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Director: Tim Burton
Release Date: December 21, 2007
Rating: R for graphic bloody violence which is like saying the New England Patriots are rated "good" for winning 16 regular season games
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 There's nothing more pleasant for the Christmas season than a throat-slashin' film that you can sing along with.
I'm a little ashamed to admit that I had never heard of Sweeney Todd before seeing this film and I was completely clueless about the musical aspect of the movie. Apparently, if I had one bit of a college education, I'd know that the story of Sweeney Todd had been sung since the 1800's.
But I have learned my lesson and it was taught by Tim Burton. I know it was taught by Burton, because everyone of his films has the same gothic, tongue-in-cheek feel. From Beetlejuice to Batman Returns to the Nightmare Before Christmas, you can always tell when you're watching a Tim Burton piece. The thing that sets this film apart from the rest would be the 2 dozen slashed throats.
Yes, I said 2 dozen. That's not an exact total, but I lost count after number 15.
As for the film itself, it's enjoyable. I'm not the biggest fan of musicals, but this one was definitely bearable. Some of the songs are a little draining, but others are funny and entertaining. The mood is set right off the bat with Johnny Depp singing "No Place Like London".
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
and it's filled with people who are filled with shit!
And the vermin of the world inhabit it!
That's quality stuff and Depp delivers it with passion that makes you believe it. When you hear Sweeney Todd's story, there's no denying it.
When a crooked judge gets the hots for Benjamin Barker's wife, he comes up with a plan to falsely imprison Barker and woo the wife. 15 years later, Barker returns having reinvented himself as Sweeney Todd to seek his revenge. And let's not forget - Sweeney Todd is a kick-ass barber!
Depp plays the role beautifully, but when does he not? He's got the look and tone in his voice of a man who has just been screwed for 15 years. He's definitely nutty while he sings to his blades, but he's determined to have his revenge.
Other notable roles come from Helena Bonham Carter who makes the worst meat pies in London, Alan Rickman playing the crooked judge like he's played every other crooked role in his career, and Timothy Spall who is that fat, annoying rat guy from Harry Potter. There's even a cameo by Sacha Baron Cohen playing an exaggerated Italian barber which was a pleasant surprise.
The ending is tragically satisfying. I definitely didn't expect it to be as gruesome as it was, but it all seemed fitting for the characters involved.
Had the movie not been a musical or least cut out some of the singing, I'd probably rank it around 4 out of 5 stars. But because there's singing just for the sake of singing, the movie gets 3 out of 5. While some of the songs are entertaining, others just drag on and on.
I'd recommend Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to anyone who enjoys Tim Burton's other work and can stomach some good ol' fashion throat-slashin'... and squirting... and spraying.
Related links
Official Sweeney Todd Website
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