Rating: 
Summary: Unusual Peckinpah
Review: It's hard to believe Sam Peckinpah directed this very calm and naturalistic movie. In some ways it seems more like a Robert Altman film, with it's easy going, almost improvisational feel. As the aging rodeo star reunited at his home town's "Frontier Days Celebration," Steve McQueen is right on target. His performance is completely believable as are the other roles, both major and minor. As McQueen's estranged parents, Ida Lupino and Robert Preston shine. These two pros from Hollywood's golden age show a younger generation what made them superstars. In the role of McQueen's younger, more ambitious brother, John Don Baker delivers a wonderful and subtle performance. The pace of the film is slow and deliberate at first, then picks up once we head to the rodeo. Considering all the "major league" talent involved, this is a rather small film. That notwithstanding, it is probably one of the most realistic portrayals of rodeo life and the culture it inspires. If you're a McQueen fan, you'll love this film. If you're not, it's an opportunity to see McQueen act in a role that isn't larger than life, with impressive results. And as already mentioned, the wonderful pairing of Lupino and Preston is most memorable. And this movie contains one of the best barroom brawls ever. Worth a look.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great teaming of McQueen and Peckinpah
Review: Junior Bonner is not your typical Sam Peckinpah movie, but do not let that scare you away from this movie. J.R. Bonner is a well-known rodeo cowboy on the last legs of his rodeo career. Returning to his hometown of Prescott, Arizona for Frontier Days, the annual 4th of July celebration, Bonner finds that everything he knew before has changed. His father refuses to take responsibility for his life, instead always looking for a way to make easy money while alienating his wife. J.R.'s brother has become a real estate afficionado and is only worried about the bottom line. At the same time, JR has a burning desire to finish off strong by riding and conquering the rodeo's meanest bull for the full eight seconds. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this movie. It is a very understated, self-reflexive film, unlike some of Peckinpah's other films. It is an excellent story about changing times and a family's effort to survive those changes. If you like the teaming of star Steve McQueen and director Sam Peckinpah, check out their other collaboration together, The Getaway. I highly recommend both movies. Steve McQueen is great as the quiet rodeo cowboy, Junior Bonner, who finds everything in his life is changing, and he can do very little about it. During his career, McQueen perfected the quiet, loner type, and this is a perfect example. Robert Preston is also very good as Ace Bonner, JR's father who refuses to let anyone or anything change him. Ida Lupino plays Elvira Bonner, JR's mother who will not forgive Ace for going out on his own and leaving his family. Peckinpah regular Ben Johnson plays Buck Roan, Junior's good friend and owner of the rodeo. Joe Don Baker plays Curly, Junior's real estate brother. The movie also stars Barbara Leigh, Mary Murphy, Bill McKinney, and Dub Taylor. The DVD offers widescreen presentation and commentary from three Sam Peckinpah biographers. For another great pairing of Steve McQueen and Sam Peckinpah, check out Junior Bonner!
Rating:
Summary: Another great teaming of McQueen and Peckinpah
Review: Junior Bonner is not your typical Sam Peckinpah movie, but do not let that scare you away from this movie. J.R. Bonner is a well-known rodeo cowboy on the last legs of his rodeo career. Returning to his hometown of Prescott, Arizona for Frontier Days, the annual 4th of July celebration, Bonner finds that everything he knew before has changed. His father refuses to take responsibility for his life, instead always looking for a way to make easy money while alienating his wife. J.R.'s brother has become a real estate afficionado and is only worried about the bottom line. At the same time, JR has a burning desire to finish off strong by riding and conquering the rodeo's meanest bull for the full eight seconds. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this movie. It is a very understated, self-reflexive film, unlike some of Peckinpah's other films. It is an excellent story about changing times and a family's effort to survive those changes. If you like the teaming of star Steve McQueen and director Sam Peckinpah, check out their other collaboration together, The Getaway. I highly recommend both movies. Steve McQueen is great as the quiet rodeo cowboy, Junior Bonner, who finds everything in his life is changing, and he can do very little about it. During his career, McQueen perfected the quiet, loner type, and this is a perfect example. Robert Preston is also very good as Ace Bonner, JR's father who refuses to let anyone or anything change him. Ida Lupino plays Elvira Bonner, JR's mother who will not forgive Ace for going out on his own and leaving his family. Peckinpah regular Ben Johnson plays Buck Roan, Junior's good friend and owner of the rodeo. Joe Don Baker plays Curly, Junior's real estate brother. The movie also stars Barbara Leigh, Mary Murphy, Bill McKinney, and Dub Taylor. The DVD offers widescreen presentation and commentary from three Sam Peckinpah biographers. For another great pairing of Steve McQueen and Sam Peckinpah, check out Junior Bonner!
