Boring Cannibalism

Rating: 3/10 (6 January 2008)

Another subtle gem from Tim Burton - he completely misses the point of the stage play in order to hit viewers over the head with "I'M TIM BURTON! THIS IS SWEENEY TODD! I'M TIM BURTON!" Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are flat out boring in the main roles, and neither understands the nuances that make Sweeney Todd and Ms. Lovett work. Sacha Baron Cohen, for all of the 5 minutes he is on screen, brightens up the movie, while Alan Rickman bogs it down with one of the worst singing performances since Ashlee Simpson's SNL snafu.
This isn't London that the movie takes place in, it's Tim Burton Presents A Gray Town populated by Citizens With Poorly Affected Accents. There are zoom-cuts that happen for no reason (and never again!), strange tangents into pointless areas (the entirety of By The Sea does not work WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY BY THE SEA) and the "symbolism?" Haaahahahahaha! The last shot is the only worthwhile shot in the entire film, so of course Burton lingers on it far too long so that HEY! LOOK! LOOK WHAT I MADE! I'M TIM BURTON!!!!
As far as the score goes, Stephen Sondheim's excellent lyrics are washed away in a sea of organs and strings that are much too loud. In fact, before the movie even started, at the Dreamworks logo, I mentioned to my friend that the music was already too loud. Sadly, it only gets louder, and drowns out the singing. For the most part (Depp, HB Carter, Alan "I was my singing voice in mud" Rickman) I was OK with that, but when the sorrowful strains of "Johanna" tell you to be sad more than what Antony is singing... ugh.
Don't waste your money. If you want to talk Oscar contenders, go see No Country For Old Men or There Will Be Blood - actual films. In time, Sweeney Todd (the Demon Barber of Fleet Street) will be lost to the Dustbin of Cinema, along with Tim Burton and most (but not all - Ed Wood, I'm mainly looking at you) of his filmography.