Review of Mr. Turner (2014) by Glenn G — 04 Dec 2014

SLING BRUSH - My Review of MR. TURNER (3 Stars).

There's a famous quote attributed to actor Martin Mull, "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture". The same sentiment echoes strongly in Mike Leigh's odd biopic, MR. TURNER, about the talented British painter, J.M.W. Turner and his strange adventures through mid-18th century England. At an epic and entirely unnecessary 2 1/2 running time, this rambling, episodic film is eerily reminiscent of AMADEUS in the sense that sometimes artists are the strangest creatures.

There's no mistaking Turner's inspiration for his abstract landscapes and stormy ocean paintings, as his surroundings, so beautifully captured by cinematographer Dick Pope, practically announce themselves in shot after wonderful shot. I can't think of a Mike Leigh movie that has looked this good. From the opening shot of a Dutch landscape (complete with windmill) as two milkmaids walk across a field to the glorious cliffs of Dover, the backgrounds are painterly. Good thing, because the story is the complete opposite.

No standard biopic, Leigh has fashioned an experience here in which his title character snorts and grunts and behaves inappropriately at all times, vehemently refusing to be the proper artist of everyone's expectations. Played by Timothy Spall, his Turner hurtles through the film like an angry pitbull, sexually abusing women, being an atrocious father/grandfather and ex-husband, ridiculing his peers, and generally never wishing to discuss his art for one second. This is a study in what we, the public, tend to put on our celebrated artists, compared to how they really behave.

The story, as it were, is merely a series of moments from his latter life, illuminating his animalistic nature but never really going anywhere. Leigh could have easily trimmed 45 minutes out of this film and nobody would have noticed. It's not that the film is boring or lifeless, it's just that the same point gets made over and over again. Despite this flaw, and truly, it may be a major one, this is a worthy film for what it exposes in a man, and for the magnificent performances.

Spall is reminiscent of Billy Bob Thornton's Karl Childers from Sling Blade. Ask his character a question and he grumbles. Accuse him of ignoring his children and he squints. It's a vivid, immensely entertaining portrayal of the artist as barely a man. In Alexander Payne's great CITIZEN RUTH, Laura Dern's character has one mission, to find more glue to sniff, despite everyone else using her for their purposes in the abortion debate. In MR. TURNER, he merely wants to paint, fuck, and paint some more, while those around him either fawn or ridicule his life's work. His humanity is only every truly revealed in his fascinating late-in-life relationship with a landlady.

In addition to Spall's award-worthy work (he just won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor), Paul Jesson matches Spall wheeze for wheeze as his very supportive father. Ruth Sheen, a Mike Leigh perennial, has a handful of explosive scenes as Turner's ex-wife, a woman who cannot bear the man any longer, and Lesley Manville brings a burst of energy to her scenes as a woman with an inspirational scientific demonstration. Most impressive, however, is Dorothy Atkinson as Turner's long-suffering maid. Straight out of a Dickens novel, her Hannah Danby erodes physically before our eyes over the course of the film. She seems to be the only person who truly understands her boss' craziness as she indulges his every need. It's a largely silent performance, but you will not soon forget her work.

It's hard to recommend a film so totally devoid of forward momentum. It has, however, a great relevance to modern times, in which we put such high expectations on our celebrities. I've always disliked meeting my idols, as they typically disappoint. I imagine Leigh's thesis here is that you may love Turner's art, but if you were to have met the man in person, he would have likely raped you before ever thanking you for a compliment. His dedication to his art, and it's awash in true blood, sweat and tears here, is matched by his dedication to living his life like an animal with very primal needs. A fun night out at the movies? No way! But fascinating and indelible just the same.