Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Running Time: 117 minutes

Rated: R

Directed by Tim Burton

Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener and Sacha Baron.

The movie production of Sweeney Todd is interesting in two unexpected ways. First the closeness and narrowness of the view presented to the audience and secondly the choice of players none of whom are noted as musical stars.

The view presented to the audience was a sharp contrast to the broad brush required by a musical stage presentation. Most musical movie versions of Broadway Plays attempt to duplicate this and thus do not take full advantage of the film medium. In Sweeney Todd Tim Burton chose to defy tradition, thus taking advantage of the broad brush when needed and the closeups allowed by the different medium.

The stars were a surprise and a stroke of genius. Johnny Depp was astounding. Given the current sound technology his somewhat weak voice worked well. Helena Bonham Carter was astonishing as the mad keeper of the pie shop. The two of them made you believe in the story.

The wonderful Gritty Fleet Street set was London as we knew it from descriptions in Dickens. The opening scene in the pie shop with the rats and roaches sets the tone wonderfully.

Burton built up the horror of the situation without causing the audience to lose their supper. Nevertheless please note that the film is not for the tender of stomach nor for the faint of heart.

Recommended – Gary Swaty