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But his cinematic portrait of the life of the artist known
for his sweeping seascapes is an early favorite to win the
Cannes Film Festival's top prize, the Palme D'Or.
Screen International's survey of critics published on Monday
tipped "Mr Turner" for the prize, just ahead of Turkish director
Nuri Bilge Ceylan's "Winter Sleep."
"It's a tough subject for a film," Leigh said in an interview
with Reuters TV.
"I mean, to make a film about what to some people is an obscure
19th century painter, to make such a film without compromise. I
mean we haven't had to Hollywood-ize it in any way and it is an
independent picture."
Leigh is known for a style of working that is grounded in
theater, with no script at the start of the process, lengthy
rehearsals and improvised dialogue.
"Mr Turner" has earned great reviews from critics, who have
praised its Dickensian feel, its ability to wordlessly express
domestic turmoil, and its underlying themes of class
consciousness and the nature of art.
Reviewers have also lauded a masterful performance from Timothy
Spall as the cantankerous and grunting J.M.W. Turner.
Leigh typically casts character actors little recognized outside
Britain and he said opting for more Hollywood actors in his cast
"would be a complete disaster".
"People have said, 'Well, if you have a Hollywood star, an
A-list star, we'll give you as much money as you like,'" he
said. "But, I want my Timothy Spall to play Turner, and not a
bunch of other people who would be profoundly unqualified."
A win would be the second Palme d'Or for Leigh, who won for
"Secrets and Lies" in 1996. Eighteen films are competing for
prize, which will be given on Sunday, including Mauritanian
director Abderrahmane Sissako's "Timbuktu" and "The Search" from
French director Michel Hazanavicius.
(This story has been corrected to fix garble in fifth paragraph,
and the name of Leigh's film in the last paragraph to "Secrets
and Lies")
(Writing by Alexandria Sage, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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