Amazon.co.uk Review
One of director Sam Peckinpah's lesser-known and little-seen outings, Junior Bonner 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 realises 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. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
McQueen Magic...........2006-11-16
This is one of Mcqueen's lesser known films and also one of his best. He again teams up with Peckinpah (after the very different but equally good The Getaway) and produces an effortlessly cool yet powerfully charismatic performance - I would go so far to say that it's one of his best.
The film centres around the world of rodeo and JR's waning powers in it. Before you're put off by the rodeo stuff like I initially was, the film actually manages to portray the sport in all its glory and beauty with spectacular shots, clever editing and amusing asides, so much so in fact that by the end of the film you're almost wanting to get on and have a go yourself!
Peckinpah allows the ensemble cast to shine by developing all the characters and coaxing superb performances from all. It is still Mcqueen though who quietly dominates the film in his typically understated and laconic way. Having said that you don't have to be a Mcqueen fan to enjoy this one - it is simply an excellent film regardless.
So if you haven't seen this yet do yourself a favour and buy it - it won't break the bank and you'll cherish it forever for the piece of sophisticated cinema that it most definately is...
A mostly laid back affair........2001-05-18
The pairing of Peckinpah and Mcqueen always provided the right kind of screen chemistry. This is a story of a man past his prime, a man once on top of his game but due to injury coasts along through a sport of which he was a king. Rodeo riding is the name of the game, and JR Bonner is the man with aspirations to win a bull riding contest, on the very same bull which caused his downfall.
The whole film has a very laid back feel to it, but when the rodeo action happens it's worth the wait. Although the whole sport seems to be merely a back drop for the placing of the estranged Bonner family. The rich over grasping brother with the love/hate relationship, the boyish charm of the over the hill drunk father, with whom JR has incredible difficulty communicating with - even though they have somewhat identicle personalities. And the tired mother, who lets most events simply pass her by without considering the future. I wont go into in depth story detail, but I will say that this is an almost perfect family drama with lots of interesting supporting characters, marred only by the silly female interest which just doesn't amount to anything. (See also Tom Horn also starring Mcqueen.)
The rodeo scenes are excelently filmed, particularly the flash back bull riding scene. Brilliant performances all round, a nice film to relax to after your Sunday dinner.
Amazon.co.uk Review
One of director Sam Peckinpah's lesser-known and little-seen outings, Junior Bonner 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 realises 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. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
McQueen Magic...........2006-11-16
This is one of Mcqueen's lesser known films and also one of his best. He again teams up with Peckinpah (after the very different but equally good The Getaway) and produces an effortlessly cool yet powerfully charismatic performance - I would go so far to say that it's one of his best.
The film centres around the world of rodeo and JR's waning powers in it. Before you're put off by the rodeo stuff like I initially was, the film actually manages to portray the sport in all its glory and beauty with spectacular shots, clever editing and amusing asides, so much so in fact that by the end of the film you're almost wanting to get on and have a go yourself!
Peckinpah allows the ensemble cast to shine by developing all the characters and coaxing superb performances from all. It is still Mcqueen though who quietly dominates the film in his typically understated and laconic way. Having said that you don't have to be a Mcqueen fan to enjoy this one - it is simply an excellent film regardless.
So if you haven't seen this yet do yourself a favour and buy it - it won't break the bank and you'll cherish it forever for the piece of sophisticated cinema that it most definately is...
A mostly laid back affair........2001-05-18
The pairing of Peckinpah and Mcqueen always provided the right kind of screen chemistry. This is a story of a man past his prime, a man once on top of his game but due to injury coasts along through a sport of which he was a king. Rodeo riding is the name of the game, and JR Bonner is the man with aspirations to win a bull riding contest, on the very same bull which caused his downfall.
The whole film has a very laid back feel to it, but when the rodeo action happens it's worth the wait. Although the whole sport seems to be merely a back drop for the placing of the estranged Bonner family. The rich over grasping brother with the love/hate relationship, the boyish charm of the over the hill drunk father, with whom JR has incredible difficulty communicating with - even though they have somewhat identicle personalities. And the tired mother, who lets most events simply pass her by without considering the future. I wont go into in depth story detail, but I will say that this is an almost perfect family drama with lots of interesting supporting characters, marred only by the silly female interest which just doesn't amount to anything. (See also Tom Horn also starring Mcqueen.)
The rodeo scenes are excelently filmed, particularly the flash back bull riding scene. Brilliant performances all round, a nice film to relax to after your Sunday dinner.
Amazon.co.uk Review
One of director Sam Peckinpah's lesser-known and little-seen outings, Junior Bonner 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 realises 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. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
McQueen Magic...........2006-11-16
This is one of Mcqueen's lesser known films and also one of his best. He again teams up with Peckinpah (after the very different but equally good The Getaway) and produces an effortlessly cool yet powerfully charismatic performance - I would go so far to say that it's one of his best.
The film centres around the world of rodeo and JR's waning powers in it. Before you're put off by the rodeo stuff like I initially was, the film actually manages to portray the sport in all its glory and beauty with spectacular shots, clever editing and amusing asides, so much so in fact that by the end of the film you're almost wanting to get on and have a go yourself!
Peckinpah allows the ensemble cast to shine by developing all the characters and coaxing superb performances from all. It is still Mcqueen though who quietly dominates the film in his typically understated and laconic way. Having said that you don't have to be a Mcqueen fan to enjoy this one - it is simply an excellent film regardless.
So if you haven't seen this yet do yourself a favour and buy it - it won't break the bank and you'll cherish it forever for the piece of sophisticated cinema that it most definately is...
A mostly laid back affair........2001-05-18
The pairing of Peckinpah and Mcqueen always provided the right kind of screen chemistry. This is a story of a man past his prime, a man once on top of his game but due to injury coasts along through a sport of which he was a king. Rodeo riding is the name of the game, and JR Bonner is the man with aspirations to win a bull riding contest, on the very same bull which caused his downfall.
The whole film has a very laid back feel to it, but when the rodeo action happens it's worth the wait. Although the whole sport seems to be merely a back drop for the placing of the estranged Bonner family. The rich over grasping brother with the love/hate relationship, the boyish charm of the over the hill drunk father, with whom JR has incredible difficulty communicating with - even though they have somewhat identicle personalities. And the tired mother, who lets most events simply pass her by without considering the future. I wont go into in depth story detail, but I will say that this is an almost perfect family drama with lots of interesting supporting characters, marred only by the silly female interest which just doesn't amount to anything. (See also Tom Horn also starring Mcqueen.)
The rodeo scenes are excelently filmed, particularly the flash back bull riding scene. Brilliant performances all round, a nice film to relax to after your Sunday dinner.
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