Post by ZapRowsdower on Dec 25, 2007 2:25:57 GMT -5
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2007, Tim Burton
Written by John Logan, based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
Tim Burton made some very bold decisions regarding this film. His boldest, casting Johnny Depp in the lead. Johnny Depp has a sort of phobia about singing, and in the past has requested his character did not sing. This film marks the very first time Johnny Depp used his own singing voice in a musical. So, how was he?
Well, Mr. Depp wasn't the only untrained singer in the film. In fact, the film was comprised almost entirely of untried talents. It's fairly obvious that these are not broadway performers, but instead actors who can carry a tune. And in a film, that's really all you need. All of the actors can hold down a tune very well, and the imperfections of their voices only add to the expressionistic qualities of the film.
Before going in, you must realize this is NOT Hairspray. In fact, it's about the exact opposite of Hairspray. So don't expect to be all smiles watching this, because it's actually very dark. This is by far the darkest musical I've ever seen.
Everything technical was brilliant. Tim Burton hasn't made a movie look this good since Sleepy Hollow. Art direction, make-up, cinematography, all very well-done. And the blood... I mean, P.T. Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" would have been a more apt title for this one. Because man, oh man... does the blood flow. Whether or not the story was to your liking, the film is a marvel to look at.
Johnny Depp can maintain that modesty all he wants. He may not be the best singer to ever appear in a musical, but the man's ability to act really helps him out here. And his voice isn't half bad. Being able to carry a tune while staying in character is no easy feat, but Johnny Depp pulls it off very well. Helena Bonham Carter, on the other hand, takes a little bit of getting used to. She's a fine actress, but her singing voice is kind of an acquired taste for the audience. As the movie progresses, however, you grow accustomed to it and then appreciate the strength of the woman's performance - and she did particularly well with the "God That's Good" scene. For an idea of what her voice sounds like, think Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas. I also felt Timothy Spall, in his minor role, was very good. Who I was particularly impressed with was the debut performance of the young Ed Sanders. That kid was freakin' amazing!
Sacha Baron Cohen's part is not very big, but it's still a nice, somewhat lighthearted break from the darkness. Alan Rickman is fantastic as Judge Turpin, as well. Definitely one of film's most underappreciated actors.
The music isn't catchy. Sondheim likes to go somewhat behind the notes. That's his sound, searching for notes that the audience won't see coming. It sounds very twisted and menacing, which only complements the expressionist quality of the film. So while they're not gonna have you tapping your toes, they instead entrance you with their sheer power.
Tim Burton took some major risks in adapting Sweeney Todd, casting it, and taking other liberties with it, but overall, I don't think a musical has ever fallen into more fitting hands. It was as if Sweeney Todd was written so that Tim Burton could eventually make a movie out of it.
I'm gonna be completely honest about this, not everyone's gonna enjoy it. There's those that don't like musicals, there's the squeamish, and there's the kind that might wish the movie had better singers. But overall, I felt Tim Burton did a wonderful job with the film. And to this day, thinking back on how that movie had me from start to finish, how well the imperfect singing actually played out, and how they went all-out with the technical stuff, I only have this to say: "God, that's good!"
10/10
2007, Tim Burton
Written by John Logan, based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
Tim Burton made some very bold decisions regarding this film. His boldest, casting Johnny Depp in the lead. Johnny Depp has a sort of phobia about singing, and in the past has requested his character did not sing. This film marks the very first time Johnny Depp used his own singing voice in a musical. So, how was he?
Well, Mr. Depp wasn't the only untrained singer in the film. In fact, the film was comprised almost entirely of untried talents. It's fairly obvious that these are not broadway performers, but instead actors who can carry a tune. And in a film, that's really all you need. All of the actors can hold down a tune very well, and the imperfections of their voices only add to the expressionistic qualities of the film.
Before going in, you must realize this is NOT Hairspray. In fact, it's about the exact opposite of Hairspray. So don't expect to be all smiles watching this, because it's actually very dark. This is by far the darkest musical I've ever seen.
Everything technical was brilliant. Tim Burton hasn't made a movie look this good since Sleepy Hollow. Art direction, make-up, cinematography, all very well-done. And the blood... I mean, P.T. Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" would have been a more apt title for this one. Because man, oh man... does the blood flow. Whether or not the story was to your liking, the film is a marvel to look at.
Johnny Depp can maintain that modesty all he wants. He may not be the best singer to ever appear in a musical, but the man's ability to act really helps him out here. And his voice isn't half bad. Being able to carry a tune while staying in character is no easy feat, but Johnny Depp pulls it off very well. Helena Bonham Carter, on the other hand, takes a little bit of getting used to. She's a fine actress, but her singing voice is kind of an acquired taste for the audience. As the movie progresses, however, you grow accustomed to it and then appreciate the strength of the woman's performance - and she did particularly well with the "God That's Good" scene. For an idea of what her voice sounds like, think Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas. I also felt Timothy Spall, in his minor role, was very good. Who I was particularly impressed with was the debut performance of the young Ed Sanders. That kid was freakin' amazing!
Sacha Baron Cohen's part is not very big, but it's still a nice, somewhat lighthearted break from the darkness. Alan Rickman is fantastic as Judge Turpin, as well. Definitely one of film's most underappreciated actors.
The music isn't catchy. Sondheim likes to go somewhat behind the notes. That's his sound, searching for notes that the audience won't see coming. It sounds very twisted and menacing, which only complements the expressionist quality of the film. So while they're not gonna have you tapping your toes, they instead entrance you with their sheer power.
Tim Burton took some major risks in adapting Sweeney Todd, casting it, and taking other liberties with it, but overall, I don't think a musical has ever fallen into more fitting hands. It was as if Sweeney Todd was written so that Tim Burton could eventually make a movie out of it.
I'm gonna be completely honest about this, not everyone's gonna enjoy it. There's those that don't like musicals, there's the squeamish, and there's the kind that might wish the movie had better singers. But overall, I felt Tim Burton did a wonderful job with the film. And to this day, thinking back on how that movie had me from start to finish, how well the imperfect singing actually played out, and how they went all-out with the technical stuff, I only have this to say: "God, that's good!"
10/10
