Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
It's OSCAR night this time next week, so here come 5 back to back posts, four film reviews, and an OSCAR preview.
Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Starring - Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron-Cohen
Directed by Tim Burton
As Benjamin Barker (Sweeny Todd) returns to London from a spell in prison, sentenced unjustly by Judge Turpin. (Alan Rickman) He takes on the new persona of Sweeney Todd. He then meets pie shop owner Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham-Carter), after taking on one of her 'Worst pies in London,' He tells how he vows revenge on the judge who falsely imprisoned him, purely becuase he fell in love with the lady the judge wanted for himself.
The sub-plot is Tobias, who was on the boat with Todd on the way back to London, who falls for what seems to be the judges daughter through a window, as she is not allowed out due to the judge keeping her under watch. It is then revealed Barker his love had a baby before the imprisonment, so it is Barker's/Todd's daughter he has fallen for.
Todd strikes a deal with Mrs Lovett that he will set up shop as a barber (for that is what he did before the imprisonment) and slit the throats of his customers, Lovett could then use the meat to considerably improve her pies. Eventually events transpire that Todd gets the chance to get revenge on the judge in the chair, he also finds Lovett lied in telling him about the death of his wife, these events lead to a bloody but fitting conclusion.
The whole set-up of the films looks beautiful, it moves with ease at a nice pace. The whole thing is put together brilliantly and the genius of Burton is there for all to see. The interplay between Depp and Bonham-Carter as at times spellbinding. Depp creates a murderer who at times you actually feel like he has a point, twisted yet brilliant. The musical style also works well while not being over done.
The story creates nice sub-plots and amusing bit part characters to add to the drama, like the Baron-Cohen interlude pertending to be an Italian barber, and the nosey old lady who tries to warn people who wont listen something bad is going on in the place. From start to finish this is simply a first rate film.
THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'A' - A magical piece of cinema with quality acting and brilliant artistic attention to detail.
