03/14/06 Junior Bonner

Junior Bonner (1972), directed by Sam Peckinpah

watched solo; DVD (borrowed from parents) @ home

Continuing with the Americana theme for the day, as well as fulfilling my Challenge requirements, I chose this supposed classic of Peckinpah & McQueen's careers. However, I was highly disappointed in the film. Not knocking westerns in any way, but this was more of a slice of country life revolving around rodeo bullriders and their dysfunctional families. I expected more from the brilliant Peckinpah, but was left with a disjointed tale of family drama & a personal road-back-to-glory. McQueen plays Jr., who comes back to his hometown to compete in a traditional rodeo to win back his pride & find himself. He has to deal with his separated parents, dissolute dreamer dad Ace, money hungry trailer-selling brother Curly, and a random love interest thrown into the mix in the last half hour. There a good ol' bar fight towards the end that shows despite all the turmoil, family & friends can mend old wounds with fisticuffs. There's some cool layerings of quick camera shots & vignettes at the beginning of the film that show the director's play with styles, but ultimately the story and direction fall flat. Too bad there's no rodeo clown to save it's butt, and make people happy in the end.

2 out of 5 stars