2014

On every level of its stylistic construction, Mr. Turner inhabits the watercolours of its titular historical painter with ethereal elegance, and though this exquisite aesthetic initially seems at odds with the coarse, prickly figure at its centre, Mike Leigh’s exceptional orchestration of such beautiful contradictions affectingly reveals the complex creative processes shared by both artists.

Even though comparisons might be drawn between Instagram aesthetics and Mommy’s poppy style, Xavier Dolan’s film is far more artistically rich than anything one might find scrolling through social media feeds, as he finds both profound joy and grief in the strained relationship between a mother and son who can’t quite attain the long-lasting happiness they once believed was possible.