Depp is a 'cut' above the rest ....

Rating: 8/10 (2 April 2008)

From the very beginning of this film you are drawn inexorably into a world of shadows, of hate, of revenge and injustice. The photography is appropriately dark and menacing (Gotham City is, by comparison, positively cheery!) The two principal characters are taken by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Both are excellent, although arguably a little too young for their roles. Alan Rickman, glorious to watch as ever, is the evil Judge Turpin. Perhaps the real surprise for many is that they all sing  well, too! Depp plays the title role of a brooding, introverted and embittered man who, being cheated initially of the revenge he seeks on one man (Turpin) is more than willing to hit out at the entire world, with the connivance of Mrs. Lovett (Bonham Carter). Depp accentuates the quiet introvert bit so his outbursts of rage are all the more effective, when they come. The rest of the cast are admirable. 14 year old Ed Sanders takes the role of Toby. Perhaps younger than usually cast in this role (he has three important numbers to sing, including the hit 'Not while I'm around') - he's just perfect for the part. Timothy Spall once more plays a grimy, unpleasant character (The Beadle is very unpleasant!) to great effect. Sacha Baron Cohen, perhaps best known for his 'Borat' character, is fine as the fake Italian hairdresser, who tries to blackmail Todd, thereby becoming the first to receive 'a very close shave'! Whilst in no way displacing the two televised versions (on DVD) of the stage musical (one from 1982 with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn, the other a concert performance in 2001, with Patti Lupone and George Hearn) this is a magnificent movie. Sondheim's score is somewhat abbreviated (the opening chorus is omitted altogether) and the blood and gore is perhaps a little too generously applied, but Director Tim Burton is clearly in his element here. This is not a 'musical' in the generally accepted sense  it is a 'music drama' or musical thriller  and very thrilling it is, too. I've seen it twice  and I shall look forward to seeing it again  a fine piece of work.