Never Forget, Never Forgive. Sweeney Todd.

Sweeney Todd (2007) Directed by Tim Burton.

Narrator: This is the tale of an ordinary man, who had everything….
Mrs. Lovett : Barker, his name was. Benjamin Barker.
Narrator : Until a man of power stole his freedom, destroyed his family and banished him …for life. And in his sorrow a new man was born.

Thus the trailer introduces us to the man who became Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp). As the movie begins, we see him on board the ship, bringing him into London. His only friend is able bodied seaman Anthony Hope (Jamie Campbell Bower), who helped him escape, but now he is about to make another.

Back in Fleet Street, he returns to 187, to where he and his wife and daughter had lived. There, Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) maker of the worst meat pies in London (“those pussys are fast”), tells him that after Barker had been imprisoned, his wife had taken poison and his daughter is now the ward of Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). She also has a present for him; his old razors, silver chaise, kept against his return for all these years. You realize in the counterpoint duet, Todd may only have thoughts of revenge, but Mrs. Lovett is driven by other passions.

So now, Sweeney Todd has an ally, and one of a practical turn. When his passions make him impulsive, it is her hand that stays him, her voice that counsels patience. He needs to open his shop; a street vendor, elixir vendor offers a chance to make a name for himself. He challenges Signor Adolfo Pirelli (Sasha Baron Cohen) to a contest, who can give the closest fastest shave. Beadle Bamford (Timothy Spall) Judge Turpin’s henchman is the judge. Todd is accounted the victor, and thus his introduction to the public is made.

Meanwhile, Anthony has not been idle; he spots a girl sitting in a window, and falls in love. (Seems a bit far fetched, but this is a musical, and he has been at sea for months.) He is not discrete enough, and receives a threat from Judge Turpin, and a beating from the Beadle. Yes, his true love is Joanna, daughter of Benjamin Barker.

Signor Pirelli pays Todd a visit; it seems he recognized the razors as belonging to his old teacher, Benjamin Barker. He has blackmail on his mind. But Todd has murder in his heart, and that trumps.

There is the slight problem of what to do with the body, and the boy who came with him. Gin solves the problem of the child, and as for the body, that too has a culinary solution. As Mrs. Lovett says, “Waste not, want not.”

And thus, their prospective careers are made.

There are several surprises in this film; one of the biggest for me was Sasha Baron Cohen. The man can sing! They all can sing, but several are stand out performances. Pirelli’s boy, Toby, who becomes Lovett’s boy, is played by Ed Sanders. Mark the name down, the child can act, and he can sing, beautifully. Helena Bonham Carter has a good voice. It falls short of great, but her acting ability compensates; her comedic timing is flawless, mixing choreography, vocals, and expression to steal the scene. The only one she could not steal the scene from was Depp himself.

Johnny Depp with a razor; I was sold right there. Depp’s voice is surprisingly versatile, with a good range, and strength. His ability to act the song is flawless, and I had to watch the movie twice to judge the acting. It swept me up, and carried me along so powerfully the first time, I merely watched, rapt. Johnny Depp with a razor “At last my arm is complete!”

The overall air is so wonderfully bleak. This is highly contrasted from Todd’s memories of his life in Fleet Street as Barker. Everything in that world was warm and colorful. Now, everything is dingy and grey and the only colors tend to be dark.

No one does atmosphere like Burton, and this movie has it in droves. The set, the costumes, all drive the feeling of bleak despair. And the music, even between the numbers is a powerful tool, playing the audiences emotion to fit the pacing of the drama. Together with the performances, you really don’t have much of a choice but to go where you are led. Burton is a master.

I saw a signature of his as well; black and white stripes. Mrs. Lovett’s stockings are striped, as is Todd’s bathing suit in her dream. A nice nod to the director’s previous work.

Though depressing and bleak, riddled with themes of murder, and cannibalism, this movie also manages to be incredibly funny. The theme of “Have a little priest” is hilarious, and I find myself singing it at inappropriate times. (My friends tell me any time I sing it is inappropriate.) ((I need new friends.)) Carter gets the best lines; I guess that is a perk of carrying the director’s child.

I am not overly fond of musicals, and my two favorites are The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Victor Victoria. But I have to tell you, this movie is entertaining as film, with out the singing. It has all the elements of a great crime drama…Ha! Musical Noir!

So yes, I highly recommend this movie. However, due to the excessive gore, body count twelve, I can not recommend it for children of any age.

One last thing; anyone want a beef pot pie? I’m not eating it.