sol- Returning home after several years to compete locally, a rodeo star has to contend with the changes that his family have undergone during his time away, having never kept in correspondence with them. As one might deduce from such a plot description, 'Junior Bonner' is far removed from the violent and savage films that director Sam Peckinpah made his name with. His trademark slow motion shots are still in full swing, and there is some typically creative editing, but this is a very different sort of Peckinpah film, though not necessarily the better for it. Robert Preston is engaging as the protagonist's father, full of childish dreams of getting rich quick, and he shares some tender moments with Ida Lupino, cast as his ex-wife, however, the family drama is never terribly engaging here and the muted nature of the violence is odd (at one point, the protagonist pushes his brother through a glass window, but he barely seems hurt afterwards). The best aspect of the film is probably the rodeo events wherein Peckinpah's use slow motion and insertion of archive footage renders the events very intense. The non-rodeo scenes really pale by comparison though and when one considers that Peckinpah and Steven McQueen also collaborated on 'The Getaway' in the same year, the different in quality, style and story between the two holds greater interest than the question of whether or not McQueen will succeed in his rodeo challenge here. Western buffs may get quite a bit out of 'Junior Bonner', but this is definitely a film for which one's mileage will vary.

Tweekums Junior (JR) Bonner is a rodeo cowboy who returns to his home town of Prescott Arizona to take part in the annual Frontier Day rodeo; he will take place in several events but the one he wants to win is the bull riding; not only that he is determined that he will ride the fearsome Sunshine; a bull considered to be unrideable. When he gets back he goes to see his father Ace but discovers he has sold his land to his brother Curly hoping to finance a move to Australia where he is convinced he will make his fortune. Curly meanwhile is making his fortune buying land and selling mobile homes; he even wants to put his mother in one so he can acquire her land. Not that much really happens until the rodeo then we see a variety of events before everybody retires to the bar during the break. Then after a brawl the rodeo concludes and Junior gets to see if he can stay on Sunshine for eight seconds.I got this film on DVD free with the newspaper and was intrigued by the idea of a film made by 'Bloody Sam' Peckinpah, starring Steve McQueen that was only a PG certificate! It is indeed very different to Peckinpah's better known films; the pace is slow but this gave the film an intimate feeling, as though we were just looking in on the lives of real people for a few days. There were moments of action including the brawl and a couple of brief punch-ups between Junior and Curly; these were more comic than brutal though. The rodeo scenes captured the action well making it look genuinely tough for the participants and when Junior finally rode Sunshine I had no idea whether he'd stay on for the eight seconds or die trying. Steve McQueen does a fine job as Junior, the cowboy who is getting a bit old for the game but is determined to carry on. He is ably supported by the rest of the cast; most notably Robert Preston and Ida Lupino who play his parents and a young Joe Don Baker who plays his brother Curly.This may be very different to what one would expect from Sam Peckinpah but I'd recommend it to his fans and detractors alike for precisely that reason; it shows that he is more than blood and guts!

bobsgrock Much like The Ballad of Cable Hogue, Junior Bonner was released following a "typical" Sam Peckinpah film. Violence, terror, sexual intrigue and gritty realism dominated the style of Straw Dogs, but this film could not be more different. Starring Steve McQueen as an aging rodeo cowboy determined to continue the life he leads, the story takes place in Prescott, Arizona where it is the annual Fourth of July Rodeo Competition and JR is attempting to ride a bull he had previously fallen off. While in town, he runs into his family including his estranged parents, his successful real estate brother and a beautiful young woman he makes eye contact with at a bar. The real heart of the story, though, is the history of this somewhat dysfunctional family and their attempt to reconcile the past with the inevitable change of the future. Compared to his other works, this is a very lighthearted piece for Peckinpah, but he is still capable of eliciting wonderfully nuanced performances out of his actors as well as capture a nostalgic air about this subset of American culture that continues to try and stave off growing progress and technological advancements. If nothing else, Peckinpah continued to defy expectations of himself as a director by showing his full range of capabilities. No guns, no excessive blood or violence, no rape or psychosexual themes. Simply a story about a family dealing with realistic issues. It may not be one of his strongest achievements, but it is definitely Peckinpah.

albertoveronese More than a means of entertainment, this film stays with you forever. It provokes you without moralizing, it's an unique and rich cinematic experience, it overwhelms you with its profound language and culture – if there's is something good in the world then it's worth fighting for - a film which reminds you to be part of this quest; you really can't explain, but you feel it and its good enough; something to be proud, because of the integrity, the commitment and sincerity that most mainstream movies don't have. Sam Peckinpah makes it a very good movie, Steve McQueen, Robert Preston and many others make it worth watching it. Unique. Thanks Sam!