JUNIOR BONNER marks a change of pace for western director Sam Peckinpah; it's one of the few films he made suitable for family viewing. Steve McQueen stars as an ageing rodeo rider who returns home to once more compete on the circuit, taking time to romance a beautiful woman and falling out with his family members in the meantime. The only real way you can tell this is a Peckinpah movie is in the lovingly-captured slow-motion bull-riding scenes. The rest is rather middling, as it turns out; McQueen is a good actor, there's no denying that, but his character doesn't have much to do here. This is primarily a slice of life drama rather than anything else, and other than a few volatile moments featuring the reliable Joe Don Baker, little of note occurs.
Review of Junior Bonner
