Mr. Turner (2014)

Drama, Biography, History

Director: Mike Leigh
Writer: Mike Leigh
Starring: Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey

The movie chronicles the final years of the great, eccentric English landscape painter JMW Turner (1775-1851), often described as "the painter of light", a determined man, temperamental and uncompromising, and tireless traveler. He was part of the Romantic school of painters, whose work went on to later influence the Impressionist movement. Turner is a frequent guest of the landed aristocracy, is fascinated by science, photography and railway and despite having the reputation of an anarchist on the art scene, he is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Deeply affected by the death of his beloved father, a retired barber who works as his assistant, Turner binds to a widow who runs a boarding house he frequents during his trips to witness the dramatic seascape. He is also haunted by his former mistress, Sarah Danby, by whom he had two illegitimate, now adult daughters, whose existence he denies.

Mr. Turner is a fine biopic, portraying the artist as an aging man who teaches you how to appreciate what you’re looking at.

Plot summary from IMDb: Mr. Turner explores the last quarter century of the great if eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). Profoundly affected by the death of his father, loved by a housekeeper he takes for granted and occasionally exploits sexually, he forms a close relationship with a seaside landlady with whom he eventually lives incognito in Chelsea, where he dies. Throughout this, he travels, paints, stays with the country aristocracy, visits brothels, is a popular if anarchic member of the Royal Academy of Arts, has himself strapped to the mast of a ship so that he can paint a snowstorm, and is both celebrated and reviled by the public and by royalty.

Awards: Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 27 wins & 38 nominations.
Runtime: 150 min
R