"Sweeny" was waiting to be "Burton-ized!"

Rating: 9/10 (28 December 2007)

Let me first begin by saying - like a lot of people who went into this movie - i didn't know a whole lot about the stage version of "Sweeny." I knew it was dark and a movie about a killer...but that was the extent of my knowledge. I was more than pleasantly surprised! Johnny Depp has a haunting voice and he makes Todd his own...as he does with every character he portrays. At first, I will admit, I felt like Jack Sparrow was cast as Todd...however that was all lost when I got sucked into the passion and terror that Burton and Depp brought to this film. Of course I couldn't forget the amazing performance from the soon-to-be Mrs. Burton - Ms. Helena Bohnam Carter. She was creepy, yet beautiful as Mrs. Lovett and did the role perfect justice! The whole ensemble complete with Baron Cohen and Rickman along with the very talented cast of youngsters completed this masterpiece of stage-to-cinema. Burton has done it again...and proves once again...that he is among the elite Hollywood directors of the last twenty years. Now that Scorsese has his Oscar...maybe it's time for the Academy to give Mr. Burton his dues.