Film review: Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

[my_daroga]

As one of those people who knows all the words to Sondheim’s 1979 musical, I was certain to hate the movie, even as I secretly hoped for the opposite. I had heard clips of Johnny Depp singing and it had incensed me, and I threw myself into repeated listens to the Len Cariou original cast recording. “Why are they compromising on voice?” I asked anyone who would listen. “It’s a musical!”

Because, as I found out last night, the mechanics of Depp’s vocal cords make no difference when a movie is this beautiful. I hardly noticed the little deficiencies of his and Helena Bonham Carter’s instruments in the thrill of seeing a movie of a musical I loved and loving it, too.

Burton’s London is a comic book inhabited by his personal avatars (Carter and Depp) looking strangely attractive despite their deathly pallor and moral decrepitude. For those who don’t know, Sweeney Todd concerns the return and revenge of a mild-mannered barber turned to bloodthirstiness by the machinations of a lustful judge, who sent him away on a trumped-up charge to gain access to Todd’s wife. He now holds Todd’s daughter, Johanna, in his house, and may have designs on her as well. Todd’s neighbor, Mrs. Lovett (Carter), is an unsuccessful meat pie seller who remembers Todd and aligns herself with him in a scheme to kill the judge and revitalize her pie shop. Oh, and they sing.

For those who fear the musical part, I should inform you that the music and lyrics are significantly darker than anything you’ve seen on screen. It’s not Mary Poppins up here. One song cut from the film includes the line “Lift your razor high, Sweeney/Hear it singing, ‘Yes!’/Sink it in the rosy skin/Of righteousness,” and Burton doesn’t shy from demonstrating what happens when you do so. Gallons of red blood suffuse the dim landscape of blacks, whites and blues. The design rides a fine line between realism and Burton’s characteristic style—very successfully, in my opinion. The supporting cast is excellent, young Johanna resembling a blonde Christina Ricci and Alan Rickman deliciously lecherous as Judge Turpin. Sacha Baron Cohen as Pirelli the rival barber is outrageously perfect as well.

What works about Sweeney Todd despite my prior reservations is that the actors on screen are arresting, no matter how they sound. The music alone could support worse, and the experience of watching Depp mitigates my problems with his singing. I wouldn’t, couldn’t listen to this soundtrack on its own. But in the course of the film I hardly noticed. Likewise the numerous cut songs, some of them among my favorites—I will allow it in the interest of finally seeing a good movie made of a musical I like. And this is a good movie, surprisingly so in my opinion. And I think that if musical geeks like me can get around our vocal dubiousness, non-musical fans might be able to get over their resistance to people singing their plans to one another. It won’t be all things to all people, but it’s an amazing accomplishment and I, for one, am happy to have been proven wrong.

Comments

[phantoms-siren.livejournal.com]

sssssh Dave doesn't know its a musical, and he wont go if he finds out...

[my_daroga]

Then don't let him read this?

I think not advertising it as a musical is a mistake. Then again, people like Dave might actually like it, and that would keep them again. It's kind of no-win.

[phantoms-siren.livejournal.com]

Yeah Dave says he hates musicals but he likes The Producers and Once More With Feeling so he might like this, but only if he doesn't find out first.

[my_daroga]

Ah. Well, I suspect he'll like it, then.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I am so relieved to hear that you liked this. Sweeny Todd is one of my 5 top musicals and I've already seen it three times, twice on stage (once with the original cast. - fantastic).

And before you ask, my other favs are: Kiss Me Kate, She Loves Me, Guys and Dolls and currently holding the swing position, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

[my_daroga]

So wait--I'm not sure if you said here that you've seen the movie. We can discuss!

Sondheim is one of the only people who can make me cry with music. Sweeney's second-act "Johanna" does it every time. Also bits of Into the Woods.

I can't believe you saw the original cast. I'm in love with Len Cariou's performance. It's absolutely in the top tier for me of vocal performances ever.

I think I need to do a theater-geek film!Sweeney post.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the movie yet. I hope to. I've seen OC, I've seen it at City Opera and I also saw the PBS filmed version. I would have loved to see the recent stage version with Patti Lupone, but alas, not to be. Johanna is a gorgeous song, but not easy to sing.

