God, that's good!

Rating: 10/10 (16 February 2008)

Went on premiere of "Sweeney Todd" here in Croatia yesterday and I must say that this is brilliant movie on so many levels. I had high expectations because of Burton's previous work and Depp's magical ability of portraying every single role on this world. Two of them never ever failed in my eyes. After movies like "Edward Scissorhands", "Ed Wood", "Sleepy Hollow", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Corpse Bride", we've got "Sweeney Todd", another masterpiece from this productive duo. Burton, as always, took the risk of making such a movie. It's very hard to make a movie based on hit Broadway musical and Burton does it with no problems and yet with his so well known signature.
Story follows Benjamin Barker (barber), who returns in London after years in exile for a crime he didn't commit. Barker comes back as Sweeney Todd, who wants his revenge. He must find where are his wife and daughter, with a little help from Mrs. Lovett (owner of meat pie shop). Man who is guilty for destroying Todd's life is evil Judge Turpin. But not one man killed, or ten thousands men can satisfy Sweeney's appetite for revenge.
As always Burton assembled great cast. Here we've got his all time favorite Johnny Depp as Sweeney Tood, his wife Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin and Sacha Baron Cohen as Adolfo Pirelli. You simply don't know who was better. Depp in Oscar worthy performance, Cohen in great small role, Rickman as villain or Bonham Carter who portrayed her character with perfection (all of them are amazing). Also I must say that young Ed Sanders is great. All the singing parts are done by the actors. Johnny Depp wasn't bad and Bonham Carter was very good. They sing most of the songs and I think they did a good job (just like all the rest). Johnny Depp makes another memorable role. After so much beautiful created characters, he plays Sweeney Todd ('Epiphany' is amazing). A man who wants his revenge, a mad man, a killer. Depp never played such sick person, Sweeney is like evil brother of Edward Scissorhands. Depp's range of emotions is unique and this is Oscar worthy performance (he was in every movie genre and he's done it all with perfection). Maybe this will be finally his year, but we don't need a golden statue to acknowledge one of the best actors today.
The whole movie is amazing. Starts from the port and we see streets of London just like we're looking at play in a theater. Burton's dark tone is great and it represents how Sweeney feels. There are few bright colors, like in Mrs. Lovett dream of her happy life. Maybe the whole movie starts a bit slow, but from the entrance of Adolfo Pirelli it takes great turn. We are drawn into the story with beautiful simplicity that only Burton can create. There is lot of singing at the beginning and only one boring and annoying character of Anthony Hope (at least to me), but Burton needs all that so he can present the whole story. So to conclude, I was very surprised with this movie cause I didn't expect this and I would like to recommend it to all of you. Burton, Depp, blood, music, atmosphere, revenge. All that you can see in this beautiful achievement of cinematography. I will just repeat a title of one song: 'God, that's good!'