Writing a review for Sweeney Todd - the Demon Barber of Fleet Street could be summed up in a simple formula and that is: bloody + musical = wonderful. Directed by Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd is a barber starred by Johnny Depp who lost his family to the corrupt Judge Turpin after he was sentenced for 15 years exile for a he didn’t commit.
After his exile, Sweeney Todd comes back to London with a vengeance desiring to kill the judge but ended up slitting the throats of anyone he desires using a straight blade which he uses for shaving. As if that wasn’t gruesome enough, his lover / friend Mrs. Lovett covers for Sweeney’s crimes by butchering the murdered and baking them into meat pies selling them to unsuspecting customers and oh how they loved her meat pies.
Set the story aside and you’ll still love the movie as it is also a musical. The lyrics and the music are all so wonderful that I heard myself humming inside the movie house. Only a few phrases were said without music. It’s not the “Sound of Music” type of music but something sounding eerie, sad, funny and lovely.
What about the characters???
- Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd once again did a great performance. Didn’t know he could sing and act that well.
- Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin made a great performance but one thing I noticed which I did like was Judge Turpin’s accent and the emphasis of words. He was so Professor Snape.
- Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett was so psychotic you’ll love her in the movie plus empathize with her feelings for Sweeney
- Timothy Spall as Beadle Bamford looks almost identical to his Harry Potter character Peter Pettigrew. He was so able to portray that image of being a loyal henchman to Judge Turpin yet cannot be trusted by the rest of the world.
The rest of the cast also did well and just like Corpse Bride, this one is definitely another Tim Burton gory but lovely legacy. Watch it, read it, you’ll definitely love it.
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