Some comments on SWEENEY TODD- Page 2

[Brick]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 3:25pm

When I saw it, the was only instance of audience laughter at the start of a song was "Pretty Women". And it was a nervous laugh because the moment is so full of suspense. And I was one of them, I believe.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 5:15pm

I took my sister to see it today and I just loved it. It really is the best movie musical since Little Shop of Horrors. Not that many people were laughing except when Tobias says to Mrs. Lovett, "Leave The Bottle." My favorite of the movie had to be Alan Rickman. I've seen only two others play Judge Turpin(I forget the names but the one in the dvd with Lansberry and Hearn and then the one in the recent revival) and Alan is my favorite out of all of them. Was still a little annoyed at the fact that the ensemble songs were cut like the ensemble singing "God that's good" and "More hot pies" in God That's Good.

I was perhaps the only one laughing during A Little Priest, there might have been some chuckles during it, but I couldn't here. There were alot of people there seeing it that started to file in during the previews. I'll be seeing it again on Christmas and then on the 28th. My sister and her friends want to see it and I'm taking them to see it.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 6:02pm

Saw it today.

1) A great, great adaptation.

2) Great performance by Depp, WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL performance by Carter. It's not Depp's fault, really, that she overshadowed him - she overshadowed everybody.

3) Ed Sanders was cute. And very creepy at the end.

4) My audience was enjoying itself immensely during A LITTLE PRIEST and THE CONTEST, in hysterics during BY THE SEA.

5) If I have one complaint, it's that the film doesn't seem to have enough of a drive to it, a sense that the story is hurling forward at full speed. When the final scene comes, it almost seems like it came out of nowhere.

All in all, a wonderful movie. Depp deserves his Oscar. AND WHY DOESN'T HELENA HAVE ANY BUZZ?!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 6:20pm

Saw it yesterday, and really enjoyed it !! Going back on Monday to see it for a 2nd time. Love Depp in everything he does, but it was Sanders that really made the film for me.

Excellent job, and a great voice !!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 6:44pm

Saw it today and had a grand ol' time just like everyone else. Tim Burton seemed like such an obvious choice as director and I'm not much of a fan of his anyway, but really...who else could have done such a good job? Its his best film since BEETLEJUICE. Give 'im ALL the Sondheim musicals, I say!

[morosco]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 7:20pm

My favorite of the movie had to be Alan Rickman. I've seen only two others play Judge Turpin(I forget the names but the one in the dvd with Lansberry and Hearn and then the one in the recent revival) and Alan is my favorite out of all of them.

His Judge Turpin really spooked the heck out of me. Even when listening to the recording his Judge Turpin is the creepiest.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 8:24pm

I saw it on Friday and it was what I expected for the most part. We were given some visual, "treats" which really had our audience laughing out loud. The best was during my favorite song, "By the Sea". The guys and audience with me were enjoying "Little Priest" and that was their favorite song of the night. They were still singing it on our walk back home.

So one loved it, another thought it was worth seeing this just once and the third claimed it was more a piece of art than a Movie. Still worth seeing. We all four felt the blood looked like paint and it didn't give off the effect that it would have say if they used corn syrup or something closer that more resembled real blood.

I think that takes aways some from the real horror of the Movie.

As for Acting, Helena stole it with Johnny coming close behind. Sacha was great, the audience loved every minute of screen time he had. Johnny, he acted it out with stunning emotions but his singing, left me wishing he too worked with Helena's singing coach. He may have been able to sing it better but for some reason, he felt it was better to just not hold out or pound out any of his verses. I felt some of the thunder of the moment was stolen because he didn't sound like he wanted to belt it out with real gusto. His solos could have been better if he tried.

The rest of the supporting cast sang very well. I wish I could have heard Johanna sing more. She sounded much better than the Singer I heard on Landsbury's version of Sweeney who made me want to fast forward because it seemed less controlled.

Toby was wonderful. I loved every verse he sang and almost the same goes for Antony. I didn't think Rickman really tried to sing very much but at least he didn't drown out Depp.

Depp's duets with Carter were his best and I could see she really benefited from her lessons. She could have easily out sung Depp but she was controlled enough to keep her volume tightly under control so that their songs sounded good.

Johnny's singing though isn't really bad. Just not comparable to what I have heard on stage. It didn't ruin the Movie and we are really looking forward to the DVD. It is definitely something I think you have to see a few times to really see it all.

I think Burton should get a Best Picture nod but as other too have pointed out. Since when does being a cinematic artist ever bring you too much recognition at the Emmy's? Once in awhile but many Movies I find stunning just don't get the recognition that they deserve. For over all performance, I am rooting for Carter. Best New Actor it's a toss up between Toby and Antony. They both sang so well.

Best Supporting? Alan, I love him. He was creepy and well cast. The Beadle though was slimy, talented with that cane of his and next to Sacha as Pirelli, it is difficult to choose but he had a bigger role. The guys felt his performance was the most memorable for it's decadence. Had Rickman's part been bigger, I am sure he would be right up there but we all agree the Beadle was the guy who creeped us out the most.

I have to see it again and maybe one of my Son's will probably go back again. My Daughter is planning on seeing it too so I hope it gets all of the attention it deserves.


Costumes, Sets, Music, are exactly as they should be. Well, with Mrs. Lovett dressed better perhaps than I expected for a Woman making messy pies (no apron?) but it did add some to the comic relief that Burton superbly illustrated throughout the entire Production of this Movie.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 9:36pm

Depp's duets with Carter were his best and I could see she really benefited from her lessons. She could have easily out sung Depp but she was controlled enough to keep her volume tightly under control so that their songs sounded good.

