Mr. Turner

Movies about artists don't move me much. They just generally show how difficult their lives were, between brief interludes about the inspiration behind the art and then some scenes of that art being produced. Then the idea of this type of film being set in the 19th Century just makes it seem as though it will be terribly dreary. 

However, Mr Turner has none of this dreariness. Although it's not as exciting as some of the other big films that come around at this time of the year, it is still a driven piece, mainly by it's superb characterisation and performances. It recounts the final years of the Victorian master painter J.M.W. Turner (Timothy Spall) as he loses his health and his standing as a once great painter.

The film really does revolve around Spall's amazing performance. To look at the portrayal of the man, you would think that he doesn't belong in high society, as he grunts and groans responses at any sign of conversation. He is also light and fun, however, and the film is hardly as stuffy as you would expect of a Victorian era movie, with lots of jokes that are subtle and funny.

Victoria Atkinson plays his ailing housekeeper Hannah Danby, who really loved the painter, despite the fact that he exploited her sexually. She gives a fantastic performance, done mostly through furtive glances, smirks and body language. Marion Bailey plays Turner's seaside mistress turned wife who cares for him in his final days.

The movie has some amazing landscape set pieces that are almost as jaw dropping as the scenes that Turner paints. At many times when there was a cut from a painting to one of these amazing shots, I wondered whether it was just another painting, only to find Spall marching through the scene. These shots are accompanied by a rousing and wailing score from Gary Yershon, which suited them perfectly.

Verdict: A great performance piece from Spall that will definitely get him some recognition come awards season.