Mr Turner | Ajai's Movie Reviews
The hugely influential British painter William Turner is the subject of this film. In it his last 20 or so years are dramatized. Turner was an esteemed artist during his day and this fact is highly evident in the film where several characters acknowledge his greatness and while others seek to mock him and spew derisive comments on the nature of his work; nevertheless he is highly renowned for his work. But, the subject matter of the film is not the creative process nor is it about the aesthetic value of the paintings; it’s not even necessarily about the real Mr Turner and his influence on modern painting. Instead, Leigh frames this picture, often with breath-taking and gorgeous stills that are reminiscent of the artist’s paintings themselves, as an exploration into his character and how his days were spent. The two and a half hour runtime can test the patience of any modern film viewer, but that is natural. The film is a slow-burn, but we wait for it to unfold like a sunset or ...