Mr. Turner

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Mr. Turner

R

Released Dec 19, 2014

2h 29m

Biography

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

193 Reviews

56%

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10,000+ Ratings

Eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (Timothy Spall) lives his last 25 years with gusto and secretly becomes involved with a seaside landlady, while his faithful housekeeper (Paul Jesson) bears an unrequited love for him.

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Critics Consensus

Led by a masterful performance from Timothy Spall and brilliantly directed by Mike Leigh, Mr. Turner is a superior Hollywood biopic.

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Rafer Guzman

Newsday

Mike Leigh's biopic is so richly detailed that it feels like a documentary. Spall goes for broke in the outsize title role.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 6, 2015

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

There is little in the way of narrative eventfulness in the film, but Leigh luxuriates in the moments, and provides glimpses of what it takes to be an artist amid the fray.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 2, 2015

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

You leave "Mr. Turner," as with all good fact-based films, wanting to know more about this man and his work - and remembering that beautiful, almost touchable light, on the canvas and on the screen.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 22, 2015

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Ross McIndoe

The Skinny

Spall's Turner grunts his way through whole conversations before bursting into sprawling surges of grandiloquence and wit. He is equally entertaining in both modes.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 4, 2024

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Diego Batlle

Otroscines.com

Mr. Turner results in an experience that it's at times fascinating and almost always enjoyable. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 26, 2023

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Nikki Baughan

AWFJ.org

Mr. Turner is vivid in all senses, a masterful portrait of an iconic artist that is firmly in the frame this Awards season.

Oct 7, 2021

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Simon B

Visually arresting, beautifully lit and shot. Every frame a masterpiece. But, with little to no dialogue and Timothy Spall snuffling his way through like an anthropomorphic hedgehog as if from a tales of the riverbank story this was a massively missed opportunity. Little to nothing is discovered about the artist in this highly mannered and prententious piece of prettiness! What dialogue there was seemed to be based around the personal and imagined fantasies of the director and his off the rails actors. The portrayal of John Ruskin as a cretin was innaccurate and insulting. What a waste! It could have been so good. Only the pseuds who care nothing for the great man, his work or history will have enjoyed this.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/03/24

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Graham M

Don't miss this film! It's what movies are all about.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/24

Full Review

Red R

Phenomenal Masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/24/24

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NR D

Beautiful movie. The set and costume for the period seemed near perfect. Acting was superb. Without doubt the camera work was extraordinary. Dorothy Atkinson's performance as the housekeeper was Oscar nomination worthy and leaves a long memory of her work on this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/10/24

Full Review

Alec B

Where most biopics exaggerate certain events and revel in anachronism in order to be inspiring, Mike Leigh's "Mr. Turner" takes the completely opposite approach. He examines J.M.W. Turner from middle age to death through a series of scenes that mostly showcase the man's prickly and contradictory nature. There isn't even much shown of Turner's creative process, instead any scenes about his paintings tends to focus on the public's perceptions of them. Its an interesting choice, and one that shouldn't surprise anyone given how Leigh works. Also, I'd be remiss not to mention Spall's brilliant performance, finding humanity in such a unpleasant genius was no easy task.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

Full Review

Duncan S

Excellent acting. Engrossing subject matter with some historical accuracy. A very interesting piece that is moving at times, disturbing at others. A fine film for when you are feeling the need for some contemplation.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

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Mike Leigh

Director

Timothy Spall

J.M.W. Turner

Paul Jesson

William Turner

Dorothy Atkinson

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Synopsis

Eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (Timothy Spall) lives his last 25 years with gusto and secretly becomes involved with a seaside landlady, while his faithful housekeeper (Paul Jesson) bears an unrequited love for him.

Director: Mike Leigh
Producer: Georgina Lowe
Screenwriter: Mike Leigh
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Lipsync Productions, France 3 Cinéma, Thin Man Films, Diaphana Films, Xofa Productions, Amusement Park Films
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.2M
Runtime: 2h 29m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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