Was Once a Hero

I love westerns, and I'm a Darby Hinton fan. I also like the writings of Dan Searles, so I was looking forward to seeing Was Once A Hero last June.

The movie FAR exceeded my expectations.

So well written, and all the actors were superb in their roles.

The movie was, at various times, humorous, exciting, and touching.

Darby Hinton gives a heart wrenching performance that will bring tears to your eyes.

PTSD didn't have a name during the post civil war era, but it was there, as was dementia. You will fall in love with Darby's character and this movie.

Kudos also to Eliza Kelley, Robert Carradine, John Carter Cash, Dan Searles, and the beautiful Rebecca Holden.

But keep your eyes on a young actress by the name of Julie Kashmanian, she will be a star!

Kudos to Michael Tuthill, Dan Searles, and all who have had a part in the production of Was Once A Hero. The challenging and timely topics of progressive cognitive loss and the long term effects of wartime violence are addressed in a compassionate film of the Old West. A bold undertaking masterfully done with all the drama, excitement, and suspense that you expect from a good old fashioned Western, but dealing at the same time with the very same problems we confront today. The cast carries out this task with remarkable skill and sensitivity. This is an extraordinary movie that you will remember for as long as there are movies, and great Westerns.

I laughed, I cried, I wondered how the mule made out, but most of all, I was touched and I grew in empathy and understanding.

This movie at first watch was well written, well acted, very believable, heartbreaking at times, and had a pleasantly unpredictable story line.

At second watch I gained a greater insight into Alzheimer's and, through some amazing acting by Darby Hinton, found myself gaining a greater level of understanding and empathy for those struggling with the disease. An outstanding performance.

I love westerns, and this movie did the genre proud. Although the subtext of this movie could cross into other genres or times, I found the setting to be the perfect backdrop to the struggles of the main character as we don't often see cognitive struggles front and center in this era or genre.

Loved the characters (well, the "good guys", but all were very well acted). Mr. Hinton's character was lovable, humble, evoked empathy and respect, and brought wisps of humor amidst his heartbreaking cognitive struggles. Through the various struggles of the characters, I found there to be an underlying sense of peace throughout the movie. Not sure if I stand alone on this point, but to me it is a credit to the everyone involved, from the creators, to the production crew, to the actors. A well done production from start to finish.

I saw a pre-screening of this movie. It is very special. It will resonate with those who have loved ones dealing with memory issues and/or PTSD, maybe even provide a better understanding of the issues. You will laugh. You will cry. You will pull for the good guys and boo the bad ones. You will see the best and the worst of humanity, and you will see the resilience of the human spirit. In short, you will be riveted to the screen. It's a beautiful story with a wonderful cast of characters portrayed by some gifted actors. The music is unforgettable. This is an experience you can share with the entire family proving that good movies can still be made without the constant bombardment of foul language.

An eye opening story about a strong man with dementia dealing with friends and outlaws in the 1800's. I laughed and cried and really connected with the characters. Darby Hinton was the perfect "character" for his role. He made the hero completely believable, and delivered both humor and sentimentality when appropriate. Julie Kashmanian and John Carter Cash brought their characters to life as well. I enjoyed the action, the history, and the overall story very much. I also liked historical perspectives too. An excellent movie.

I met Darby and Dan Searles, the writer, at a film festival where the movie was shown.