Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen
Directed by: Tim Burton
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Musical
2007

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) is bent on revenge after he lost his wife due to the greed of an aristocrat (Alan Rickman). He teams with a baker (Helena Bonham Carter) of meat pies as he enacts his revenge through a serious of murders.

Review:

Tim: I am not particularly dazzled by musicals. If done well (Moulin Rouge, Singin' in the Rain), I'm a huge fan. However, I don't automatically buy into them (Chicago is one of the most overrated Best Picture winners of the last decade). Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a decent movie, but not spectacular.

Tim Burton does direct a good movie, and assembles a strong cast. Johnny Depp is quite good as the titular demon barber, although his singing wasn't great (he's decent). Helena Bonham Carter could have been better, but she gives a fairly good performance. Alan Rickman gives a very good performance, and Sacha Baron Cohen was a good add to the cast. The film is really about Depp and Carter, and they work well together.

There is something to be said for directors and stars working multiple times together. I really believe it allows individuals to get a sense of consistency and build on their familiarity with each other. Depp and Burton (and to a lesser degree, Carter) have worked together on numerous occasions, and the strengths of this relationship are on display here.

I enjoyed that the movie wasn't afraid to pull any punches. This is a musical, but it is incredibly vivid in its gruesome detail. Blood spurts everywhere, and the sound effects make it sound very realistic. I think the graphic nature of the film probably hurt the movie a bit in critics' eyes (although it was certainly well received).

My thoughts on the film are mixed. I enjoyed most of the movie, although I did feel a bit bored at various parts. The songs are decent, but none are spectacular. The story is interesting and different, and had a good conclusion. I probably should have liked this movie a bit better, but I was hoping for a little more. As is, the film is decent, but I don't believe it's one of the best of the year. It certainly doesn't rank as one of my favorite musicals.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
The Corpse Bride, Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory