A Bloody Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (25 January 2008)

This is Tim Burton's masterpiece: it is simply one of the best film adaptations of a musical ever and there is a sense that here Burton's dark vision finally cohere into something of a whole.
From the onset this is marvellous: London never looked grimmer, grimier, or more gruel and gruelling. The costumes deserve an Oscar - they add significantly to the production - as does the set and lighting - a fully realised vision of a Gothic Victorian London that comes to life - there are some beautiful detailing - the vegetables in the market are grey and Gothic - and it all works to place the characters in a setting of real significance.
Overall, the casting is flawless: Johnny Depp is dark, menacing, brooding, damaged, and coldly insane at both the loss of his wife, his deportation to Australia, and imbues a very real sense of revenge. He is well complemented by Helena Bonham-Carter's Mrs Lovall: a woman who really does know how to fail and obsess well; and Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin is lascivious, and evil. Timothy Spall gives a career best - I thought him even better here than Boys from the black Stuff, which is saying something - he weaves an intricate beadle, who knows his status depends on obsequious violence, and Sasha Baron Cohen is simply a turn to be enjoyed - and shows his very fine skill as giving credibility to pomposity.
Yes, it's dark. Yes, it's violent - but that's its tone. The Sondheim score is amazing - never did natural speech sound so good as music - and one sees why this and Pacific Overatures, along with Sunday in the Park, reinvented the genre. True, Depp doesn't have the voice to really excel as a singer - but he brings an acting skill that I would trade much better singers for.
The first hour is simply dazzling, we felt that it could have been 15-20 minutes shorter - what works on stage drags a little - but at no point does it lose its way in anyway.
It is bloody, visceral, and dark - but, as we would expect from Tim Burton, it's not disgusting or repellent.
Overall, it is no exaggeration to say that this is a very fine film, and an exceptional musical. With Hairspray and High School Musical is it possible we're seeing a revival? Sweeney is essential viewing, and I would not be surprised if it is a dark horse come awards time - stunning visuals, stunning acting, and stunningly sharp. Might make you want to give up shaving, or wanting pies, for a while though...
Highly recommended.