I really don't think HBC's singing could EVER overpower Depp. Even if it COULD, this kind of mixing would be done in the studio, not a decision made by the actor.

I think Burton should get a Best Picture nod but as other too have pointed out. Since when does being a cinematic artist ever bring you too much recognition at the Emmy's? Once in awhile but many Movies I find stunning just don't get the recognition that they deserve. For over all performance, I am rooting for Carter. Best New Actor it's a toss up between Toby and Antony. They both sang so well.

1) Burton would not get a Best Picture nod. He is the DIRECTOR.
2)Emmys?
3)"Best Overall Performance" ? Which awards show has THAT category?
4)"Best New Actor"? See above.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 11:16pm

I'm sort of split on the movie. I liked it, but again, I like the show. I thought Carter gave a spectacular performance and stole the movie right from under Depp. I thought Depp's Sweeney was very one-note. He didn't seem to ever change, he never showed signs that he really cared for Mrs. Lovett, so therefore I didn't really care about their relationship as much. But in return, I really cared for Mrs. Lovett. I wanted her to succeed even though I knew she was lying the whole time. Also, I wish Sweeney had known that Johanna was the "tom boy" at the end. I thought it would have given the movie a much tighter conclusion.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see this movie as "the best ever" or anything close to that. I think No Country For Old Men is brillant and should win the Oscar - as of now, I mean, I haven't seen the other "contenders."

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 11:44pm

SueleenGay, do you ever have anything that's NOT negative to say?

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:34am

Carter's performance is nothing short of a disaster, leaching out every iota of humor and comic energy. None of her numbers land and the movie, as well done as it is, is the poorer for it.




Tootie 'The Most Horrible' Smith
St. Louis, MO

Updated On: 4/29/08 at 12:34 AM

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:44am

"Carter's performance is nothing short of a disaster, leaching out every iota of humor and comic energy of the piece and sinking it without a trace. None of her numbers land and the movie, as well done as it is, is the poorer for it."

Well that is your opinion. I thought she was outstanding. She got the most laughs. She created the only layerd character. She was flawless and the best part of the film in my eyes.(I loved the film)

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:46am

wait maybe you are kidding.....

[perfectliar]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:54am

I'll agree that there were probably better choices for Mrs. Lovett, but Carter landed the ONLY laughs of the evening when I saw this (aside from Depp's stare in By the Sea).

[Pippin]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:56am

never mind the enchanted hunter; the termites still haven't crawled out of his ass.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 1:14am

"I'll agree that there were probably better choices for Mrs. Lovett"

well maybe in a diffrent film of it, but not how Tim Burton did it. She nailed it. It is said she is in a really hard year for awards because I think the oscae should have 100% went to her for The Wing of the Dove, she was remarkable in that.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 1:39am

I agree that her songs really didn't land. "The Worst Pies in London" is a far more comic song than is portrayed on the screen. The way the song sits in her voice it is hard to hear certain words. I wish they had brought her songs down to where it's more of a speak-sing sort of thing.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 1:42am

All of the humor they kept in the film landed in my theater, including worst pies.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 3:56am

Sueleen is just mad because I won't send her any free booze. If I cared that much about the awards I would have been more precise.

I agree other Actress' could out sing Carter but they would be hard put to out act her. I enjoyed her subtle ways of bringing meaning to her otherwise ironic lyrics. If she sounded really good than I would not find her to be such a great Lovett. I enjoyed her singing a lot more than I did Johnny.

Yes, I suppose everything is so remixed in the studios these days how can anything ever come out as authentic anymore? Yet still so much horrible music is found on records and in shows. It did not however help Johnny hold out one single note. Even when it seemed that way it still did not come across as epic in any way. Something I really felt he was capable of doing but got some bad advice. Too bad for us. Now it's print and it makes me hesitate to buy the album but I will buy the DVD.

It was all worth it though to see it and soon to own it. I agree, I enjoyed the scenery and the acting. Some of the story could have been improved upon but as it was,with this cast, I heard nary a boo in the audience. Many were laughing at Burton's antics. I enjoyed the kind of early Batman reference in the sewers that reminded me of that Movie near the beginning.

Others could have played the parts but I am happy we have a version with this Cast and Crew for my collection. It has not though dulled my desire to see it on stage any time soon. As long as we don't have them playing instruments. Okay, they can but I'm waiting for the version where they put them down and just act out the parts with passion. No added distractions.

[Brick]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 1:09pm

I'm not sure why people think they are somehow being disloyal to any Broadway procution they've liked if they like the film.

And many comparisons of performances, in particular, seem a but pointless. Did the performances work for you? Yes or No. You can't trade out performances. If Angela, Patti, or whomever were in the film they wouldn't be giving the performances you saw. Maybe you'd hate their film performance. Certainly having a point of reference is important, but it shouldn't be your whole opinion.
Updated On: 12/23/07 at 01:09 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 2:35pm

Agreed. But that said, I found Depp to be boring and one-note when compared to Carter - who showed many levels.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 12/24/07 at 11:17pm

"I enjoyed her subtle ways of bringing meaning to her otherwise ironic lyrics" (whatever that means, but I'll bite).

Too bad you couldn't understand 75% of them. The movie never seemed so inaccessible and esoteric than during her songs.



Pftatateeta
Cairo Egypt

Updated On: 4/29/08 at 11:17 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/25/07 at 1:02am

I kind of agree. I felt like Burton didn't know what to do with the musical numbers, so he would just zoom in close on their faces instead of having to "block" the scene.