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Bookmark this pageSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Director: Tim Burton
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 London
A great deal bloodier than most musicals, Tim Burton’s beautifully crafted take on Stephen Sondheim’s stage show still feels like a kids’ film that no littl’uns will see, such is the sweep of his story, his caricaturing, and his balletic approach to killing.
But human behaviour isn’t Burton’s strong point, so one doesn’t expect him to gain a strong grip on the psyche of Benjamin Barker – now Mr S Todd (Johnny Depp, with a skunk’s streak in his locks) – the barber who’s back in dank Victorian London and looking for revenge on crooked Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman, resuscitating his turn in ‘Perfume…’) after enduring an unjust stint in a penal colony and losing his wife and daughter. This forlorn figure is now entering a pact with local pie-maker Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter, fresh from the Queen Vic) that sees trade blossom for both – and offers Todd a busman’s outlet for his anger…
There’s something of the Hulk to this Todd (a monster with a heart and a troubled past), but there’s a heavy dose of Fred West, too. Depp is too young and too beautiful – but he claws back some romance for his anti-hero and proves a capable singer. It’s the usual Burtonisms that impress: the sets, the costumes, a masterly embrace of the sound-stage (retaining the theatricality of Sondheim’s original).
There’s a gulf between the colourful leads and the bland supporting roles, and Burton struggles to avoid a flat middle section that contrasts with the atmospherics of his opening and the melodrama of his finale – but mostly this is grand-scale studio-work at its most beguiling.
Author: Dave Calhoun
Time Out London Time Out London: Issue 1953 Jan 23-29
User reviews of this film
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- Jesse said said...
- Posted on Jul 20 2008 20:27 Amei a atuação de Johnny,ele foi muito bem escolhido para o papel.Adoro todos seu filmes,já acompanhei todos seus trabalhos,e digo que ele esta de parabéns^^
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- Lozzz said...
- Posted on Jun 02 2008 11:31 Really great love Johnny && Helena, Thwe director is brillant
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- usman khawaja said...
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Posted on Apr 21 2008 12:56
an exhilirating movie musical as can be -this is as good a modern adaptation of a stage play as the come -.depp is good but helena is superb and tim burton keeps the music low key so the acting can shine through ,the dark macabre mood of the victorian streets which witness this riotous romp ,the beach frolics are dazzling with depp in the striped swimsuit and the pier was a delight to behold in the celestial english summer light ,the pies baked out of the barbers victims are just as delicious, though i dont have any appetite for the judge turpin, yet i will definitely go for seconds to this great darkly gory meat pie shop, its enough to turn a canine into a vegetarian ,dare if you enter but the dark makeup and the looming shadows beckon anyone who loves cinema ,well done mr burton and how about converting some more west end shows primarily joseph and the technicolor dreamcoat and lady in white, this is a worthy successor to CHICAGO as can be-of a stage musical to cinema .
helena finally is given enough meat to literally sing and sink her sharp acting fangs into and she shines like a gem,the story becomes more then a revenge caper as the greed of the barbers lust for blood starts exceeding logic, and reason is abandoned for a blood orgy .the impact of negativity on human psyche is borne out from self -meted justice gone wrong and it is an observation with a conclusion too. .
it is a brilliant documentary on the idea of wrong ,punishment and justice and it does full justice to all its themes ,the violence can be seen as satire and it is definitely not titillting ,neither terrorising as the barber butchers his daft clients to send them straight into a cannibalistic meat pie machine .
the episode with the italian magician that sparks the whole blood orgy is an absolute stroke of genius as is the grand chiding finale .
but what makes this a masterpiece is the brooding victorian degeneracy ,the london that rants in evil ,with darkshadows and luminous posh interiors ,nobility rotten to the core devoid of any morality ,and love flourishing in the midst of filth, the sewers running with human gore and yet the flowers decorating the nursery of a cherub ,it is a tribute to paternal love as much as an admonishing for the evil and wicked ,
tim burton has exceeded himself and makes his previous efforts like corpse bride look shallow,this is a dark,mellow yet mature masterwork ,with baroque overtones which almost composes every sequence as a handpainted work of art and renders itself a true masterwork in the ultimate count .
johnny depp ,helena and burton nedd a round of standing applause .
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- Katy said...
- Posted on Mar 27 2008 16:53 Fantastic! I loved this film! Definitely my fave of the moment! Acting and siging was superb, especially considering they aren't singers!! A masterpiece full of my fave cast and crew!!!!
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- Apple said...
- Posted on Mar 20 2008 20:52 I'd never loved musical movies but this film totally changed my point of view! From the background of the movie, design of the characters and the emotion that played by each character. I was drawn into the deep, dark revenge from Depp's performance.
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- Ashley said...
- Posted on Mar 14 2008 13:17 omg, ok, im only 11, but i totally wish i could see this! Music, love it. and since im a broadway fan, this thriller is a good one. I wish i could know what happens!
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- Ferrero Rachelle said...
- Posted on Feb 27 2008 15:51 Wasn't impressed with this film. Thought the singing was shocking considering it's a musical! The acting was worthy of a mention though with good performances from Depp and Bonham Carter. Could appreciate what the producers/directors were trying to achieve but overall it didn't quite hit the spot I'm afraid!
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- chris said...
- Posted on Feb 22 2008 22:25 throat cuttingly great!!!!
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- Jess said...
- Posted on Feb 22 2008 08:40 I was very disappointed. All the ingredients were there for a brilliant film: great director and actors, brilliant costumes and sets, gripping story but it failed to mix properly. I was actually hoping it would hurry up and finish.
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- dissapointed 15year old said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2008 15:28 What could be so bad that this film is made into an 18? Why can't it be an 15?!?!?!
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- Ashley said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2008 11:29 This was one of the best films i have seen in a while.The acting and singing was phenomenal. A definate must see, and i too agree that it shouldnt be an 18!
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- Lucy said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2008 10:49 AMAZING. Really good but it shouldn't be an 18.. love the songs too.
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- Disappointed said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2008 08:06 How very sad, Depp & Bonham-Carter should have made this an absolute blast, I ended by feeling sorry for them, Burton's film lacks drive and pace, utterly boring, maybe he should leave the musicals to people who actually like them, it felt more like punishment than entertainment - couldn't wait for it to finish - so I left early.
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- Bali said...
- Posted on Feb 18 2008 11:40 really want to see but is an18 :( im well sadd.....
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- demonofsocks said...
- Posted on Feb 17 2008 18:26 IT ROCKED but it should not be a 18, 15 tops!
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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
Duration: 117 mins
US Release: Dec 21 2007
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