a list of the men who served under Riley and it is amazing that the screenwriter decided to create fictional replacements instead. Why? Also, one must not forget that most Irish, despite poor treatment by prejudiced officers, did not desert. Who was more heroic, those who deserted or those who didn't?All in all, a disappointment. However, it is one of the very few films that deals with the Mexican American War, and for that I commend it.

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.