Mr. Turner paints an intriguing picture of a complex artist

MOVIE REVIEW: Mr. Turner is an engrossing biopic of the famous British painter JMW Turner from legendary UK filmmaker Mike Leigh.

Mr. Turner (M)

Director: Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies)

Starring: Timothy Spall, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson.

Rating : ****

He knows about art, and he knows what he likes

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In what is yet another burst of organically grown cinematic goodness from UK filmmaker Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Another Year), here comes an engrossing biopic of the famous British painter JMW Turner.

This leading light of 19th century art was an intriguing mix of the contentious and the unpretentious, and it is actor Timothy Spall’s decisive reading of both sides of the man that lifts a modest film to great heights.

The principal focus of Mr Turner tracks the last 25 years of the subject’s life, by which time Turner had already achieved the peak of his renown as a master of the landscape.

Great biopic ... a scene from Mr. Turner.

Best described as a stubbornly eccentric perfectionist — hence the bizarre scene where he is strapped to the mast of a ship to better paint a ocean storm in correct detail — Turner was never one to suffer fools gladly.

However, as he gets older and ever the more cantankerous, Turner is shown drifting further and further away from the mainstream.

Not just in terms of his obtuse social behaviour, but also the very execution of his art itself.

How each complements the other is obviously what drew a director of Leigh’s immense stature to this project.

In other hands, such a precise and obscure take on an already-misunderstood historical figure would be an open invitation to a boring debacle.

Intriguing history ... Mr. Turner starring Timothy Spall.

There is just no chance of that occurring, particularly once the magnitude of Spall’s imposing performance (justly recognised with a win at the last Cannes Film Festival) reveals itself to the fullest degree.

As experienced here, Turner is a single-minded mass of contradictions: tender and loving with those who barely respect his talents, yet dismissive and even abusive with those who hold him in awe.

Being a Mike Leigh film, the high standards set by Spall’s portrayal of Turner cascade downwards to the smallest roles of a large supporting cast.

High standards ... a scene from Mr. Turner.

Among the many minor standouts are Paul Jesson as Turner’s ever-doting father, and Dorothy Atkinson as the housekeeper that sometimes draws a level of affection from her employer that is uncomfortable to witness.

Unusually, a long running time is a positive factor here, especially as Turner’s painting style begins to change radically in sync with his advancing age.

Mr. Turner shows in advance screenings Friday through Sunday, and opens in full release on December 26.

Originally published as Mr. Turner paints an intriguing picture of a complex artist