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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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- Liam said...
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Posted on Feb 15 2008 19:14
This film was totally amazing. It incorporates both classic Tim Burton with a touch of something new. And the combination went off like fireworks. In other words, beautiful and brilliant.
A must see. - Report as inappropriate
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- Seany Darko said...
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Posted on Feb 14 2008 02:38
Wait a minute... How can you honestly judge a full film if you only seen half of it?
I thought the film fantastic. The vocals, visuals and performances were top notch and I can honestly say it's among my 30 greatest and I do tend to have high standards.
It's a must see for any Depp/ Burton fans and will be added to my collection as soon as it's released on DVD.
Arriva derche, Sean - Report as inappropriate
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- Jack and Sam Know All said...
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Posted on Feb 13 2008 01:22
A new an interesting move for Mr.Burton, remember it was a stage play before hand and the theatrical element is key to the film's drive so if you don't like musicals then no don't see this movie. Again drenched with Gothic touches and German Expressionism. H B Carter was fantastic i thought and the music was different to previous Burton films due to the absence of Elfman. I did like the film, a new frontier for Depp as a singer.
Again Burton is more concerned about the look of the film (it is visually stunning) rqather than the narrative. - Report as inappropriate
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- ALAN YOU ARE SSOO WRONG!! said...
- Posted on Feb 11 2008 16:11 Alan are you an old man cause that film is sooo gd i went 2 lundun dungeons ages ago and learend bout sweeny todd but 2 see it in the film it roks DONT LISSEN 2 ALAN WATCH IT!!!
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- charlotte said...
- Posted on Feb 11 2008 11:10 As a Johnny Depp fan i think sweeny todd is an excellent character for him! The film had cathy and well-sung songs and i would be more then happy to watch it again. You can tell that this film is a burton film because of the dark and slightly scary scenes and lighting. im suprised that some people said they thought it was disapointing and left half way through! I thought it was a excellent movie but when it comes on dvd i would not advice you to let you young children watch it! Some scencs are very bloody but i dont think it look very real! johnny depp has proved himself an excellent actor yet again.
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- charlie kemp said...
- Posted on Feb 11 2008 11:05 this film was an excellent film. i can believe people were saying that they left at half time! it was excellent! the bloody scenes where class and the singing was great! as a johnny depp fan i think he did an excelletn job of being the part of sweeny todd! i will definatly being seeing this film again because its the best of film i have seen in my life!!!
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- Chelsea said...
- Posted on Feb 09 2008 16:06 This Film Is Apsolutaly Fantasicaly Awsome ! The Use Of Blood Is Amasing I Cant Belive That Some People Would Be Ignorent Enough To Leave Half Way Though The Film. This Is A Must See For Depp Fans All The Actors And Actresses In It Were Awsome. A Big CONGRATULATIONS To John Christipher Depp II (Johnny Depp) Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs.Lovett) Ed Sanders (Tobias 'Toby' Ragg) Alan Rickman (Judge Turpin) It Was A Awsome Film The Best I've Seen All My Days. As Mr Todd Would Say Goodbye My Faithful Friends.
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- Nita said...
- Posted on Feb 09 2008 15:27 This film was rubbish wud not advise any1 to go and see it!!
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- martinez said...
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Posted on Feb 09 2008 14:17
This film is rubbish.The history and the songs poor.I left at half moovie.And so many others.
Really disappointed. - Report as inappropriate
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- Cat said...
- Posted on Feb 08 2008 19:52 I loved this film, ive got the soundtrack now and can't wait till its released on dvd, Johnny Depp was fantastic as Sweeney Todd I don't think they could of picked a better actor for the part, his voice fitted the role oversinging would have ruined it, Helena was also fantastic and despite critics knocking her singing I think she was wonderful and looked and acted perfectly she reminded me of a gothic Nancy. :) Tim Burton as always showing the world how to make a movie, so all in all this film is in my top faves list.
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- Alan said...
- Posted on Feb 08 2008 19:44 went with my wife. both sadly disappointed with gratuitous violence. did not enjoy the musical aspect either. save your money.
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- rosita said...
- Posted on Feb 07 2008 14:30 My friend and I thouroughly enjoyed this film. Johnny Depp is superb and always changes his personalilty to suit the part he is playing. I always follow his films. Helena BC was also very good and always manages to appear "over the top" disgusting and convincing. Not like some of the precious actresses of today.
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- Gabby said...
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Posted on Feb 07 2008 08:31
As a Musical, Sweeney Todd has never interested me and gore-fests do not turn me on. But I went to see this out of interest because the combination of Depp, Burton and Todd was interesting to say the least and I didn't want to go back to my cold flat at that moment.
I am aware that musicals are not to everyones taste but I have enthusiastically recommended this film to my friends and family and will go and see it again. The use of colour is clever, in the happy scenes, the seaside scene is just so funny! ST and Mrs Lovetts matching hair and dark apparel reiterate their diabolical partnership. The cast are actors, not singers but for me that meant the words of the songs were acted and given more meaning and the wit of the lyrics were more noticeable.
The film was about treachery love despair and in the case of Todd, total descent into obsessive madness. Mrs Lovett came across as a sad soul, full of unrequited love with an amoral streak when trying to get her happy ending. The throat slitting is repetitive but shows so clearly Todds total obsession with his revenge, when he has to actually shave a man because his wife and child are in the room is funny too, Todd is almost sulky in having to do it when blood is all he wants!
It was poetic and sad and the image at the end was sad but beautiful too, he had found his peace.
Wonderful story telling by Burton. - Report as inappropriate
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- harri said...
- Posted on Feb 06 2008 17:10 was disappointed as it wasn't as good as i had expected. so much more could have been done and although it seemed to go on forever with very little story line, the cast did a great job.
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- Bex said...
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Posted on Feb 05 2008 20:50
okaii...whoeva said it was crap i guess thats your opinion and i respect that but were you standing outside the cinema whislt the film was showing?! because the film was B LO O D Y B R I L L I A N T!!! Im seeing it again on friday!! CANT WAIT!! xD
xxx - Report as inappropriate
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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