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"Sweeney Todd" is Burton's Gothic Musical Masterpiece Print E-mail
Written by BARRY BRECHEISEN   
Wednesday, 02 April 2008
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a hell of a title and one hell of a dark musical. Visionary director Tim Burton has been waiting almost his whole life to bring the Stephen Sondheim's Broadway masterpiece to the big screen and pulls it off magnificently.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Entertainment
Art
Special Features

Directed by Tim Burton
Written by Stephen Sondheim, Hugh Wheeler, Christopher Bond and screenplay by John Logan
Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Laura Michelle Kelly and Jayne Wisener
Rated R

Through the years, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton have worked together to make some wonderful and unique films. Everything from their first film Edward Scissorhands, to the animated Corpse Bride, the two have brought some of the most original films and dark artistic visions to the big screen.

Now in their sixth collaboration, the two have tackled one of the most unusual musicals ever to hit the stage. Sweeney Todd is a story about an anti-hero in the mid-19th century London. Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is a barber who comes back to Fleet Street from back from false imprisonment, to seek his revenge. Here he meets his unlikely partner in crime, Mrs. Nellie Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter). Changing his name to Sweeney Tood, Barker along with Mrs. Lovett, begins their rein of terror on Fleet Street and in particular, the evil Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). As Sweeney delivers sweet revenge, Mrs. Lovett turns them successfully into her meat pies. Hard times offer up hard twisted decisions with this dark twisted story, that have been thrilling disgusting audiences on Broadway for years.

Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, was ahead of it’s time on Broadway and was the precursor to many other musicals based on horror themes, like The Phantom of the Opera. Tim Burton’s adaptation is equally ahead of it’s time, balancing the macabre with beautiful imagery and wonderful performances by many unlikely actors. Who knew that Johnny Depp could actually sing? In fact his performance is so perfect it may be impossible to ever think of anyone else in the role but Depp.

Now available on DVD, the movie is available on one and two-disc collections. Along with the movie the two-disc set comes with a ton of special features that will keep you busy for hours.

Tim Burton has never been big on commentary or talking about his films in general, in fact if you listen to his commentary for his film Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, you’d understand why. Regardless, there’s many other ways to get a director to talk and make it interesting and entertaining.

The second disc is stuffed with featurettes on everything from the original Broadway play, the historical origins of the demon barber and of course the whole process of making the film. They really utilize the second disc to fleshing out everything that is Sweeney Todd.

Oh and make sure you check out the Moviefone Unscripted with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp feature, if Burton isn’t high as a kite during it then I don’t know my stoners!

So if you are a fan of Johnny Depp, Tim Burton or just into musicals, this is a perfect two-disc collection. I have to confess I’m not into musicals what so ever, however, I was drawn in by the performances and the slick production that makes Sweeney Todd a strong compelling musical and film.

Comments
Mrs Lovett
Written by Guest on 2008-04-02 17:40:16
Great film! Saw it several times in the theater and can't wait to buy the DVD. Only wish Burton had included a director's commentary.

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