Movie Review: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

“Sweeney Todd” the musical is well known in the theater world. I have seen a few scenes on PBS from the musical with George Hearn and Patti LuPone years ago so I knew it was a dark musical. Tim Burton makes it even darker (as he often does), the perfect director to bring this musical play to the screen.

The story begins when Benjamin Barker the popular town barber is thrown out of London and imprisoned on false charges, leaving his wife and child in the lecherous hands of the local judge who put him in prison. The judge’s false charges prevail and the judge adopts the barber’s child.

Years later the barber returns to town knowing his wife is dead and his grown daughter is in the hands of the judge. Sweeney Todd as he is now known sets up shop as a barber, seeking revenge for his wife and hoping to find his daughter. He meets Mrs. Lovett the pie maker and together they devise a grisly way to make a living and find revenge.

The movie stars Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd. Johnny Depp is another of my favorite actors, he is typically brilliant in whatever role he performs. The movie also stars Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett and Alan Rickman as the judge, both excellent actors. Sacha Baron Cohen adds an unexpected spark as a sleasy sideshow barber competing with Todd for business.

Tim Burton cast non-singers in the two major singing roles. I think Helena Bonham Carter is a very good actress but the singing on her part was a little weak. Johnny Depp has a natural singing voice, it is a quality voice if untrained and served him well in the role.

“Sweeney Todd” can be a violent film but stylized enough with dark humor and music to make it more palatable. Tim Burton’s movies are driven by his concept of art direction. His excellent movie direction and the amazing art direction combined make the musical’s transition from stage to movie a success.

2007. Directed by Tim Burton. Original Musical by Stephen Sondheim. Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars