An Masterful piece of Art... Brilliant, touching and horrifying...

Rating: 10/10 (18 April 2008)

Tim Burton's oh-so-dark adaptation of the classic musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is a refreshing breath of fresh, blood-stenched air. Visually stunning and exquisitely pieced together, this is, in my opinion, not only one of 2007's best films, but one of the best films of the past decade.
Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp, looking his gloomiest since "Edward Scissorhands") is a skilled barber, able to shave faces smoother than any other. But the devious Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) has eyes for his beautiful wife Lucy. And so, one day, Turpin orders Barker arrested, framing him for a crime he did not commit, and sends him away. Turpin tries to woo Lucy, but as we learn, she does not accept his advances, and he soon performs a treacherous act on her, driving her to poison herself. He takes Barker and Lucy's young daughter Johanna as his ward.
Then, years later, Barker returns, discovered at sea, after having presumably escaped his hellish imprisonment. Saved by a young sailer, he takes on the alias of "Sweeney Todd", and returns to London to take his revenge. He soon meets Mrs. Lovett, whom has started a less-than-sanitary pie emporium in the same building his shop once stood. Once she realizes who he is, she quickly takes a liking to him, and joins his cause. And together, they will take sweet vengeance on Turpin.
And so is the plot of "Sweeney Todd." But what would any review of this film be without mention of the beautiful musical numbers that occupy the film? The music is simply spectacular. And while Depp's portrayal of the character may differ from past actors, he makes the character something more. In every line he sings, you can feel a seething anger and sadness. He doesn't simply belt out lyrics, he almost oozes them at times, making the music and singing seem as natural as talking. Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Mrs. Lovett, also does a rather well-done job, giving her character a little silliness and serious all at once, almost like a giddy girl with a crush... which he character almost is. Alan Rickman, whose singing is limited, does a good job, supplying some genuine darkness... and yet, some sympathy as well at times. The other actors, including Timothy Spall (as the grotesque Beadle Bamford), Sacha Baron Cohen (as Pirelli) and Jamie Campbell Bower (as Anthony, the sailer who discovers Todd) all deliver amazing performances, as well as any others I have not mentioned.
And now, of Tim Burton's direction. I have always been a fan of his, since I first saw his take of the first two "Batman" films when I was a child. His other works have influenced me in various ways, and I feel he is one of the best visual storytellers out there today. He uses this to his advantage in "Sweeney Todd" in spades. The films at times feels like a living art gallery, soaked with a dark beauty that words cannot describe. I suppose you could call this "classic Burton." But then again, that could be taken wrongly. Of his films that I have seen, this feels almost like the most mature. Some have criticized Burton for falling into the somewhat-infamous "style over substance" category in the past, but I think with this film, he balances the story and visuals with a cunning and masterful hand that many filmmakers couldn't. After all, this film is a musical (based on Sondheim's classic), and can't be handled like just any film. But at the same time, it could be tempting to be carried away, and Burton steers clear of this. Honestly... I feel Burton is talented enough that he could film a piece of celery sitting on an ottoman for 90 minutes, and it would be spectacular to watch.
And so, here is to "Sweeney Todd", an amazing piece of cinematic art that must be seen, heard and felt to be believed. I recommend this to anyone who appreciates heart, soul and film.
10 out of 10