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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Tim Burton gets his groove back with a devilishly good musical

By Geoff Berkshire

Metromix
December 21, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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A barber imprisoned on bogus charges in the 1800s rechristens himself Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) and returns to London following years of exile. He plans to reunite with his daughter (Jayne Wisener) and seek vengeance on her ward, the corrupt Judge (Alan Rickman) who sent him away. Todd is aided by his former landlady, Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who lets him resume his trade above her pie shop.

Big questions: Does director Tim Burton’s latest collaboration with Depp live up to the highs of their work on “Edward Scissorhands” and “Ed Wood,” or is it closer to recent Burton disappointments like “Planet of the Apes” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”? And, can Johnny Depp sing?

Catch it: From the moment Depp opens his mouth to deliver the first song with a snarl and a more than adequate singing voice, it’s clear that every element of the movie will fall perfectly into place. The cast is flawless, delivering strong vocals and even better performances. Burton and screenwriter John Logan admirably avoid camp, preferring to showcase every ounce of the deep psychological darkness in composer Stephen Sondheim's complex musical score. Sondheim is an undisputed master of musical theater and it's not hard to make a case for “Sweeney” as his masterpiece. Now it’s Burton’s too.

Skip it: If you’re expecting a fun musical romp along the lines of “Hairspray” or “High School Musical.” “Sweeney” is serious stuff, leavened only by some very black humor. There’s also blood, and lots of it.

Bottom line: An unconventional musical with rich themes, gorgeous execution and exceptional performances, this could be remembered as the movie that defines the Burton aesthetic. Musicals are suddenly hot again, and it’s a pleasure to see a master stylist push the form to thrilling new extremes. “Sweeney Todd” is the creative peak of an eccentric career and one of the year’s very best films.

Bonus: Sacha Baron Cohen, in his first movie role since “Borat,” appears as a rival barber. Burton has said that the comedian performed the entire score of “Fiddler on the Roof” during his audition.

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