Rating: 
Summary: Peckingpah?s unassuming contemporary western
Review: Junior Bonner is one of Peckingpah's more personal films. Here, as in The Wild Bunch and Ride the High Country, he continues his exploration of men living in eras where their success is in the past. This isn't the typically violent fare of most Pechingpah films, instead he brings a gentleness (for him) to the story. Steve McQueen is excellent as JR Bonner, an aging rodeo rider and semi-drifter. The rest of the cast include Robert Preston doing a dynamic job as his father Ace, Ida Lupino as his mother Elvira and Joe Don Baker as his brother, Curly. We slowly become familiar with the family and their divided past. Ace is getting on in years and wants one last chance at adventure in Australia. Elvira, his long suffering wife, just seems to be riding it out while Curly is "on his way to his first million..." There's tension between them but there is also affection, especially between JR and his father. Junior Bonner is a wonderfully understated western, well recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Peckingpah¿s unassuming contemporary western
Review: Junior Bonner is one of Peckingpah's more personal films. Here, as in The Wild Bunch and Ride the High Country, he continues his exploration of men living in eras where their success is in the past. This isn't the typically violent fare of most Pechingpah films, instead he brings a gentleness (for him) to the story. Steve McQueen is excellent as JR Bonner, an aging rodeo rider and semi-drifter. The rest of the cast include Robert Preston doing a dynamic job as his father Ace, Ida Lupino as his mother Elvira and Joe Don Baker as his brother, Curly. We slowly become familiar with the family and their divided past. Ace is getting on in years and wants one last chance at adventure in Australia. Elvira, his long suffering wife, just seems to be riding it out while Curly is "on his way to his first million..." There's tension between them but there is also affection, especially between JR and his father. Junior Bonner is a wonderfully understated western, well recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Junior Bonner Worthing Watching
Review: The movie opens with Junior Bonner (Steve McQueen), being thrown around by a big old bull named "Sunshine" and "he has never been rode" announces the presenter over the PA. That night Junior eats a lot of dirt and does not reach the eight seconds needed to gain serious winning points, shaken and angry he retreats to the back blocks to rest & prepare himself for his next venue Prescott Arizona his home town. Junior once a high prize winning rodeo star, is now well past his prime. He owns what appears in the opening credits of the movie, an old oil burning '63 Cadilliac convertible, a horse and horse float[ trailer] and thats about all. Low on money he sleeps out of town under the stars and slowly drives into Prescott firstly to visit the Bonner homestead that has been sold and converted into a gravel pit by his brother Curley Bonner [played famously by Joe Don Baker] and wife Ruth. The first disappointment in the next two days for Junior. Junior when reaching Prescott's rodeo area clearly still has the respect of his peers and the hearts of the ladies on the circuit. His father Ace Bonner played by veteran (Robert Preston) is planning to make another get rich quick trip to a better future down hear in Australia hunting for gold and breeding Marino sheep. However he needs money and as always is broke, another past champion down on his luck. His son Curley will not grub-stake him to any more get rich quick schemes and puts him on an allowance. So the story goes Junior meets a very lovely lady Charmagne [played by Barbara Leigh] passing through the circuit. Starts a bar room brawl and generally has a great fun time. The main event of the day for Junior is the bull riding, he has with the aid of the stock contractor played by veteran in real life former rodeo star, stuntman and later actor Ben Johnson secured another ride on "Sunshine" the main meanest bull in the pack. Finally the moment of truth will Junior Bonner ride and defeat that mean old bull "Sunshine" ride to the eight seconds, win the heart of the very beautiful Charmagne and in the eyes of all of his family and the local towns folk be the champion that he still wants to be but due to the passage of time can never be again. The rodeo action footage is great and draws many parallels with former rodeo movies in particular Robert Mitchum's " Lustful Men". The saloon fight there's near none better on film, great action all the way. The Cast. What is there to say about Steve McQueen .Junior Bonner, his performance is just great, a superstar without doubt, just performing as the king of " cool "a wonderful layback no fuss performance. The veteran actors performancers Robert Preston .as..Ace Bonner & Ida Lupino ..as the separated wife .Elvira Bonner shows movie fans in 1972 & as well as today in 2001 what great professionals they once were they carry the movie adding that special sense of style. The performances of Joe Don Baker ..as.Curley Bonner & Mary Murphy as...Ruth Bonner complement each other greatly as the money hungry pair not caring about those around them. Joe Don Baker moved onto greater performances but holds up well in the company of the main players. Ms Barbara Leigh ..as .Charmagne really did not get enough scope to perform with few lines and clearly was there for the visual effects only. Ben Johnson .as ..Buck Roan stock contractor & Bill McKinney ..as ..Red Terwiliger both played excellent supporting roles to Steve McQueen good performances all round hear. Interestedly Bill McKinney's next role was to play the "Mountain Man " in the movie Deliverance what can I say a man of many parts and he has been successful in supporting roles to the present age. The direction of Sam Peckinpah is out of step with his usual movies presentations,however it works well and certainly is a credit to this Hollywood icon and shows the vast array of talent this man possessed. In summary this movie is worth the dollars, a great insight to that American sport of RODEO, go for it.
