Monday, December 31, 2007

Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street



Ah, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. How many of your pairings will give pop-culture it's most treasured cinematic gems?

Well, maybe not most of them. And probably not this one, but still, this dark and devilish musical about a barber who returns from exile to get his revenge on the man who done him wrong is wickedly fun.



Unlike the more family friendly collaborations Edward Scissorhands or Corpse Bride, this is Burton and Depp at their darkest and most satirical.

Sweeny Todd, or Benjamin Barker as he was known before Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) sent him to an Australian prison because he lusted after his wife. Now Todd is back, renting a shop from twisted sister Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), and is ready to exact his revenge. And does he? Let's just say that the blood, in its exquisite exaggerated red, spill all over the screen. So delicious.



Carter, Burton's real-life love, is despicable and delectable as the somewhat manipulative Mrs. Lovett who cooks the worst meat pies in all London.

The dynamic between Depp and Carter is great fun and the two characters' collaborations in murder feed each others need to exact their revenge on a world that has forgotten them.



The music and singing are good. Depp shows his great range, yet again, with his singing ability. Carter is quiet and mousy, but respectable. The only problem with the singing is the difficulty of making out what they say through their thick British accents. Look for a scene stealing Sacha Baron Cohen as a rival barber.



The look is classic Burton; dark, exaggerated and stylistic. The fun is in the killing, if you can stomach the red paint used for blood. ***B***

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