January 10th, 2008
There's just something about a barber that initially instills a sense of trepidation in us. I barely remember my first haircut, but even today when I go in to get "resexified" (yes, I just made that up, but please, feel free to borrow it), I see lots of young boys bawling their little eyes out over getting a little off the top.
Perhaps instinctually they know being held captive in a chair while some stranger has a plethora of uproarious sharp objects at his immediate disposal isn't the brightest idea. Still, over time we give them our trust and place this anxiety of getting one's "ear's lowered" (for the Doug fans out there) in the back of our minds.
In Tim Burton's most recent project, the visionary director of such films like Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, we see a more modernized adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award winning Broadway musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
I never heard of the play before this film, so I didn't exactly know what to expect. However, Tim Burton is probably my favorite director since his movies always have this sense of awe.. It's hard to explain if you haven't seen a lot of his work through the past two decades (I feel old now, thanks). Plus, Johnny Depp (who plays Sweeney Todd) is amazing in everything he does so with those two factors, I had to peep this.
First of all, let me clear this up for you guys who have seen the trailer -- this isn't a slasher/horror flick; it's a musical. I was sitting near two guys in the theater who looked to be in their 20's that were totally stunned by the opening act being a singing number. They soon got up and left in disgust.
Now, 'tis true I have a deep personal disdain for musicals. It's pretty absurd to me how music suddenly plays out of nowhere and everyone starts singing and dancing like it's a common everyday occurrence, but this is the first one I've seen where it's executed in a fashion that doesn't make it look extremely fatuous. You really haven't seen a movie until you see Johnny Depp sing! It's quite the experience to say the least.
Benjamin Barker (Depp) is a barber who adopts the "Sweeney Todd" moniker/alter ego after being unjustly incarcerated for 15 years in Austrailia by a man who secretly loved his wife by the name of Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). With no one standing in his way now, Turpin rapes Barker's wife, Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly), and ends up adopting their daugher, Johanna (Jayne Wisener), with the intent to wed her later (where the hell is To Catch A Predator?). It is also believed Lucy poisoned herself as a result and is now presumed dead.
After being picked up by a young sailor by the name of Anthony Hope (Jamie Campbell Bower), the vengeful Todd is escorted back to London where he meets up with Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) after stopping to get a bite to eat at her pie shop. Lovett, who openly says she has "the worst pies in London" as they are filled with all kinds of disgusting and revolting ingredients, eventually let's Sweeney rent a room above her shop. With the belief that "everyone deserves to die," Todd (or "Mr. T" as Lovett affectionately calls him) gets his razor blades back out (which he refers to as his "friends") and sets up a barber shop with the purpose of killing off his customers in hopes of Turpin will one day be in the chair so he may extract his long sought revenge.
Having nowhere to dispose of the dead bodies and Lovett's pie business being dismal, the two come up with the idea to just use the rotting corpses for meat pie indgredients. The plan works and traffic in her shop, as well as Sweeney's, sky rockets.
The music, while at first I was skeptical about, works wonderfully in advancing the plot. That's probably why I enjoyed it so much -- it just wasn't some random song about some random topic thrown in at a very random time. No, each song had a purpose and it kept the film moving at a steady pace instead of being a cheap distraction and/or a piss break for the audience. Cetain selections seemed to go on a bit too long, but nothing that'll make you want to blow your brains out. I think the original play stretched for about three hours, so the film (which is roughly 2 hours) had to cut some of the songs down a bit anyways. What's left works almost without any hiccups.
The movie does carry an R rating though, mostly for the gorey kill sequences. But the violence is kind of that over-the-top style from Kill Bill and not like the shockingly realistic and stomach turning Saw films. I saw this with a girl, and she didn't seem too bothered by it, so I'm assuming it's not that bad.
I would highly recommend seeing this movie and even buying the DVD when it comes out. Getting the soundtrack also wouldn't be a terrible idea as it is guilty pleasure. The plot is kind of sluggish at first but it really picks up speed before the second half -- it grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the climax. There's one scene where Mrs. Lovett, who actually has a crush on Sweeney (who seems indifferent towards her), dreams of spending her life with him and we see Todd in all kinds of situations that are in heavy contrast to his dark and brooding character (like sitting on the beach in time period appropiate swim wear). It's absolutely hilarious.
Without spoiling too much though, I will say the ending shot is probably one of the most powerful images I've seen in a film in the last 10 years. It's truly moving and makes you appreciate good cinema.
But like I said, if you want a stupid horror movie with no plot, go watch something else. There are plenty of slasher flicks around for you to lose your brain cells to as it is. If you want to see a throwback to good film making, then take the time to watch Sweeney Todd. You'll definitely thank me later.
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Comments
I. Bamf
16 Jan 2008, 20:52
I think you would like the most recent version of Little Shop of Horrors because it's seems to have much in common with Sweeney Todd (it's a musical, there's killing, Steve Martin dyes his hair) as much as I'll enjoy this one. Btw, will you be reviewing the new Cheetah Girls movie when it comes out (I notice the Cosby kid got the boot from that group)?
I. Bamf
16 Jan 2008, 20:56
Okay, Steve Martin isn't in Sweeney Todd. I'm just showing that one has some well known actors in it too.
PaqMan
16 Jan 2008, 21:06
I'll be sure to look into that one.
I think Raven is still in the cheetahs for the movies and promotional items, but as far as the actual music group is concerned, I don't think she is. She was only thrown in it for Disney's personal agenda lol.
~paq
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