Is This Music & Mayhem Pic As Bizarre As They Say? Yup!

Rating: 8/10 (4 April 2008)

If you haven't seen this film and are expecting something bizarre from the collaboration director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp.....well, you're going to get it! This is different......mainly because most of the dialog is sung, like an opera. However, at least half of that is half spoken-half sung so it isn't really operatic. Burton displays his usual dark visions and wonderful cinematography and Depp plays his normal strange, dark character. I can't say that all the singing appealed to me, but the actors did a credible job with it. In fact, Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and company surprised me how well they all sang considering they aren't known for that talent.
One other major warning: some of the bloody scenes are pretty graphic. There will be a number of people who will turn their heads at a few scenes. That doesn't start for awhile, however, as the first third of film sets up the premise.
What I found most appealing was the comedy. The wildest character was "Signor Adolfo Pirelli," a guy pretending to be a famous Italian barber and played - incredibly - by Sacha Baron Cohen....yes, "Borat," himself! I only wish his role had been a little bigger. The other guy who made me laugh was Timothy Spall as "Beadle Bamford." He was so bad, he was good! Some of the lyrics in the songs also were humorous. All the comedy is a mixture of dark and light stuff.
It seems like most of the scenes in this film were either very dark and foreboding or filled with outrageous dark humor. There wasn't much middle ground. I suspect you'll either stick with the film and enjoy it or be tempted to toss it in the garbage can before it's over. Either way, you'll have a definite opinion of this movie!