Timothy Spall (the Harry Potter series) shines in his 2014 Cannes Film Festival-winning performance as the famed J.M.W Turner in writerdirector Mike Leigh’s (Secrets and Lies) thrilling account of the life of one of the most prolific painters of the 19th century.

Mr. Turner explores the last quarter century of the great, if eccentric, British painter who lived from 1775-1851. Profoundly affected by the death of his father, this anarchic yet popular member of the Royal Academy of Arts lived a full and exciting life. From travelling and visiting brothels to being strapped to the mast of a ship so that he could paint a snowstorm, he was both celebrated and reviled by royalty and the public. Rich and immediately enjoyable, this is a portrayal both funny and visually immaculate, combining domestic intimacy with an epic sweep both lyrical and mysterious.