Sweeney Todd: The Demon
Barber of Fleet Street
Barber of Fleet Street
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: John Logan, Stephen
Sondheim
Release date: December 21, 2007
(USA)
Staring: Johnny Depp, Helena
Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman,
Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
Running Time: 116 minutes
Rated: R
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: John Logan, Stephen
Sondheim
Release date: December 21, 2007
(USA)
Staring: Johnny Depp, Helena
Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman,
Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
Running Time: 116 minutes
Rated: R
Back of the box:
Johnny Depp (in an Oscar-nominated role) reteams with director Tim
Burton for this adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about the Demon
Barber of Fleet Street. Depp plays Sweeney Todd, a man who becomes a
deranged murderer seeking revenge after being falsely imprisoned. To
add to the macabre nature of his crimes, he enlists the help of his lover,
Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who disposes of the victims by baking
them into meat pies -- sought after by all of London.
Johnny Depp (in an Oscar-nominated role) reteams with director Tim
Burton for this adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about the Demon
Barber of Fleet Street. Depp plays Sweeney Todd, a man who becomes a
deranged murderer seeking revenge after being falsely imprisoned. To
add to the macabre nature of his crimes, he enlists the help of his lover,
Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who disposes of the victims by baking
them into meat pies -- sought after by all of London.
The Bloody Truth:
Tim Burton brings us yet another class A horror film.
The bloody truth is Sweeney Todd, takes a while to ramp up momentum. At
first the classic score does not seem to fit with Tim Burton’s uniquely
intense visual style and I was disappointed they did not adjust the songs
but as the movie continues the overwhelming quality of the original story
begins to shine though.
Thanks to an amazing cast and wonderful source material Sweeny Todd
translates wonderfully to the big screen. Musicals often have a reduced
audience but for those who love a great dark story this film is worth
watching to the end credits.
Tim Burton brings us yet another class A horror film.
The bloody truth is Sweeney Todd, takes a while to ramp up momentum. At
first the classic score does not seem to fit with Tim Burton’s uniquely
intense visual style and I was disappointed they did not adjust the songs
but as the movie continues the overwhelming quality of the original story
begins to shine though.
Thanks to an amazing cast and wonderful source material Sweeny Todd
translates wonderfully to the big screen. Musicals often have a reduced
audience but for those who love a great dark story this film is worth
watching to the end credits.
And the rest.....
Acting - 4 Cinematography - 4
Sound - 4 Music - 4
Story - 5 Reality - 2
Acting - 4 Cinematography - 4
Sound - 4 Music - 4
Story - 5 Reality - 2
Travel into the mind of mad men or
witness nature at it worst. It could
happen to you!
witness nature at it worst. It could
happen to you!
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DVD
Bloody (awful)
There was only one major flaw that I could find in Sweeney Todd - I hated it. It was well put together, impressively shot, well cast and
right on the mark for what it was. What it was, however, is simply not my cup of tea, so it makes this a particularly difficult review for me.
I’m trying to look at it objectively. I love Johnny Depp, I love Tim Burton, I love dark, gothic films involving foggy nights and period
costumes. I would have loved Sweeney Todd were it not for the bloody awful music (in my opinion the most horrifying thing about the
movie). I admit I’m not a huge fan of musicals, but I try and keep an open mind. There are some I really enjoy. Unfortunately, Sweeney
Todd exhibits that quintessential Broadway style song and dance palaver that makes me wish Mr. Todd was my hair dresser because it
has to be less painful than that racket. The music is un-melodic, pretentious, ostentatious (anybody have a third word for “affected and
showy?”) and seemingly without end.
Music aside, it’s not a bad film. Depp is appropriately creepy and Helena Bonham Carter adds a certain disturbing sex appeal to the
role that I’m fairly certain Angela Lansbury did not possess (though I have never seen her Mrs. Lovett, so I could be mistaken). Sacha
Baron Cohen has fun with the role of Pirelli and the mere presence of Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall adds to the fun of any movie they
happen to be in. There are also some boring side characters and something of a love story thrown into the mix, but nobody really cares
about that. Mostly, it’s about Johnny Depp giving extremely close shaves to the people who piss him off and Helena Bonham Carter
serving up her own special brand of tasty treats on Fleet Street.