Rating:
Summary: "There's One Of Him, and One of Me--"
Review: The true individual will carve out a niche for himself in life, and gravitate toward those endeavors or communities most conducive to maintaining that autonomy which is to that person, all important. For some, it can be a life's work, the occupation of seeking out and accepting whatever challenge will take them down their own road. And who could better personify such a man than Steve McQueen, who plays the title role in "Junior Bonner," director Sam Peckinpah's character study of a man so determined to live life on his own terms that the only challenge that means anything to him is the one he makes with himself. When Junior says, "Rodeo time, I gotta get it on down the road," it's his way of saying, "Life awaits." His life; and he's working it in such a way that whenever he gets to the end, he's going to be able to look back and say unequivocally, "I did it my way." That's the challenge. That's Junior Bonner. He's been a rodeo cowboy most of his life; a former champion-- like his dad, Ace Bonner (Robert Preston)-- he's worn out and weary, but not down. The glory days may be behind him, but that's not what it was ever all about anyway, at least not for Junior. And who he is and what he's all about becomes perfectly clear when the circuit takes him back home to Prescott, Arizona, for a Fourth of July show. When he hits town, Junior approaches Buck Roan, the man who owns the rodeo stock and will be overseeing the draw for the bull ride; Junior wants to ride Sunshine, the meanest, toughest bull in the bunch, and he's willing to pay for the privilege-- he'll pay to ride the very bull that most cowboys would pay to stay off of. But the way Junior puts it, "There's one of him, and one of me. I need it--" In the meantime, Junior reconnects with his family: Ace, who is still looking for that gold ring, living on the memories of his forty plus years riding the rodeo, and dreaming of a new start in Australia; Elvira (Ida Lupino), his mom, who has long suffered Ace's fantasies; and his brother, Curley (Joe Don Baker), a successful entrepreneur who wants Junior to hang up the rodeo and come to work for him selling mobile homes-- which he has to know is never going to happen. The difference between Curley and Junior, in fact, is summed up when Curley says to him, "I'm working on my first million, you're still working on eight seconds..." Stylistically rendered, Peckinpah's film is affecting, and at times almost disarmingly sincere. Junior's relationship with Ace, for example, is so subtly underscored with honesty that it rings true-to-life and gives a perspective to both characters that is contextually invaluable. The way Peckinpah presents it is definitive, as is the way in which Junior relates to Elvira, Curley, and even the rodeo itself. It's Peckinpah's way of examining the individualist, beginning with the outstanding screenplay by Jeb Rosebrook, then by setting a perfect pace and utilizing some imaginative split-screen photography and slow motion shots to great effect. And, as with all of Peckinpah's films, there's a sense of violence-- understated here, less pronounced than that of say, "The Wild Bunch"-- but present, nevertheless; you can feel it, lying just beneath the surface of all that's happening, but definitely there. You can see it in the confrontation between the cowboys and the bulls they ride; in the way Junior lives his life, that constant challenge of man against beast or against nature; or in the bulldozers razing an old ranch house, grinding down the old and weak in favor of the new and the strong. It's pure Peckinpah, and it's brilliant filmmaking. Tough, adamant, iconoclastic; Steve McQueen was the perfect choice for the role of Junior. One of the most underrated actors ever, he has a daunting magnetism and a commanding screen presence that allows him to dominate any scene if he so chooses, and he doesn't have to be the guy doing the talking to do it. Consider his scenes with Preston; Ace may have the lines, but your attention is drawn to and focused on Junior. And everything McQueen does tells you something about who Junior is, from the way he walks-- has he spent a lifetime astride broncos and bulls? You bet-- to the way his hat sits on his head. It's the kind of natural and detailed performance that sets McQueen apart, and looking back on this character, and on his whole body of work, you can say without hesitation that he did it his way. This is one gifted, singular actor who