Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

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Summary:
Wronged by a London judge who wanted his beautiful wife for his own, Benjamin Barker is wrongfully sentenced to life in prison. 15 years later, he comes back to exact revenge. This time, his name is Sweeney Todd, and he's using his silver barber haircutting products to give the closest shave that his clients will ever get.

Review:
I have to admit to those out there that I am a fan of musicals. That helps me enjoy this more than perhaps the average moviegoer who doesn't know what they're getting themself into. I also love Johnny Depp. I wish I was a hot, hot woman so that I could marry him and be with him forever. Yes, it's scary, I know. Then there's the directorial workings and vision of Tim Burton. This is where my line of appreciation gets a little muddy. He's done some AWESOME stuff in the past, but lately he's kind of strayed from my high bar of respect. Another thing that gets to me is I can only handle so much "goth" and pale skin. He goes all out with this one, making everyone paler than death, complete with black hair with a silver-streak wig for Depp.
Overall, the movie looks pretty good, even with the CGI backdrops it looks alright. In fact, in those movie's case it works. Instead of trying to pass off as reality, it's going for more of a stage-like, somewhat imaginary setting. Every frame oozes with Burton's blacks and whites and total "lookit-me, I'm a goth artist!"

The movie really shines not with Depp, and this is a true rarity. Part of the awesomeness of Depp is that no matter what movie he's in, he kicks mucho ass. Most of the time, even when the movie isn't good, he's top-notch. This says a lot for him as an actor, as well as being smart in his movie choices. He was good in this as well, with a passable singing voice. I found myself being mesmerized by some of the supporting cast, and Mr. Todd himself was actually being overshadowed by some fantastic vocals. Jayne Wisener has a voice that lilts and commands as much as Emmy Rossum's did in Phantom of the Opera. She looks like a slightly hotter version of Kirsten Dunst, like how Dunst might be hot if only some of her hideous features were transformed into a more acceptable molding. Can't say she's pretty. Pretty STRANGE looking, but damn that girl can sing!
Next on the list is the young boy Ed Sanders, who really shines in the final 20 minutes of this movie. My God, that is some spectacular casting! He was REMARKABLE! I loved his rendition of "Not While I'm Around". Not to be foreshadowed was the scary looking man-boy with effeminate features, Jamie Campbell Bower. I dug his leitmotif "Johaaaaaanaaa, I feeeeeeeeellll youuuuu". Yeah, I can go for it. I just get scared when he's in closeup! Then, there's the ever rock-solid performance by Alan Rickman. I love the guy. This movie's cast is top-tier stuff!

What else do I have to say about Sweeney Todd? Great music, fantastic vocals and a nice dreary looking Burton-esque London has all the fixin's for some awesome musical movie watching. My complaints are that it is just a tad too dark with the lighting. Also, the musical itself never felt to me to have enough going to warrant an entire musical. It's all about Todd wanting revenge on the man who wronged him, yes. Then there are some complications that ensue which require the lengthening of the story. That's fine also. But the love stories never worked well for me. I don't get how Todd so easily accepts the admiration of Mrs. Lovett, and the flighty and ridiculous love story between Anthony and Johanna was forced and too silly for me to take seriously. Just by a look alone they know and love each other. Sure, ok, whatever. I liked it when Johanna says something like, "So now we're to be together and live according to our dreams?" Which is almost as if they're telling the audience "Yes, this is stupid childhood romance that is never fully thought out." But then she buys into that dream just as easily as any naive young child would.
Also, I don't get how Judge Turpin can keep Johanna stuck in a room for so long and thus get away with pedophile-like philandering. The idea of his sexual attraction to such a young child is disturbing, but it's not delved into that deeply. The main reason for his holding her up for all those years is more about setting up the events for the final act as well as giving a reason for two young lovers to be in the musical.
Todd's murderous ways and Mrs. Lovett's pie making shenanigans also didn't work too well for me. Once again, it's like the story didn't have enough to warrant the length of a musical, so more subplots were added to pad the run time and musical list. I do like the conclusion. There is a kind of poetry to it all, in a Shakespearian kind of way.

Take what I say with the knowledge of me being a lover of musicals. I wouldn't recommend this to those that have no desire to listen to two hours of singing. But if you're ready for that, and you are into Tim Burton and twisted storytelling, then this could be an enjoyable musical endeavor for the big screen.

GRADE: B

Reviewed: 12/28/07