"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," another collaboration of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, but this time it's a black comedy horror musical. I'm gonna be honest I'm not a big fan of either of these two people. And honestly can't fathom the amount of people that flock to their movies. I'm not saying they're not talented, but I just can't understand the obsession and fascination. Tim Burton is a decent director, but most of his movies are pretty similar in tone and he never really steps out of his comfort zone. I can't judge a director that only does one type of movie, yet people consider him to be a genius in the leagues of Spielberg or Hitchcock. I hardly consider that, he does have some good movies, but I usually grow board of his black comedy/horror movies. I can appreciate him for having a style, but he could put it to use in another genre something out of his comfort zone. Johnny Depp is another person I can't seem to understand the obsession with. People flock to his movies like flies to an apple core. He is a good actor, but he isn't that good. I think he over acts and tries too hard to be corky. I've just never been impressed with him I guess.
However, as much as I don't prefer their movies, I did enjoy this one. It of course had the Tim Burton touch and feel, but I also liked Depp's acting it was solid. I didn't think he over did it and he gave a decent vocal performance.
"Sweeney Todd" is story about Benjamin Barker aka Sweeney Todd, who's been missing for 15 years returns to London on a boat to find his wife and daughter. He is accompanied by Anthony, who is very excited to come to London. On the other hand Todd is not and he tells Anthony about how he was tragically separated from his wife and daughter by a jealous judge. After telling the story they both separate and go their own way. Todd comes upon a pie shop on fleet street where he meets Mrs. Lovett, who knew his wife and tells him that his wife had taken poison after being raped by Judge Turpin. Todd becomes angered and wonders what has become of his daughter and Lovett tells him that she is with Judge Turpin. Lovett also returns Todd his old razors with which he plans to get revenge with. Mean while Anthony comes across a beautiful girl who is singing form her window and immediately falls in love with her. He soon finds out that this is the Judge Turpin's home and is beaten by the judge for looking at the girl. After taking a beating he vows to take Joanna, the girl, from her home. The story continues with more deception and twists as Todd tries to get revenge and find his daughter with Lovett. The movie also has romance between Lovett and Todd.
The story was good and interesting, but I thought the dialogue was hard to follow. They are so fast at delivering dialogue that it just sounds like mush. I couldn't make head or tail of what they were saying, which hurt my understanding of the story. I also though the romance between Joanna and Anthony go nowhere. It is underdeveloped and hits a brick wall toward the end. Their love story didn't work for me. Another thing I didn't like was the relationship between Mrs. Lovett and a child worker she takes in, Tobias. They sing a heart touching duet about being there for each other, but throughout the movie mainly towards the end I don't see that song translate into the movie. Lovett does some questionable acts to the boy at the end of the film, I just see that song applied to the film.
On the other hand the music was well intertwined into the film. It didn't seem out of place and they were melodic. The songs fit well with what was happening and had a great operatic feel. They are dark, funny, heart warming, and everything else, except memorable. The songs worked great with the film, but are forgettable outside the context of the story. I can't see these songs part of anything else. The only song that I thought could sort of stand on its own was "Johanna" which melodic and harmonious. It's a song that I can hum and makes me feel. One more problem with the movie was the singing, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. The actors manged to sing decently, but they couldn't hit all the right notes.
Overall "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is a good movie and musical. It's visuals are great and very unique and it has a good story, which is harmed by poor dialogue delivery and some relationship issues. I give the movie a 4/5, Good story and stunning visuals, but non-memorable songs and poor dialogue delivery. My favorite Tim Burton and Johnny Depp film.
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