never gives less than 110%. And there will never be another like him. Preston, too, is memorable as Ace, a man who, if not larger than life himself, has dreams that are. You can tell Junior is cut from the same cloth, though Ace still thinks there's going to be gold for the taking around the next bend, if only he can get there. Junior, though, has been there and knows there's nothing around that bend but the next rodeo-- which for him is enough. The biggest difference between them is the fact that Ace still seems to have the need to prove himself to the world, while Junior has nothing to prove to anyone but himself. There's something of "The Music Man's" Prof. Harold Hill in Ace, but overall Ace is unique, and Preston plays him to perfection. An absorbing drama that captures a sense of time and place that no longer seems to exist, "Junior Bonner" is a glimpse at a dying breed, the individual who takes life head-on without trying to put a spin or a "politically correct" perspective on it. Like Junior said, "There's one of him, and one of me." And that about sums it up. It's the magic of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: An easy paced gem
Review: There is no real suspense and a very uncomplicated plot but full of subtle humor and insights, the movie is great. Just a non-judgemental character study of ants (Curley Bonner) and grasshoppers (Junior and Ace Bonner)that has us envying the grasshoppers even though we were taught to be ants. Aesop might not have written his fable if he had seen this movie. The relationship between Junior and Ace is what every father and son wish they could have, yet if we met them in real life, we would think they were a couple of losers.
Rating:
Summary: Peckinpah lightens up . . .
Review: This is one of those movies that starts out "under the influence" of the 1970s, with kinetic split-screen images during the credits, showing in slow motion a disastrous ride on a bull, intercut with shots of McQueen driving a mud-spattered and beat up white Cadillac convertible, towing a horse trailer, altogether the picture of a man down on his luck. Then we get a vision of an American West exhausted and resold as suburban housing developments of so-called rancheros (never mind that "ranchero" once referred in the Southwest to the owner of a ranch) by young women in cowboy hats and hot pants. And Steve McQueen's rodeo cowboy, Jr. Bonner, returns to the home place outside Prescott, Arizona, to find heavy equipment operators fiercely tearing up the earth and anything that gets in their way. Standing there in his tight Lee jeans, western shirt and straw cowboy hat, surveying a land laid waste, he's the picture of a promising future that has seriously run aground somewhere.
But director Peckinpah lightens up after this downbeat start, and the movie becomes a kind of romantic comedy, with old-timer Robert Preston rising from his hospital bed with a dream of prospecting in Australia and a last attempt to win back his wife of many years, played wonderfully by Ida Lupino. There is plenty of farce, including Preston and McQueen riding a horse through backyards and getting hung up on a clothesline, a comical barroom brawl, a punch that sends a man through a front porch window, and the rodeo itself with a rapid montage of graceless falls from rough stock played against turkey-in-the-straw music.
McQueen, playing an ageing, stove-up bull rider, is the calm at the center of this storm. While Preston clowns, Lupino frowns, Joe Don Baker fumes, and Ben Johnson grins and cracks jokes, McQueen reflects a quiet reserve that connects him with a long line of western heroes holding true to the cowboy code of generosity, individualism, and toughing it out when the going gets rough. He gets the girl, but not for long, because true to form, he has to get on down the road. Much of the footage in the film seems to be from an actual rodeo, but rodeo fans should be forewarned. It's not a serious attempt to portray the sport with much accuracy.
Rating: 
Summary: Where's the original music !
Review: What happened to the original music? BUYER BEWARE:ONE OF MY FAVORITE FILMS HAS HAD IT'S MUSIC CHANGED....AND IT IS NOT MENTIONED ON THE JACKET!...RIP OFF!....THANK GOD THAT I KEPT MY LBX JAPANESE LASERDISC. Too Bad, as the print is great and the packaging is nice. But without the song "Arizona Morning"...it don't matter. Isn't this movie about being honest and not messing around with old things?--Charpy
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