New in Theaters: ‘Mr. Turner’

Timothy Spall in ‘Mr. Turner’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

Mike Leigh tends to be the director one goes to for deft character studies (Secrets and Lies, Another Year,and such), not gorgeous period pieces. Nevertheless, Leigh took on the life story of one of Britian’s greatest painters, J.M.W. Turner, with all the costumery and flattering lighting one could ask for.

Mr. Turneropensthis week in limited release. My review is atFilm Racket:

Anybody looking for a cozy holiday costume drama about a famous...