Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's Darkest And Most Satisfying Outing

Rating: 10/10 (21 December 2007)

I have been a fan of Tim Burton's for years and have just recently grown to admire Johnny Depp to the point of calling myself a fan of his too (not that I did not respect him before I just never paid him a lot of attention outside of Tim's work, and seeing the trailer for this film inspired me to explore his body of work a little deeper.), and for me to claim that this is their best outing ever is hard since I am such an Edward Scissorhands fan, but alas Sweeney is a cut above that, pun most certainly intended. The story of a barber, sent to prison on false charges and returning home to seek revenge is indeed an intriguing and dark one that suits both in a way that it's a wonder they hadn't done this before.
Sweeney Todd is an enchanting piece of musical darkness that grabs you and pulls you in from the first moment until the last. Johnny Depp is as always the perfect choice and disappears into his role seamlessly. His singing voice is adequate, if not erring on the side of good, but it is more so his acting in the scenes that really conveys the emotions in the songs. What makes the movie so much more effective than a play in some ways is the way Burton can shoot the musical numbers and make them feel more personal and the actors can do more effectively in front of a camera. Johnny Depp and Tim both utilize this and it really gives the musical numbers something extra that some might feel is lacking without the powerhouse vocals.
I will admit to being skeptical about Ms. Bonham Carter. Even after hearing a few of her song clips I was turned off, but she plays the role in a way that is tender, sweet, looney and endearing. I found the Lovett character annoyingly chipper in the stage version though I love Lansbury's portrayal. This Lovett is darker, and more longing than the other incarnations but there is something about her you connect with even though you can see how hopeless her desire for Sweeney's love is and how sick their twisted cannibalistic way of disposing of Sweeney's corpses (almost a mating dance for the two). Bonham Carter almost makes Lovett sympathetic while proving she's diabolical in the same way. Her singing is perhaps the weakest but she makes up for it in screen presence IMO.
Rickman is diabolical as Judge Turpin and his singing is adequate though I think Johnny Depp's outshines his during Pretty Women (an enchanting number indeed) and Spall is delicious as the Beadle.
The teen characters perhaps have the best singing voices, but they have little to do and you find you care very little about them, but this is not a weakness of the movie as I cared little about them during the play as well.
Sacha Baron Cohen is a scene stealer for certain as the barber Pirelli and his singing voice is adequate. It was very refreshing to see him in a more subdued role.
Edward Sanders was outstanding as Toby. His performance song wise and acting wise shows a lot of promise for a bright career in the future one can only hope.
And Burton's direction is amazing, the sets are stunning and the make up all help to really enhance the film's tone and add to the film's dark humor as well. One would be humorless to not giggle at certain gags especially Lovett's "By the Sea" fantasy sequence.
All in all Sweeney Todd is a complete musical adventure which will be pleasing to anyone with a wicked sense of humor and an appreciation for the uncannily beautiful. Be warned though the movie is 90% singing.