CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Whitech It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Tweekums Junior (JR) Bonner is a rodeo cowboy who returns to his home town of Prescott Arizona to take part in the annual Frontier Day rodeo; he will take place in several events but the one he wants to win is the bull riding; not only that he is determined that he will ride the fearsome Sunshine; a bull considered to be unrideable. When he gets back he goes to see his father Ace but discovers he has sold his land to his brother Curly hoping to finance a move to Australia where he is convinced he will make his fortune. Curly meanwhile is making his fortune buying land and selling mobile homes; he even wants to put his mother in one so he can acquire her land. Not that much really happens until the rodeo then we see a variety of events before everybody retires to the bar during the break. Then after a brawl the rodeo concludes and Junior gets to see if he can stay on Sunshine for eight seconds.I got this film on DVD free with the newspaper and was intrigued by the idea of a film made by 'Bloody Sam' Peckinpah, starring Steve McQueen that was only a PG certificate! It is indeed very different to Peckinpah's better known films; the pace is slow but this gave the film an intimate feeling, as though we were just looking in on the lives of real people for a few days. There were moments of action including the brawl and a couple of brief punch-ups between Junior and Curly; these were more comic than brutal though. The rodeo scenes captured the action well making it look genuinely tough for the participants and when Junior finally rode Sunshine I had no idea whether he'd stay on for the eight seconds or die trying. Steve McQueen does a fine job as Junior, the cowboy who is getting a bit old for the game but is determined to carry on. He is ably supported by the rest of the cast; most notably Robert Preston and Ida Lupino who play his parents and a young Joe Don Baker who plays his brother Curly.This may be very different to what one would expect from Sam Peckinpah but I'd recommend it to his fans and detractors alike for precisely that reason; it shows that he is more than blood and guts!

albertoveronese More than a means of entertainment, this film stays with you forever. It provokes you without moralizing, it's an unique and rich cinematic experience, it overwhelms you with its profound language and culture – if there's is something good in the world then it's worth fighting for - a film which reminds you to be part of this quest; you really can't explain, but you feel it and its good enough; something to be proud, because of the integrity, the commitment and sincerity that most mainstream movies don't have. Sam Peckinpah makes it a very good movie, Steve McQueen, Robert Preston and many others make it worth watching it. Unique. Thanks Sam!

Jackson Booth-Millard From director Sam Peckinpah (Straw Dogs, The Getaway), this sounded like a worth-trying film, even if I didn't know the theme or concept, I guess the star tempted me. Basically it is a film spent in the company of professional rodeo rider Junior 'JR' Bonner (Steve McQueen) heading to his home town of Prescott. He has his gold-hunting father Ace (Robert Preston), his mother Elvira (Ida Lupino) is wandering by her husband's side, and his brother Curly (young Joe Don Baker) is making it big in real estate. But he is trying to hang on to a bucking bull for more than eight seconds to earn enough for another week's rodeo, and spend more time with love interest Charmagne (Barbara Leigh). There isn't a plot as such, but it is interesting to see Junior living his life, lonely,speaking few words and on the road, how he like's it, in the old West. Also starring Mary Murphy as Ruth Bonner, Ben Johnson as Buck Roan, William 'Bill' McKinney as Red Terwiliger, Sandra Deel as Nurse Arlis, Don 'Red' Barry as Homer Rutledge, Matthew Peckinpah (Sam's son) as Tim Bonner and Charles H. Gray as Burt. The bull riding scenes are of course highly watchable, and McQueen puts on a very cool, quiet but likable performance, and accompanied by some stylish music by Jerry Fielding it is quite an alright find. Very good!

thinker1691 There are many actors who are willing to go that extra mile to convince you the character which they are playing is genuine. Junior 'Jr' Bonner Steve McQueen is such a man. Playing him with the stoic silence as a 8 second ride on the back of a Brahma bull and with the explosive outcome of the trill, McQueen is a simple but aging rodeo star with little to say except when it comes to what is important to him. One aspect is his father Ace Bonner (Robert Preston) whom he deeply respects and quietly emulates. Ida Lupino plays Elvira Bonner, his mother and Joe Don Baker, his ambitious older brother out to become rich. Even though his brother wants him to quit the rodeo and come to work for him, Jr seeks to remain his own man. A noted old timer to Bonner's ambitions is Ben Johnson who plays Buck Roan, the owner of the dynamite animal called "Sunshine", a huge bull which really challenges Bonner. The movie is a superb vehicle for McQueen who is unquestioningly suited for the part. The story does him well and could easily have been his real trade. Excellent film. ****