Sunday, March 2, 2008

Sweeney Todd – Bloody Good (4 Stars)

This is the gruesome and violent depiction of the 19th century legend Sweeney Todd, adopting its screenplay from the Broadway musical. If you enjoy watching blood spray from people’s throats, this is the film for you. Otherwise, seek out a tamer musical.

The Broadway tunes give you the sense of the man eats man class battle in London, which is a strong theme throughout the film, both figuratively and literally.

The backdrops immerse you in the 19th century London fog atmosphere, with shots containing heavily polluting factories, depicting a world where London was essentially industrially eating itself. Frankly the whole city looks a bit like the world’s sewer in this film.

Todd himself is particularly well-portrayed in this production by Johnny Depp, who seems to have adopted a flawless Cockney British accent for the role, (though it did remind me a little of his Jack Sparrow character from Pirates.) Helen Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen both also give very good, memorable performances. The three younger performers, though they are quite new, also fare well in this film, considering the high bar set by the other veteran performers. Oh yeah, and Timothy Spall’s character gave me the creeps, so good on him too.

I give this film four stars – It’s worth going out of your way to see once, though it’s not necessarily life-changing, nor is it by any mean’s Burton’s best film.

I think Tim Burton should remake the Batboy Musical. I just thought I’d throw that in there.

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