I know that I can't win by bombing a film like "Junior Bonner." McQueen fans, Peckinpah fans, and rodeo fans will all probably find something to enjoy in this movie, and resent my trashing of it. And yet, this *is* a bad movie, and somebody needs to say it!
The whole point of the film is that McQueen's character ("Junior") is a strong-willed individual, and he stubbornly chooses to live his old-fashioned rodeo lifestyle even though it doesn't offer him much security or money. His brother Curly, meanwhile, "sells out" by rejecting the rodeo lifestyle and becoming a civilized businessman. Naturally, Junior and Curly don't get along.
And that's the whole movie. The Junior-Curly conflict is introduced quickly, never develops, and never goes away. In other words, I got the point of the movie immediately, and then sat around for the rest of its protracted running time wondering what on Earth was gonna happen next. Not much, as it turned out.
I suppose this movie is supposed to be some real deep commentary on the passing of the Wild West. Hollywood loves that kinda malarkey. I didn't find it deep, though, I found it pretentious, and mighty tedious due to its curious lack of incident. It was interesting to see Ida Lupino in a 70s movie, but beyond that mild curiosity I got little joy out of this weird film. I like McQueen, but this is definitely one of his dullest star vehicles; he needs a better script to back up his coolness.
The whole point of the film is that McQueen's character ("Junior") is a strong-willed individual, and he stubbornly chooses to live his old-fashioned rodeo lifestyle even though it doesn't offer him much security or money. His brother Curly, meanwhile, "sells out" by rejecting the rodeo lifestyle and becoming a civilized businessman. Naturally, Junior and Curly don't get along.
And that's the whole movie. The Junior-Curly conflict is introduced quickly, never develops, and never goes away. In other words, I got the point of the movie immediately, and then sat around for the rest of its protracted running time wondering what on Earth was gonna happen next. Not much, as it turned out.
I suppose this movie is supposed to be some real deep commentary on the passing of the Wild West. Hollywood loves that kinda malarkey. I didn't find it deep, though, I found it pretentious, and mighty tedious due to its curious lack of incident. It was interesting to see Ida Lupino in a 70s movie, but beyond that mild curiosity I got little joy out of this weird film. I like McQueen, but this is definitely one of his dullest star vehicles; he needs a better script to back up his coolness.