Mr Turner - my review

I went to see Mr Turner last night and here are my thoughts.

The film is quite typically Mike Leigh. By that, I mean that the dialogue and action may not seem as slick as the average blockbuster. However, it does hold your attention over the (surprising) length of the film. Think "Secrets and Lies".

Timothy Spall certainly conveys an impression of Turner and the film immerses you into the period. One criticism is that the characters are not always introduced as well as they might be, leaving one to guess at their relationships. Also, the episode where Turner is lashed to the mast of a boat in a storm is not introduced; he's just there, being tied to the mast. Turner's maid was a character that drew some compassion, particularly at the end of the film, where she appears with a girl who could have been her daughter by Turner(?), although we will never know.

All in all, an interesting film. My wife was puzzled by a lot of it, not having any knowledge of Turner, which detracted from her enjoyment (she's looking forward to seeing Paddington on screen).

Perhaps this film is targeted at those who know something about Turner's life, and not Joe Public.