Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

Junior Bonner Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 6, 2017

After sending viewers through a traumatic ride in the provocative 1971 film, “Straw Dogs,” director Sam Peckinpah settles downs for 1972’s “Junior Bonner,” which plays unnervingly peaceful, offering a helmer known for his violent cinema a rare shot at emotional excavation with defined characters. Peckinpah’s gone soft before, but the change in attitude works especially well here, as “Junior Bonner” offers a story that’s open for community spirit and self-inspection, while utilizing colorful Prescott, Arizona locations to support this saga of a rodeo hero facing the twilight of his career.

Struggling on the rodeo circuit after tasting glory over the course of his career, Junior Bonner (Steve McQueen) is returning home to Prescott, Arizona, to participate in the local Independence Day celebration. Trying to make his mark on the rodeo, Junior is distracted by his warring parents, Ace (Robert Preston) and Elvira (Ida Lupino), and struggles with his brother, Curly (Joe Don Baker), a real estate developer who’s bulldozed the family home to make room for an expanding trailer park. Hoping to entice rodeo owner Buck (Ben Johnson) into giving him a shot with a feared bull, Junior tries to settle personal business during his visit, confronting a reality that he can’t fight the future when it comes to his career and the changing times.

“Junior Bonner” deals with mournful developments and personal challenges, but Peckinpah doesn’t make the effort depressing, keeping it folksy and observational, with ample screen time devoted to rodeo events, watching Junior struggle with his anxieties and watch the sport move on without him. Screenwriter Jeb Rosebrook aims for a novelistic approach, focusing on the Bonner family as they wrestle with interpersonal issues and come to terms with their possible demise. There are broken dreams to tend to and long simmering antagonisms to manage, with Peckinpah keeping his distance, giving “Junior Bonner” a lived-in feel that’s gentle on the senses but occasionally hard on the heart, as the titular cowboy grasps the end of an era, concerned about his place in the world after his career ends. That is, if he’ll allow it to.

Junior Bonner Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't seem to represent a recent scan of "Junior Bonner," but the viewing experience isn't torpedoed by age-related issues. Detail is just fine, and while softness is present, facial particulars come through satisfactorily, picking up on worry lines and general cowboy roughness. Locations offer depth, and set decoration is open for study. Colors are slightly muted, but western hues are appealing, dealing with sunbaked cinematography and greenery, while period costuming handles with more pronounced examples of yellows and oranges. Delineation isn't troubling. Source is stable, with some minor speckling.

Junior Bonner Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix run on the quiet side, requiring a boost in volume to really feel the mood of the feature. Music tends to make the best impression, with healthy vocals and heavier bass, while scoring needs are met with adequate instrumentation and position. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, fighting mumbling and intentionally chaotic locations, but nothing is impossible to decipher. Atmospherics are noisy around group activity, but the vibe of bars and rodeos remains intact. Mild hiss is present throughout.

Junior Bonner Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features authors Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons, and David Weddle.

• "Passion & Poetry: Rodeo Time" (55:50, HD) is as close to a making of as one is going to get when dealing with production personnel connected to "Junior Bonner." While family, friends, and historians join the conversation, screenwriter Jeb Rosebrook leads the conversation, and he's a wonderful guide through the production process. Included is a breakdown of the original writing process and the process of selling the idea to stars, with James Coburn and Robert Redford circling the project at various points. Sam Peckinpah's participation is tracked, working on building a better script with Rosebrook, who also received plenty of creative input from Steve McQueen. Casting highlights are explored and anecdotes from the shoot are shared, and Peckinpah's use of local color is celebrated, showing just much of Prescott, Arizona ended up in the picture.

• "Passion & Poetry: Peckinpah Anecdotes" (25:42, HD) collects many of the director's top collaborators, including Kris Kristofferson, L.Q. Jones, Ernest Borgnine, James Coburn, Ali McGraw, and Bo Hopkins, each sharing memories of Peckinpah in action, with alcohol abuse a common theme in the tales.

• "Junior Bonner Trivia" (4:46, HD) is a text-based summary of cameos, family ties, and in-jokes found in the film, also using clips to offer examples.

• "Junior Bonner Remembered" (3:00, HD) returns to Prescott 45 years after the initial film shoot, with Rosebrook and his son, historian Stuart, meeting with locals who recall the bustle of activity that remained during the summer of 1971.

• Animated Image Gallery (3:45) showcases production stills from "Junior Bonner."

• "Junior Bonner on the Set" (5:04) offers a plethora of BTS snaps from the shoot, showcasing the professionals at work and on-set camaraderie.

• "Junior Bonner Posters" (4:51) organizes the international marketing campaigns for the picture, highlight one-sheets, lobby cards, and assorted promotional images.

• U.S. Radio Spots (1:59) offer two audio-only pieces of promotion.

• U.S. T.V. Spot (:31, HD) is offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:30, SD) is included.

Junior Bonner Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A splendid cast of rugged characters populate "Junior Bonner," and Peckinpah isn't exactly leading a church service here, ordering up some heated confrontations and a mid-movie bar brawl. McQueen charms with his low-key approach, wisely underplaying Junior's internal panic, while romantic interests (Barbara Leigh plays the object of desire) are unnecessary, but salvaged by his commitment to the role. However, while characterization is deep and themes are powerful, "Junior Bonner" is more interested in The Hang, remaining close to rodeo happenings and town events, delivering big atmosphere to support the personal journey, which leaves the picture a little aimless at times, but always evocative, adding something small and sincere to Peckinpah's otherwise aggressive filmography.