|
 |
Junior Bonner
|
by Video Treasures
Sales Rank: 23766
Price: $9.99
|
|
|
One of director Sam Peckinpah's lesser-known and little-seen outings, this is actually one of his most interesting for being so relaxed. Yet it deals with the themes that always interested him: the man who has watched the world pass him by and realizes that his time is gone. In this case, it's rodeo rider Junior Bonner (Steve McQueen), who returns home to try to win top prize in the bull-riding competition to raise money to stake his father (Robert Preston) to a future. As easy-going and good-natured as you'd like, with a delicious chemistry between Preston and a feisty Ida Lupino as Junior's estranged parents, who are still able to strike romantic sparks. Great rodeo footage captures both the violence and beauty of the sport. <I>--Marshall Fine</I>
Viewer Reviews
After completing two of my favorite Peckinpah films, The Wild Bunch in 1969 and Straw Dogs in 1971, Sam Peckinpah turned his attention to Junior Bonner in 1972, before going on to make other great films like The Getaway, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. Although I am a fan of Peckinpah's films, Junior Bonner is not among my Peckinpah favorites. Still, it is a worthwhile experience. Filmed in Prescott, Arizona, the film chronicles a week in the life of veteran rodeo rider Junior "JR" Bonner (Steve McQueen), who returns to his hometown to compete in the annual Independence Day parade and rodeo competition, and to reunite with his brother and estranged parents. Upon his arrival in Prescott, he finds his family home being bulldozed by his younger brother Curly (Joe Don Baker), a sleazy real-estate developer. His hard-drinking father Ace (Robert Preston) dreams of moving to Australia to raise sheep and mine gold. Junior bribes rodeo entrepreneur Buck Roan (Ben Johnson) to ride Sunshine, the same bull that just threw him in a previous rodeo, promising to give Roan half the prize money. Sunshine proves to be the last ride of Junior's career. The film is an elegy for aging rodeo riders in a changing world (symbolized by bulldozers and earth-moving equipment). Steve McQueen brings an engaging performance to the film, and his scenes with Robert Preston during which they drink and despair over modern times and the state of the world are especially memorable. Junior Bonner could have been titled No Country for Old Cowboys.
G. Merritt
Back To Top
|
Junior Bonner
Available from Amazon
|
|
NOTICE: All product prices, availability, and specifications
are subject to verification by their respective retailers.
Copyright © 2009, Dominant Systems Corporation
info@HowlingVideo.com
Privacy Policy
Last Modified : 1-7-2009
|
