Exceeds the famed Broadway Production

Rating: 10/10 (22 December 2007)

I've been a fan of Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd," for over twenty five years. Have seen it on stage, and treasure the 1982 video recording starring George Hearn & Angela Landsbury, along with the more recent "concert version," also starring Hearn in a revival of his famed role, I've always thought him superior to Cariou's performance. (And true devotees, avoid the current Broadway touring version, it is minimalist, just viewing several clips turned me away from it.) But on to the movie. I approached this movie with mixed emotions. I mean how many times has a favorite musical, in this case what could better be defined as an opera, have a successful transition to film. Darn few have made it. Could an "opera" even connect, especially with a younger audience. Yes and "I'm full of joy." I've always admired all three primary components involved in this production, Burton, Depp, Carter. . . little did I fully realize the range of their talent until the opening scenes, the dark, frightful settings of Victorian London (one anachronism. . Tower Bridge did not exist at the time the story is set, sorry professional historian here). Carter's passionate voice gave a different feel for Mrs. Lovett, and Depp's every movement conveyed a sense of a coiled serpent about to strike.
I found inwardly I was almost like a judge at an event, ready to hold up a score card, how did each scene, each song match up to the Broadway production. (And I promised my daughter I would not sing along with the movie, though I did slip a few times with my favorites such as "these are my friends.") There is a certain maniacal madness with George Hearn's rendition of "These are my friends" and "Epiphany" that I think are hard to ever match, but maybe it is like trying to compare a Dali to a Picasso, or whatever, both carry a power in a different way. In short, I was not once disappointed, and often found myself cheering on something far better than expected, especially the magnificent Perilli contest and the "More Meat Pies." (oh those close ups of the juice running out. . .you can tell they had fun making it.) And speaking of juices running out. OK, gory as all hell. I took my teenage daughter with some trepidation, she has seen the stage version and is a fan as well. I think I was more shocked then her with that first massive blood letting with Perilli. . .and the "ride down the slide" that has a certain resounding thump at the end that definitely shocked the first time.
So, if you are a fan of the Broadway productions, do not hesitate to go, you will be awed for behind both is the genius of Sondheim, and the different methods, stage versus film, actually compliment each other, art in two different forms and neither detracts from the other or makes you wish something had been done different. If you've never seen the stage production, do so, just avoid the current Broadway touring production.
After a great evening at the theater I waited until my daughter went to bed, figured she was asleep and then stood outside her door, calling her name, in the same way Sweeney and Lovett call out Tobie's name while hunting him. . .there was a moment of silence and then the reply from the other side of the door, "father, how about a shave."