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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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- lizzie said...
- Posted on Feb 01 2008 14:06 wow. fantastic. this isn't a film for you Hollywood trash film-lovers (a lot of whom can't spell it seems). The songs are beautiful, Depp and HBC are fab, with some great new talent which is great to see. Definitely one of my favourites- I was pleasantly surprised. The killing was very balletic, the London scenes picturesque- showing this miserable yet wonderful city at it's very best. I reccommend it to anyone who enjoys real fine cinema.
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- A Sad Man said...
- Posted on Jan 31 2008 15:12 I did love this film but was slightly dissapointed with the songs, it was very andrew lloyd webber- all the songs were the same songs with different words. This was made all depressing by the fact that its a steven sondheim musical whom i am a huge fan of. nevertheless the performances are excellent the singing is spot on and Johnny Depp could still convert me if he'd just ask me out.
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- kitty said...
- Posted on Jan 31 2008 14:01 Well, well what to say, I have never been so disappointed in a film, Depp and Carter are admittedly at their usual best. Sadly the sets are too dark, songs dull and repetative, and absolutely no conclusion to to out come of of surviving players. I thank Tim Burton for having the good sense to cut the original score by an hour,
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- Nicky said...
- Posted on Jan 31 2008 13:50 Fantastic film. Depp and HBC are superb. Definately recommend.
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- Andy, Islington said...
- Posted on Jan 31 2008 11:13 Great tip - around 3.00 get yourself to Waterloo Bridge and start Time Out's Sweeney Todd audio tour. It'll finish at dusk and you can marvel at the fantastic twilit surroundings, then go and see the movie and marvel at the opening scene. After that thrill,sit back and enjoy two hours of great escapist fun. It's a masterpiece, probably one of the most original conceptions I've ever seen on the big screen.
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- Wendy said...
- Posted on Jan 30 2008 13:56 I went to see this at the weekend and thought it was brilliant. I love musicals and although it was a bit strange to watch a musical that was interspersed with such voilent scenes, I enjoyed it all the way through.(even when I had to close my eyes at the throat slitting bits!). Johnny Depp does sound like David Bowie in his early days, but so what? Depp, Rickman and the young sailor were all lovely to look at. Nobody moved from their seats for the whole film so that should say alot about the movie, as lately nobody can seem to go more than half an hour into a film before going out for a cig break. Would definitely watch it again and will buy the DVD.
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- bonita wilson said...
- Posted on Jan 29 2008 18:58 i am 17 and i really want to see st and its a 18 movie is it really that sceary
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- Kathryn said...
- Posted on Jan 29 2008 18:01 im going to see this film for the third time on thursday and i absolutely love it, the singing is great and it has its funny moment it is defo a must see film!!!!!!!!
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- sam said...
- Posted on Jan 29 2008 12:38 i went to see the film on sunday. it was fab. i loved the whole of the film and i could watch it over and over again
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- svvk said...
- Posted on Jan 28 2008 19:10 I have to confess, I am one to read reviews before going to watch a movie. As the ultimate Johnny Depp fan, I don`t care what ya`ll say, Johnny never fails to deliver. I will be watching ST and I`m going to love it!!
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- Shi Salapari said...
- Posted on Jan 28 2008 14:19 Sweeney Todd is an excellent movie. It's undeniably amazing how Tim Burton was able to mix drama, comedy and romance in one great bloody musical movie. Johnny Depp's character was well portrayed with such a powerful casting. Furthermore, Mr. T, together with Mrs. Lovetts, created a satisfying Broadway musical show. Their voices are fair enough to hold on the persona of the movie. Indeed, I will certainly never forget Mr. Todd’s one and only friend, (haha!) that reminds me of his killings; the main ingredient to produce a man-made delicious meat pie. It was perfect.
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- neil said...
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Posted on Jan 28 2008 13:36
Yet again Tim Burton disappoints. After the early triumphs of 'Batman', 'Ed Wood' and 'Edward Scissorhands' he has been distinctly hit and miss. This is more miss than hit.
Depp, as ever, is a hugely watchable screen presence, but, as ever, his performance lacks any real depth. His accent and singing voice owe everything to Dick Van Dyke. Bonham Carter gives one of her two performances. In this case 'mad, eccentric' as oppposed to 'posh totty'. Alan Rickman does his patented 'charismatic villain' and Timothy Spall does his patented 'sleazy creep'.
The songs are, for the main tuneless. (Yes I know Sondheim's supposed to be a genius but he averages one memorable melody per musical. See if you can spot it in this. Clue - it's not sung by Depp or Bonham Carter).
The film looks deliberately cartoon like, reminded one of the hideous early CGI of Titanic. This extends to the frequently shed technicolour blood. Why this is an 18 is anybody's guess - the blood is blatantly not meant to look real.
Overall it's watchable. Just. - Report as inappropriate
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- Robbie said...
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Posted on Jan 28 2008 12:45
im taking my girlfriend tonight and judging by some comments its sounds bad.
oh well ill find out for myself and post a comment later this week - Report as inappropriate
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- Sarah Faye said...
- Posted on Jan 28 2008 11:20 I love the ladies in this film. They are extremely beautiful especially the one who smokes likes a chimney! I have seen the film over 5 times now I cannot get enough! Best film I have ever seen, and that is an achievement as I have over 1000 in my lounge cupboard and spend most weekends watching them. Some may know this as a video library!!
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- Dark and Demented said...
- Posted on Jan 28 2008 09:42 AMAZING! A masterpiece performance! By the first scene you could obviously tell that it was a Tim Burton production. Amazing combination of humour, drama and ofcourse gore. It was beautifuly played from beginning till end! Go and see it, i promise you wont be dissapointed!!!!
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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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