Timothy Spall has never really had a film in which he plays the lead role, but more regularly small co-starring roles. So Mr Turner - a biopic of the artist JMW Turner - gives him the opportunity to finally show us what he can do.

The film collates the personal life of Turner and his work as a professional artist. Born in the mid-19th Century, he was best known for crafting elegant landscapes during the era of portraits, which was quite unconventional and frowned upon. The film however, is not as masterful as the paintings and focuses on style rather than an engaging story, or at-all interesting concept.

Living in London, Turner travels throughout the UK for inspiration, then returns home to paint and sell the idea for profit. But the portrayal of Mr Turner (by Timothy Spall), is not admirable. Beginning in his youth and progressing into his elder years we are shown his life change before us. Sounding like Keith Richards, Turner mumbles, grunts and groans almost every sentence and most speech is implied. It’s a superb performance from Spall, but too overwhelming for the screen.

Not considered that good until post-mortal, particularly due to his brash paintings and different techniques (spitting on the canvas), the film strokes on his rise, fall, criticism and rise.

In co-ordination with the eerie, over-the-top soundtrack, the theme to Mr Turner feels like it has the wrong approach, and Mike Leigh’s direction is severe, making the feature seem about 45 minutes too long and in the tedious running time of 150 minutes!

Elegant, aesthetic and classical. Unfortunately Mr Turner is none of them, but instead a longitude of excess period culture. Poor show all around.