Mr. Turner is a magnificent achievement, with Mike Leigh at his masterful best in this rich portrait of the great British artist, brilliantly embodied by Timothy Spall. Living with his father, J.M.W. Turner is a compelling figure, supremely confident in his extraordinary talents and success, a tetchy eccentric whose blustery, jowly sputterings bring “harrumph” to new heights. Resolutely single, he mostly subordinates the women in his life to his career, though in his later-life mistress (Marion Bailey) he finds a moving tenderness. Leigh’s brilliance also shines in small moments that add insightful texture and emotional richness to the landscape of his film. For instance, in a terse greeting (“Turner.” “Constable.”), we get a complete picture of the history of these famously feuding rivals of the Royal Academy. Filmed in a way that illuminates the artistry of its subject
-and with cinematography that offers the possibility of seeing the world through new eyes
-Mr. Turner is like a collaboration through time, each participant a genius in his own right.
Sponsored by
Maroevich, O'Shea & Coghlan Insurance, Inc.