It Delivers What It Promises

Rating: 9/10 (3 March 2009)

In 19th century London, a town barber who goes by the name Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is wed to a beautiful wife named Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly)and they have a lovely daughter named Johanna (Jayne Wisener). Lucy's good looks catches the eyes of crooked Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) who feels that she should be in his arms. So, he cooks up a scheme to have Barker thrown in jail for a criminal act he didn't commit. Fifteen years later, Barker is released from prison, with a new look, a new attitude and most importantly, a new identity, Sweeney Todd. His plot is to get even with the callous Turpin. Hoping to reconcile with his wife, Todd gets word from a local baker who specializes in meat pies Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) that his wife, Lucy killed herself years ago and that Turpin has custody over Johanna. In a plot for revenge, Sweeney returns to the barber business by opening a shop below Lovett's bakery and this time plotting revenge against those who enter his shop by slicing their throats and using their remains to make meat pies out of their flesh as a ploy to get to Turpin and end his madness once and for all.
The script adapted from the original musical by Stephen Sondheim speaks for itself. The dark, Gothic atmosphere, and the scintillating lighting is complimented by the brilliant direction by Tim Burton. Johnny Deep has never been more creepier since Edward Scissorhands and Icabod Crane. You may think that Sweeney's revenge is taken in vain, but in reality, he's hurting inside and badly too over the loss of his lover and soul-mate, Lucy. Even though I'm not a fan of murder, I thought it was very considerate that Sweeney is doing this for the love and a big piece of his life taken from him for being wrongfully accused. The supporting cast is very nuanced as each actor young or old adds great depth to their respected roles.
I knew going into the theaters this movie would be something special, but "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" went beyond what I expected of it. There was plenty of dark humor, lots of emotion by the characters, easy-flowing songs and every performance was a sight for sore eyes and ringing ears. If you're looking for an original movie with great depth, look no further. This movie has everything you need to keep you satisfied.