Wow! This movie's unbelievably good - and it's a musical!

Rating: 9/10 (23 October 2008)

I hate musicals but this is the second I've been more than impressed by. There's one small flaw having to do with a minor surprise, but this is an unqualified masterpiece. Depp, Carter, Spall and Rickman are dead on and in full control. Even Cohen and the kid (not sure who that was) are great. This must have been something on Broadway but there's no way it was this good, not without this stellar cast. I couldn't believe the sets either. There's a great attempt to be authentic, and as far as I can tell, it all is, or at least it's quite convincing and appropriately evocative. I saw this on DVD last night and I'm quite sure it's going to prove unforgettable.