Sweeney Todd - the ultimate tale of revenge. I can think of nothing more vengeful than slicing people's throats and turning them into meat pies. Directed by Tim Burton, this wild musical takes audiences into the dark alleys of London. From the music to the acting, this movie is a smashing-hit and succeeds on virtually every level.
Sweeney Todd tells the story of a barber out for revenge. Mr. Todd (Johnny Depp) returns to London to take care of some unfinished business. Years ago, a corrupt judge (Alan Rickman) stole Mr. Todd's wife and put him in jail to keep him out of the picture. But now he's returned. He makes his way to Fleet Street and ends up at a run-down, filthy pie shop owned by Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter). Together, this dynamic duo wreak havoc on the streets of London. And the vicious vengeance won't stop until Mr. Todd gets to his target victim, Judge Turpin.
It sounds like just a bloody slasher movie. And that's because it is... on the surface. But Sweeney Todd is more than just a gory musical; it's a piece of cinematic art and one of Tim Burton's greatest achievements.
First of all, make no mistake, this movie is a musical. Thats right - a musical. It's hard to believe a movie about deranged serial killers can be a musical, but it is. The music in this film is downright wonderful. Taken from the hit Broadway musical, the songs are catchy and easy to listen to. And both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter really bring the songs to life. They aren't the worlds greatest singers in any way. But they do sing rather well, and more importantly, they use their singing to bring their characters to life. They sing the way their characters would sing, and it works perfectly.
The songs in this musical vary greatly, but they all compliment each other. Some of the songs are light and airy and romantic, like Johanna, Green Finch and Linnet Bird, Pretty Women, and By the Sea. Others, though, are more sinister and dark, like Epiphany. But all of the music, no matter the style, is incredible.
In terms of setting, lighting, and costume design, there's nothing new here. From the first scene until the credits, this movie has Tim Burton written all over it. It's dark and gray, almost giving it the appearance that it was filmed in black-and-white. Because it takes place in London, it's foggy and rainy most of the time too. The location, in general, is bleak and depressing. Also typical of Burton's style, the wardrobes for the characters are outlandish, but they are pretty tame compared to other films he's done and they work for this musical.
More than just the music and Burton's signature style, this movie largely succeeds due to a stellar cast. As stated before, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter knock their performances out of the park. They are both brilliant in this movie and form one of the most twisted love stories ever shown on film. Alan Rickman also gives a great performance as the evil judge. Rickman is used to playing the villain, so he has mastered the art. But his singing is also showcased in the movie, and he copes well with the songs. Jamie Bower plays Anthony, a young man madly in love with Mr. Todd's daughter. He gives a powerhouse performance for his brief time in the movie and his singing of Johanna is beautiful. Other good performances in the movie go Timothy Spall and Sacha Baron Cohen, who both fit their roles as somewhat comedic relief quite well.
This sick and twisted love story of revenge turned into a musical is spellbinding and wonderful. Though I have not seen the stage production of the show, I'm sure the movie has done it justice. It's definitely worth checking out, even if you're not a fan of musicals. The people I know that generally don't like musicals enjoyed the film, just showing how well done it is. So forget about No-Shave November, break out your straight razors and take a seat - it's time for a shave!
RATING: 4.5 / 5
This movie is rated R (graphic bloody violence)
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