Watch trailer here
Ah, it’s so easy to get swept up in the hype involving a new block-bustin’ movie that it almost feels like your fault when the hype proves to be a more moving experience than the actual film. Of which recent release do I speak? Unfortunately, it’s “Sweeney Todd“, a film I’ve been looking forward to seeing for what feels like the majority of my twenties. “Tim Burton, you say? Musical, is it? Johnny Depp starring? New pants please.”
Not that Johnny Depp was ever one of the movie actors I fantasised about accidently running into on a wander to the shops (weirdly, I once actually did meet Vince Vaughn while walking to a friends house in the west end of Glasgow. Not so weirdly, given the calibre of my luck, I of course don’t fancy him either), unbelievably impressing with my knowledge of something or other, and eventually marrying and living happily ever after with – or at least long enough to have a reasonable claim to half his money, and Famous Husband No.2 in my sights.
No, the reason I will generally go and see anything Mr Depp is in is because he almost always choses interesting and unusual material (Pirates of the Caribbean 3 not permitting).
Anyhow, as I was saying I also love Tim Burton and musicals, so this should have been the best two hours I had spent so far in this year. Yet while it was by no means the worst, I still don’t think I’ll be rushing to buy the DVD.
While many other reviewers have praised Burton for his daring use of colour – almost every scene is entirely made up of black, white, red and grey tones, so lack of colour may be a better description – this can also serve to make viewing a slightly “dingy” experience. Though this undoubtably is more in character with the dark, dank, cold 18th century (with some artistic license with regard to exact geography) London Burton is trying to invoke, a dream sequence where Todd’s new makeshift family are living out their retirement “By the Sea” comes as a most welcome relief to the eyes, as suddenly they have a lot more information to work with than the grinding drabness of the preceeding hour (Sacha Baron Cohens ridiculously tight jumpsuit not withstanding).
Many of the songs from the original musical had been cut to keep the running time down. I can’t help but feel that was is left cannot be the best of the bunch, given that most sound like rejected tunes from “Oliver.”
But that wasn’t what annoyed me the most. Along with Mr Depp, we have a younger male love interest, who is trying to win the heart of Sweeney Todds daughter. As well as whining out what must be the creepiest song in the history of musical love songs (“I feeeeeeeel yoooooooooouuuuuuu, Joaaaaaaaanaaaaaaaa….” Piss off, fop-wench.) he also looks like an ugly girl who hasn’t bothered to brush her hair in a month.
However, if you like blood spillage that would put Dario Argento to shame, and enjoy the sound of skulls cracking nastily off a stone floor, you’ll still find much to entertain you here.
What did you think of ‘Sweeney Todd’?
Also – if you like Tim Burton’s films, maybe you’ll like his poetry…
