The Johnny Depp Show

Rating: 7/10 (26 December 2007)

Welcome to the darkest and most morbid film of Tim Burton's career entitled Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Starring Academy Award nominee Johnny Depp in the title role as the revenge seeking barber, wrongfully imprisoned and looking to settle the score with the man who put him there, Judge Turpin played by Alan Rickman.
A side not before even diving into the review of the film; DreamWorks and Warner Bros. marketing department should be commended. As I sat in the theater with a lot of Johnny Depp fans, I heard many people say, "this is a musical?" as soon as the opened with Jamie Campbell Bower singing. Even though the trailer does have Depp singing a few lines from his strong musical number "Epiphany," I don't think youths grasped the concept entirely, "oh wow, this is a musical." The reason I say this, the young men that followed these young girls were grumbling the entire time as each line was being sang. Morons.
Back to the review: As stated before, Burton has created his darkest film of his career with lots of grotesque images and even darker set decorations and mood settings. Depp is as great as can be as Mr. Todd bringing great characterizations not yet seen before by the actor and surprisingly, a very good voice. Even though Sweeney is the one who is wronged, he makes some choices that don't agree with the viewer. You're pulling for Sweeney and feeling the tragedy for the character even though, you know you shouldn't be. That is Depp's greatest achievement from the character.
Helena Bonham Carter as the Baker, Mrs. Lovett is great in energy and poise and brings a much needed humanity and sensitivity to this morbid tale especially with her scenes with the young Toby played by Edward Sanders. However, her singing leaves much to be desired and its her singing scenes with Depp we love because of Depp being in them.
Sacha Baron Cohen in his brief appearance is adequate but with wardrobe distractions (those who've seen it know what I'm talking about) its hard to focus solely on his speech. Alan Rickman plays his villainous role as great as we've seen him before but weary of past performances in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Dogma. He is an actor yearning for awards consideration one day soon, but needing the right role to do it.
The music as far as musicals go is fair, not the best of any I've seen but it does have some moments. The art direction, make-up and cinematography is the film's true beauty and the awards magnet that is needed. As far as the narrative goes, Johnny Depp is the man of the hour like anything else we've seen of him before.
Grade: ***/****