Film Preview: Mr. Turner (2014)

Poster

Poster #XXX

Additional posters can be found below.

Trailer Link

Release Date:

September 12, 2014

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “An exploration of the last quarter century of the great, if eccentric, British painter J.M.W. Turner’s life.”

Poster: C+ / B+ / B

Review: (#1) It’s painterly, but not otherwise interesting. It reminds me a touch of 12 Years a Slave, which isn’t the most apt comparison. Even so, I didn’t find the design for 12 Years that great either, but plenty did.

(#2 & #3) This new pair of posters continues the painterly theme, but does so in a different, but more viscerally pleasing ways. The second poster establishes a gorgeous sunset that could only exist in nature or on canvas. It has lush, vibrant colors and looks like the perfection captured on a canvas. The third design has a similar feel, but is more muted and uses the paint brush stroke to link it to the original concept.

Trailer: B-

Review: This lugubrious trailer might well lull an unsuspecting audience into unconsciousness while those who don’t mind stuffy English dramas might find it quite fascinating. There’s potential, but I’m not sure how much based on this trailer.

Oscar Prospects:

Mike Leigh is one of the most consistent Oscar nominees in modern history. From Secrets & Lies forward, more than 50% of his films have been nominated for some award at the Oscars. This one seems like it could earn him another screenwriting nomination and possibly a nod for star Timothy Spall (a more tenuous prospect). Other than those, the top categories don’t look like they have a lot of promise, though a surprise Best Picture nomination could still occur. The film is much more likely to place in the creative categories, specifically Production Design and Costume Design.