I heard much of the unbelievable gore factor of Sweeney Todd and was very surprised at the lack of gross considering the subject
matter. The blood looks more like raspberry syrup and considering how graphic they could have been it seemed fairly tame underneath
all the hype. I’m not a fan of gore, so this was a pleasant surprise to me. But if you’re expecting a high gross out factor, prepare to be
slightly disappointed.
My colleague Matt (Master of Dark Road Ratings) referred to Sweeney Todd as “A great dark story”. This is true, it is dark. In fact Tim
Burton seems to be determined to make a film so dark one needs night vision goggles to view it properly. I found myself actually
squinting at the screen in some of the beginning scenes trying in vain to make out the faint outline of a cast member … or is that a lamp
post? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.
Bottom line, I didn’t love it, I didn’t even really like it, but I’m told I am in the minority on this one. The best I can say, is give Sweeney
Todd a shot and prove me wrong. Tim, Johnny, I still adore you both and I’m looking very forward to Alice In Wonderland – but if the
Mad Hatter must burst into song, please, for the love of God, make it a catchy one.
There was only one major flaw that I could find in Sweeney Todd - I hated it. It was well put together, impressively shot, well cast and
right on the mark for what it was. What it was, however, is simply not my cup of tea, so it makes this a particularly difficult review for me.
I’m trying to look at it objectively. I love Johnny Depp, I love Tim Burton, I love dark, gothic films involving foggy nights and period
costumes. I would have loved Sweeney Todd were it not for the bloody awful music (in my opinion the most horrifying thing about the
movie). I admit I’m not a huge fan of musicals, but I try and keep an open mind. There are some I really enjoy. Unfortunately, Sweeney
Todd exhibits that quintessential Broadway style song and dance palaver that makes me wish Mr. Todd was my hair dresser because it
has to be less painful than that racket. The music is un-melodic, pretentious, ostentatious (anybody have a third word for “affected and
showy?”) and seemingly without end.
Music aside, it’s not a bad film. Depp is appropriately creepy and Helena Bonham Carter adds a certain disturbing sex appeal to the
role that I’m fairly certain Angela Lansbury did not possess (though I have never seen her Mrs. Lovett, so I could be mistaken). Sacha
Baron Cohen has fun with the role of Pirelli and the mere presence of Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall adds to the fun of any movie they
happen to be in. There are also some boring side characters and something of a love story thrown into the mix, but nobody really cares
about that. Mostly, it’s about Johnny Depp giving extremely close shaves to the people who piss him off and Helena Bonham Carter
serving up her own special brand of tasty treats on Fleet Street.
I heard much of the unbelievable gore factor of Sweeney Todd and was very surprised at the lack of gross considering the subject
matter. The blood looks more like raspberry syrup and considering how graphic they could have been it seemed fairly tame underneath
all the hype. I’m not a fan of gore, so this was a pleasant surprise to me. But if you’re expecting a high gross out factor, prepare to be
slightly disappointed.
My colleague Matt (Master of Dark Road Ratings) referred to Sweeney Todd as “A great dark story”. This is true, it is dark. In fact Tim
Burton seems to be determined to make a film so dark one needs night vision goggles to view it properly. I found myself actually
squinting at the screen in some of the beginning scenes trying in vain to make out the faint outline of a cast member … or is that a lamp
post? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.
Bottom line, I didn’t love it, I didn’t even really like it, but I’m told I am in the minority on this one. The best I can say, is give Sweeney
Todd a shot and prove me wrong. Tim, Johnny, I still adore you both and I’m looking very forward to Alice In Wonderland – but if the
Mad Hatter must burst into song, please, for the love of God, make it a catchy one.