Mrs Lowry & Son

This is a simple and quite short film that brings to life one of Britain's most beloved artists and the life that he endured waiting hand and foot on his elderly mother.

Although the film is quite basic the acting of Timothy Spall and, to a degree, Vanessa Redgrave makes the film great. Spall now seems to be able to morph into any different British character, whether real or fiction, and completely make them his own. He must be one of the most understated great actors of our time.

I would like to have seen more of how Lowry came to paint such classics but the film does have a good angle and is really enjoyable.

If you go to see this... see it for the performances, and know it's one of those films which will stick with you more than when you viewed it itself- if that makes sense. It's a worthy film alone if you're also an art fan. The film mostly takes place in one room and with that most of its merit I feel is born.

See Spall in his better artist film 'Mr. Turner', however if you must see more- this is a nice companion piece of sorts.

7/10. (Maybe 7.5 ;)

Timothy spall in particular was fantastic as in fairness he always is in portraying the raw emotion of his character through with Redgrave not far off. In honesty I enjoyed this film but could not get over excited about it as it is ultimately a series of often mundane bedroom conversations between a bitter mother and loving son. The fact it kept my attention in this setting was an achievement in itself. I would personally have liked to seen more focus on the art itself in between or a larger portion of his life but for what it was the performances really maximised it's entertainment level and make it a worthwhile and interesting hour and a half despite its limitations.

As the title indicates, this is very much a film about Lowry's mother Elizabeth, a chronically ill malingerer, housebound and demanding. She despises almost every one of his early canvases, but when she warms to a picture of ships in the local canal and gives him two shillings to submit it to an exhibition in Manchester, she opens the door to his future glory. A showdown at home is the dramatic climax of this essentially domestic and un-dramatic narrative.

Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave give performances which we have seen in other films, subtly shaded to fit this restrained and evocative story. Adrian Noble has directed a slow-burning movie with few "fireworks", but it offers an acting (and painting) master-class.

This is a gem, precious in every way, and makes you wonder how much longer we'll be able to invest this kind of attention and feeling into film. Half a generation more? I'm beginning to understand the internet, ratings, and what they mean about who we are. They point, just not in the right way.