Review of Mr. Turner (2014) by Reece L — 02 Dec 2014

With a subject like the one "Mr Turner" boasts, the visuals are practically required to be exceptional, and Leigh works with his cinematographer to fill his shots to the brim with life, each frame boasting impeccable placement and balance, the line between gorgeous scenery and painting masterfully blurred on several occasions.

This meticulousness is reflected in the funny, refined script, period decor, and the outstanding performances (Spall is fearlessly, grotesquely brutish in a role that should land him an Oscar nomination), offering an unflinching portrayal of a flawed genius that neither bores nor needlessly dramatizes to tell its story effectively.

True to the nature of the rest of Leigh's filmography, he finds poignancy and depth in the ins and outs of the everyday, layering subtle complexities in the most mundane of conversations; it's this synecdochous exploration of interesting characters that sets the film apart from the standard historical biopic.