A Little Comedy Helps The Medicine Go Down

Rating: 8/10 (27 May 2008)

Moving a musical from Broadway to the silver screen is not a simple thing. The abhorrent musical RENT is a prime example. Although Rent had its place on stage, it suffered with its transition to film due to a shoddy script and even shoddier sets and acting. And although SWEENEY TODD has a similar history, it holds up much better.
The first successful element of Sweeney Todd is that it has some really fine actors attached to it, as well as director Tim Burton (CORPSE BRIDE), the master of dark themes. Not surprising to any, Mr. Burton has brought along Johnny Depp (CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY) whom Mr. Burton has apparently set up as his muse. Since 1990, the two have been practically inseparable, and this has turned out to be advantageous to movie audiences. They work very well together and know each others ins-and-outs. Sweeney Todd also benefited from the dastardly work of Alan Rickman (HARRY POTTER) as the devilishly evil Judge Turpin. Rickman has been a favorite of mine since 1988 when he starred alongside Bruce Willis in the first DIE HARD film. Another surprising bonus was that of Timothy Spall (ENCHANTED) who plays Beadle, the twisted sidekick to Judge Turpin. Although Mr. Spall can't sing very well, he did act the part of Beadle with exceptional creepiness. Then we come to Mr. Burton's other muse, his wife, Helena Bonham Carter (WALLACE & GROMIT) who plays the female lead of Ms. Lovett. Mrs. Carter is to be commended for her singing abilities, and she apparently took this film very seriously, going so far as to take a barrage of singing and voice lessons in preparation. The sad part about her role is that I found her singing better than her acting. I could easily have seen someone with more acting and singing abilities in her role (for instance Renee Zellweger). But I must give credit where it is due, and I found her acting portions acceptable if a bit flat.
The second success is obvious: the music. Stephen Sondheim's score really reached down and pulled this film up a notch. I particularly enjoyed the music and lyrics during the song "A Little Priest" in which Sweeney Todd (Depp) and Mrs. Lovett (Carter) look out over the London streets and sing about what certain businessmen or people taste like. I found this to be a good section of the film because it incorporated solid acting, a great song, and some darn funny lines/chorus', something not easily achieved in cinema nowadays.
The third success is both a positive and a possible negative: the bloodshed. Similar to a Frank Miller graphic, Sweeney Todd is shown in a black-and-white, sepia-toned fashion while the blood of Sweeney's victims is given the royal red treatment (and there's plenty a-gushin' on-screen, too). Although this adds a flare of color to an otherwise dingy look, it also went a bit over-the-top on several occasions. I have to note here, too, the sickening 'thud' sound that the bodies make when they are disposed of down Sweeney Toddy's chute and onto the hard cobbles below. This might turn many viewers off so just beware.
As mentioned earlier, Mr. Burton is well-known for his dark themes, and I dare say that this is probably the darkest of them all. But the infusion of some much needed comedy helps this one go down a tad easier. Kind of like eating one of Mrs. Lovett's pies and then drinking a nice ale after.
Bon appétit!