Movie: Mr. Turner

Mr. Turner:  a film about the last quarter century of British painter J. M. W. Turner’s life.  Timothy Spall won the London Film Critics Circle award for Best British Actor of the Year for his marvelous performance as Mr. Turner.  Marion Bailey, who played Sophia Booth, the person with whom Turner was living when he died in Chelsea in 1851, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.  An equally superb performance was given by Dorothy Atkinson as Hannah Danby, Turner’s loving but long suffering housekeeper.  The quality of the film’s cast is outstanding and their performances animate and propel a subdued storyline.  Both Turner and his paintings were well known in British society.  During this 149 minute film, Turner’s brutishness as an individual is emphasized.  Based upon the complexity of Turner’s life and the methods he utilized to create his great paintings, I think the film could have incorporated much more than it did.  My recommendation for this film  is based on the high quality of acting and the excellent cinematography.  Mike Leigh, the writer and director of the film, is certainly versed in the particular time period, however, for those of us whose knowledge of Turner is limited to his paintings, trying to figure out who are the actual people depicted is a distraction.  Dick Pope is deservedly nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar; some scenes are breathtakingly beautiful.  In a scene with Booth, Leigh had the perfect ending.  He chose, however, to include an additional scene, which seemed an odd way to conclude the film.  For those of you who enjoy traditional British drama, you will enjoy this movie which at times is filmed like a stage play.  Personally, the acting and cinematography were so superb that I’m pleased to have seen this film.  But if your thing is action, go see a different movie.