Review of Mr. Turner (2014) by Nguyen Thuy H — 07 Aug 2015

I've never seen a biopic that is so insistent in rejecting the traditional biopic structure as in Mr. Turner. Certainly, that creates a huge distance from the character. Mike Leigh neither scorns nor elevates the man, but there is one thing that appears most distinctive here: his desperation, with art and with life.

Some have attributed a quality of blue-collar sympathy to the character of Mr. Turner here, but I personally feel that towards the end of his life, he became increasingly confused and unhinged from time.

So his sentiment appeared to me, as less of altruism, but more of "Why? What's the point?" But who can say? Mike Leigh never intended to finish his portrait, so it's the audience's duty to conjecture here any way.