Sweeney Todd

Rating: 6/10 (6 March 2008)

Sweeney Todd I knew this was a musical. I saw in the trailers  that it was dark, and bloody; a different genre of film production!
Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) convicts the barber Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) on false charges, rapes Benjamin's wives and destroys a wonderful happy family. Benjamin barker returns from exile after many years, adapts a new name and looks - Sweeney Todd; sets up a new barber shop along with a weirdo baker Mrs.Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter). There is a sub-plot in where a young boy Anthony Hope (Jamie Campbell Bower) falls in love with the Benjamin's daughter Johanna (Jayne Wisener) who is adopted by Judge Turpin. Sweeney Todd starts his gory revenge saga by cutting the throats of all the culprits involved in destroying his life and family. There is a tragic end to the tale  which I won't disclose here, to keep the spoilers away.
The attempt by director Tim Burton is excellent. He presents the Broadway hit on screen in musical  a dark, bloodied and gory revenge saga is really an attempt. I read that this project idea was cooking since last 25 years with great actors in mind to play the lead. Luckily Johnny Depp got the onus.
Johnny Depp acts brilliantly as the demon barber and it is difficult to imagine anybody else could have played the character with much more better conviction that Johnny Depp. He is outstanding in each scene. The other acting that stands out is again the mean portrayal of corrupt judge by Alan Rickman. He has matured into a seasoned medieval evil and looks convincing.
The cinematography by Dariusz Wolski is intentionally dark and with blue tinge. It creates the atmosphere of loathe and disgust and letting the minds live in those dark ages. Especially the beginning 15 minutes  is intentionally darker in contrast, then the rest.
Stephen Sondheim provides the original musical score of Broadway. It is excellent.
For those with  weak stomach for blood and gory; and with weak likings of musicals  this is not their cup of tea.
Overall, this is a good attempt to capture and present the world of cinema  something different, a dark, bloody musical! (Stars 6.25 out of 10)