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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Director: Tim Burton

4

Critics' rating

Average user rating
3 reviews

Synopsis

Based on the 19th century legend of Sweeney Todd and the hit Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) returns to London after being sent away by Alan Rickman’s Judge Turpin. He opens a barber shop above Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pie Shop were she sells ‘the worst pies in London.’ With the help of Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), Todd tries to get rid of all the people who have ever done him wrong.

Movie review

From Time Out New York

Less an evening’s entertainment than a glittering bear trap, Stephen Sondheim’s subversive 1979 Broadway triumph bristled with the composer’s spikiest dissonances. By the end of the first half, a vengeful serial killer was happily twirling with the woman who baked his victims into meat pies. By curtain, all of London seemed charred by apocalyptic fire: sick with amorality and, it’s safe to say, indigestion.

Much of that musical is here—smartly condensed, if slightly less sooty, under the pop-gothic glare of Tim Burton. For that unlikely outcome alone, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street merits a nod, and not just from the Saw crowd. (Brace yourself for multiple neck slashings.) As is his want, Burton has cast Johnny Depp, and per the actor’s usual resourcefulness, Depp has turned Todd into a seething, spitting Hammer horror, more punk than prog. Whereas in Ed Wood, it felt like both collaborators were finally revealing something under the makeup, Todd, with his Sontag shock-stripe, is the peak of their stylized menace. He’s a scream.

Given the towering stature of the musical, one can’t help but wince at errant nicks. Helena Bonham Carter is porcelain and lovely as always, but hardly the brassy presence needed to persuasively draw this monster out of his cage; you don’t have to know the classic stage turn by Angela Lansbury to feel something’s slightly out of whack. Sacha Baron Cohen owns his brief comic role as Todd’s faux-Italian competitor, but where is baddie Alan Rickman’s customary fire? Still, Burton does more than just deliver, and even if you wish he’d sharpened his instruments a little longer, the shave is bracing.

 

Author: Joshua Rothkopf 2007-12-17 22:10:52

Time Out New York Issue 637.638: December 13–26, 2007

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User reviews of this film

  • Mervin McQuillan said...
    Posted on Mar 02 2008 02:09 Just seen this movie and was a little doubtful about all the hype that surrounded it, but I must say I was very impressed with it, basically it sets out what it means to and I must say it is a contender for Tim Burtons greatest ever achievement in the movie business. All of the actors out shine themselves in it. There is sort of a trwist at the end which you really do expect but want to see it happen and it delivers. I have to say for those of you who are the people who buy DVD's but are not neccessarily seeing them first. GET THIS FILM TO YOUR COLLECTION YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID. I recently seen a Tv version of Sweeney on ITV for those in the UK, but if you thought that was good its nothing compared to the movie. I must admit though you are tempted every now and again to skip through scenes but don't stick with it you'll be glad you did. There is 1 line near the start that sets up the whole movie for me "At last my arm is complete again", an amazing line well done Tim Burton for this, I hate to say it but the critics where right this movie really is a work of Art
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  • Jamie Kelley said...
    Posted on Jan 31 2008 19:06 It was absloutly amazing i would see it again in a heart beat i loved it!
    Report as inappropriate
  • Hugh Brown said...
    Posted on Jan 20 2008 16:52 "As is his want, Burton has cast Johnny Depp..."
    As is his wont (i.e. his custom, habit, or practice).
    Report as inappropriate

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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Cast & crew

Director: Tim Burton

Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Laura Michelle Kelly, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener full cast

Rated: R

Duration: 117 mins

US Release: Dec 21 2007

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