I saw pretty much the OC of "Into the Woods" also. Bernadette Peters was amazing.

Actually "Merrily We Roll Along" is my favorite Sondheim score (although the book is problematic). The song "Not a Day Goes By" always makes me cry (it triggers some very personal trauma for me.)

[my_daroga]

I'm so jealous! Except, you know, I was 1 year old when the first run ended. So I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it much.

There's an audition for "Into the Woods" locally soon... am hoping I'll get to try out, though a July run will hinder my summer plans.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

That would be so awesome if you were in that play! I really love how it deals with parents and children.

[chantphantom.livejournal.com]

Jonny Depp singing? Ye-Gods! I'm glad the movie actually worked though. The Gerrik and Rent were so disappointing (actually I haven't heard Rent yet but I've heard bad things about it) that, like you, I was beginning to fear that a good movie-musical was too much to hope for.

[my_daroga]

I hated hated hated both of those you mention. And am not a fan of Chicago. So I feel that my appreciation of Sweeney has some weight.

[chantphantom.livejournal.com]

Actually the Gerik's grown on me since I first saw it. I still though don't find that it packs anywhere near the power of the stage-show, especially with, oh let's say, John Cudia as the Phantom?

[my_daroga]

I understand what other people see in it, sort of, but I have never wavered in my hatred. *sigh*

[meganphntmgrl.livejournal.com]

I just wish that this wasn't the only time I have ever felt vaguely attracted to Alan Rickman. Why did that have to happen with THIS character?

[my_daroga]

Hmmm...

Bring on the RAPE!

Is this all you have to say?

[meganphntmgrl.livejournal.com]

Sorry. Head wasn't working well that day.

No; I really liked it. My nightmares have unfortunately been full of splashing blood ever since, though.

I went to see it with my stepmom- she introduced me to it a while back, and we had a long discussion on the way home. I though Jamie Campbell Bower was adorable. FREAKING ADORABLE.

Put him with Joan Fontaine circa Rebecca, and JESUS GOD, that would be a cute couple.

[my_daroga]

What an odd thought. Hmm.

I had some friends who dreamed about it too; mostly I'm just overjoyed to *like* it, you know?

Thanks for the review.........

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

I'm a looong time ST fan (way before Phantom) and really enjoyed the CD. I hope to like the movie as well:)

Re: Thanks for the review.........

[my_daroga]

Yes--let me know what you think!

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

I just loved it, despite my utmost curmudgeonly ill will. A gorgeous thing all around, and Depp a beautiful maelstrom of rage-- wow.

[my_daroga]

I'm so glad! I was a little leery of being a fan--you know, if all the die-hards were against me--but it seems like lots of us loved it.

Maybe I'm even more happy about liking it than I am about the film itself!

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

My ill-will came from being in general a non-fan of musicals (sorry): though Sweeney has always been one that I've liked. (Well, hey, it's filthy and perverse-- what's not to like?)

I definitely understand about feeling relieved!

[my_daroga]

My musical fandom currently begins and ends with Sondheim; so no apology necessary.

POTO obsession notwithstanding--the music intrigued me at 13, but I got over it.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

Although I've admired Johnny Depp for a long time, he really surprised me here. That can't have been an easy role to sustain; never mind the singing.

I did miss Angela Lansbury though, bless her. :-D

[my_daroga]

Oh, I did too! She's so great in that role. Perfect. I didn't mind HBC too much. But Angela was gold.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I thought Depp's singing was well-suited to the part (although I am not vested in the musical). But I like imperfect voices in musicals, providing the acting's there.

What threw me was how often he lapsed into the Jack Sparrow accent. That was disorienting and kind of annoying, and I wish there'd been more differentiation between the accents.

[my_daroga]

I really wish he'd used another accent. There's nothing saying Sweeney has to be so cockney-ish or whatever. It makes him too recognizable as Sparrow.

As to the voice, I'm not saying Sweeney should sound "pretty." But I like a Sweeney who can belt just a little. For me, Len Cariou is amazing; he's far from pretty, but despite his gruffness his pitch and technique are spot-on. He gives me chills.

Depp was fine, for the more intimate confines of the film as opposed to the stage. But he "cheated" quite a few lines he couldn't hit, and his emotive range was limited by his vocal ability.