Is the film really all is made out to be?
Sweeney Todd is a notorious figure from the Victorian period of England. He is so well known that countless stories, plays and now films have been based around his character. Perhaps most famous of adaptations is the American composer Stephen Sondheim’s musical of the story, based primarily around Todd’s character, unlike previous adaptations when no back story for the mysterious barber is given. It was esteemed director Tim Burton’s job to create a film version of Sondheim’s famous musical. The film has had a lot of press coverage and has been avidly anticipated by musical and horror fans alike. But is it really all that it’s made out to be?
For the title role of Sweeney Todd Johnny Depp seemed like an unusual choice. Most recently taking on the role of the infamous pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, Depp is famed for his classic good looks and charm. With Todd being most commonly portrayed as a great hulking, and somewhat unwieldy man this was not an obvious casting choice although, it is known that Burton and Depp have a close personal relationship which some speculate could have led to him taking on the role. However, Depp has proved that whatever the reason for the casting he can do anything! He takes on the role with much enthusiasm and does not disappoint us for a second. His psychotic killings are most believable and his wide frightened eyes, reminiscent of a past role in yet another Burton film; Edward Scissorhands, help us to feel sympathy for his character even when it is not fully deserved. I myself was most surprised at Depp’s singing voice. Sondheim’s musical is notoriously difficult but Depp takes it on admirably and with gusto. As Sondheim himself said it is better to have actors singing than singers acting. Some credit, too, has to be given to the costume and make-up teams for making him look almost horrifying!
There are many famous faces to be seen in the film namely Burton’s wife Helena Bonham Carter and British actors Timothy Spall and Alan Rickman. Carter takes on the role of the charming, charismatic and macabre land lady Mrs Lovett like she was born to play the role. Her character, blinded by her love for Todd himself and desperate to bring her pie business back from the brink, comes up with the solution of getting rid of the bodies by making them into meat for her pies. I laughed out loud at her casual suggestion of ‘Sheppard’s pie peppered with actual Sheppard on top’. Mrs Lovett’s chatty and practical character was captured perfectly by Carter and she too excelled at the singing; her sweet treble voice doing Sondheim’s amazing score justice. As for Rickman and Spall, both took on the roles of the malicious Judge Turpin and his accomplice, the beadle with all the excellence expected from actors of their infamy. Rickman had to have been through a good deal of gruelling coaching to get his voice to sound reasonable for this film, for one could tell that this did not come naturally. However, he achieved an admirable sound as did Spall, though he had a much lesser singing part.
The film takes it’s inspiration from the classic horror films, with violent over bloody deaths. This works well for the story of Sweeney Todd, which in the past has been a melodrama. Had Burton taken a more realist approach the whole film could have been dragged down to a much more depressing level. Instead each death is suitably hammed up and full of gore, making it almost comedic though no-one, I think, could laugh properly at so much blood pouring.
What also brings up the mood of the film is Mrs Lovett’s idyllic fantasy of her and Todd one day living ‘By the Sea’. This is done in much brighter colour than the rest of the film, which uses dark colour to give an old time black and white feel, and depicts Lovett’s total reluctance to accept that Todd is by no means interested in her. Depp does an excellent job of being stiff backed and unresponsive during this sequence, enhancing the comedic affect greatly.
The film does, however, have its serious and disturbing moments. An example of which is the opening sequence of Todd’s damning outlook on the world, particularly London a town which holds so much bitterness for him. Another moment when the film becomes darker appears when Todd is reintroduced to some old friends, the silver barber’s knives he long ago abandoned. Depp does a stirring performance of ‘My Friends’ a sinister love song that he sings to his future weapons of revenge. Carter adds her own haunting harmony to the song, expressing for the first time in the film her affection for Todd.
The ending of the film, not to give too much away, is probably the darkest moment. The last song of the film is a repeat of part of the opening song and basically a medley of many previous songs. The whole film ends on a most unexpected twist!
The film experience of the story is commendably done and does the musical and the Victorian melodrama the justice it deserves. It is a very stylistic approach, however, which may lead to a smaller group of fans. But those who know the true art of film making, horror and musicals combined will undoubtedly make this one of their all time favourites.
