I've always believed that, no matter how much time you spend really thinking about the reasons you like or dislike a film or trying to analyze a film, what it comes down to is an inherent feeling about the film. It's your gut. And it's been especially true with me over the years with films that I feel like I can't quite quite wrap my finger around, with those films that remain somewhat detached and which sort of motivate further introspection. In that way, those films that I've liked but also feel like there's so much more to look at, so much more hidden just beneath the surface and which provide a hint of mystery, are the ones that stick with me the longest. They don't really come down to actually just being intentionally cryptic/ambiguous/puzzling like so many of my favorites were upon first seeing them (Mulholland Dr./2001). Sometimes it's just certain films' atmospheres that do it for me, whether or not they're straightforward in their narrative. Mr. Turner did it for me. Boy, did it do it for me
Entrancing, hypnotizing, carefully-paced in the way I tend to love by watching scenes play out and feeling like everyone behind the camera knows exactly what they're doing, as if no single second is wasted or unearned. I have no idea why this film did so much for me, but sometimes those kinds of films are the ones that stand out the most. And, what to say about Spall... one of the best performances of the year. Searing, haunting work, completely in sync with the film. One of my favorite films of the year, and one which I had no real expectations. Special mentions to the absolutely glorious score and cinematography, and the fantastic Atkinson