Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Review by Loc
What makes a good musical? For most people, that’s an oxymoron. Good and musical don’t go together. Ah, but these people probably like musicals more than they let on. Maybe Grease Lightning here, or Phantom there, but there’s sure to be a sprinkle somewhere. However, capturing an audience for a full three hours, including intermission, can be a daunting proposition. Then, try translating a musical into a two hour movie with no intermission, and you can understand why Hollywood has been mostly averse to the genre. Yet, recent hits have quelled some anxiousness, with successes like Chicago and Hairspray proving singing can mean dollar signs. Ah, but what about Sweeney Todd, a musical of the darkest and most satirical proportions? Quick hit: a magnificent production.
With Tim Burton films, you know you’ll be getting dark, sometimes quirky, definitely off-center flicks. Examples include Beetle Juice, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Big Fish, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Visually, every Burton film looks amazing, a cross between morbid-fantastical and live-technicolor-animation.
However, most of his films also lacks a distinct storytelling component. Sure, every plot is serviceable and every story is relatively engaging, but there’s a lack of depth that would push the film to greatness. Luckily for us, Sweeney Todd comes close to bridging that elusive gap and offers a well rounded thriller/gore/satire musical almost unexpectedly.
The story is a simple tale of revenge. Sweeney Todd was once a humble barber with a beautiful wife and newborn child. The local, powerful judge coveted Todd’s wife, and thus, framed Todd and sent him to the penal colonies of Australia. Cut to fifteen years later, Todd returns with this new persona, hoping to find some semblance of the family he was forced to leave behind. Unfortunately, he discovers his wife had poisoned herself and his daughter is now the ward of the lecherous judge. Cue the madness, and off to the revenge killings we go. Todd works in concert with Ms. Lovett, who runs the pie shop below his barbershop. What to do with the dead bodies? Why, grind them up and cook them of course!
Yet, don’t be alarmed or outraged. For this tale of revenge is presented with great satirical wit and wink-wink zealousness. One of the biggest reasons that Sweeney Todd is a successful presentation is due to the complete over-the-top, slap-in-the-face attitude it takes. From juxtaposing an amusingly upbeat score next to grisly homicides, the musical presents a great subtext: yes, musicals can be ridiculous, take a look at this!
Beyond the satire, the biggest question will be: how was the singing? With stars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter voicing their own numbers, the question is definitely legitimate. Luckily, both do a serviceable job of belting out the tunes. Carter’s voice is decent, and her months spent with a singing coach do pay off. Depp’s voice could be referred to as his talking-voice-in-tune. It’s one of those voices that doesn’t really sing, so much as carries a tune through the lines of a song. Yet, it works, and no one’s performance is distracting in the scheme of the movie, which is a very good thing.
The visuals are great and nothing less would be expected with Burton. Washing the film in glum, monotone gray hues produced a very nice, drab mood. The gore is graphic without being realistic. This is vintage Burton, where sliced necks create a visual dance of spraying blood. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely not along the lines of any recent gore flick.
Overall, this was a very good film. The musical aspect isn’t overwhelming and it doesn’t detract in any way. In fact, having the typical, upbeat and fantastic score helped create the satirical feel even more. The acting was very good and Johnny Depp continues to stake his claim as the most off-beat, popular actor of this generation. Lastly, Burton is able to present a story with a compelling depth that has escaped so many of his previous films. Out of 100 slashes to the throat, Sweeney Todd exacts a satisfying revenge with 78 slices. Enjoy the festival of blood.
