Tim Burton has made many fine films that capture the
mind and imagination of film goes over the past 20
years. These movies include; Beatle juice [1988],
Batman [1989], Edward Scissor Hands [1990], Batman
Returns [1992], Planet of the Apes [2001], Big Fish
[2003] and of course Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
and Corpse Bride in 2005. Burton’s latest creation is
not to be viewed lightly-neither by critics nor by
film goers. It is a tale that is depressing and quite
dark.
You don’t want to view this film if you’re looking for
a Marry Poppins or The Sound of Music type of plot and
feeling at the end of the film. I left the theater
feeling more depressed then when I entered. It has a
bleak beginning and its end is not what I expected,
but it delivers a punch to your head and a stab to
your heart in a one-two rhythm that would make Cassius
Clay proud.
Johnny Depp plays the title character-Sweeny Todd-and
he returns to London on a dreary ship hoping to find
his wife and child waiting for him to return. Depp’s
character was falsely accused of a crime by the local
jurist and sent to jail. We learn some of the past
from Depp’s reminiscing as well as other character’s
looking back at the past. Alan Rickman plays the evil
judge in the film. He had Depp thrown in jail years
ago so that he could take Depp’s wife and child as his
own. Depp returns to learn that his wife is dead and
his daughter is now the judge’s ward. Depp makes
preparations for revenge and includes Helena Bonham
Carter’s character in the plot. Carter’s character has
an unrequited love for Depp in the film and she makes
it clear to anyone listening that she wants to include
Depp in her life now. Depp only has revenge on his
mind though. His character is clearly in pain over the
loss of his life, his wife and his daughter. It
appears that he’d rather inflict pain and suffering on
anyone who may get in his way of revenge over the
possibility of forgetting the pat and starting over
with Carter’s character.
The movie seemed slow to start and it has a
considerable number of songs in it-this should not be
a surprise to anyone who knows the film is based on
the musical. The characters all sing at least one song
in the film and most of them sing several. The end
credits had 25 songs listed and all were sung by one
or more of the characters. I give credit to Depp,
Carter, Rickman and others for putting their voices
out there for us to critique, but unless you’re
looking for a dark and sad musical I would advise you
to think twice before viewing this film. It’s very
graphic and has quite a lot of blood and violence in
it. Though the violence and subsequent blood does
follow from the characters desire for revenge it
didn’t make viewing it any easier. If you’re looking
for a dark and depressing film-with blood and violence
thrown in-then this may be the right film for you to
see.
Sweeny Todd [2007] imdb
http://imdb.com/title/tt0408236/
Sweeny Todd on Broadway
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=23326
sweeney todd movie-official web site
http://www.sweeneytoddmovie.com/
Sunday, December 30, 2007
