Sweeney Todd Movie Review Thread- Page 3

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 12:36pm

I think part of the problem is that I've never actually started watching it from the beginning. It's on TV surprisingly often, so I'll just pick up wherever, and nothing I've seen has ever given me the motivation to sit through the whole thing.

I know, excuses, excuses. And lames ones, at that. But you have my promise that it is officially added to my list of things to do over winter break.

The Berlin Stories is fantastic and everyone should read it.

I should quit jacking this thread. :/

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 12:41pm

There will one day be a best-selling coffeetable book compiling luvtheemcee's posts.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 12:43pm

I know what you mean. I guess I'm just saying anything's POSSIBLE, but you have 30 + years of foresight to say that... the logical progression of time and development means I don't think it would have occurred to anyone to do the show like that at the time.

I mean I know what you mean that the text supports that interpretation in any time period, but it supports lots of interpretations. It's a tight script. Doyle be damned, IMO the most effective Sweeney Todd is one that emphasizes clear and visual storytelling.

I think Sondheim said he never really imagined it taking place on that huge set Hal Prince employed. I know Sondheim has always said he wanted the show more intimate.

I actually have trouble getting into the movie of Cabaret too because I simply like the stage version better but it's a good movie!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 12:43pm

I thought I remember reading that it would be in something like 800 theaters on the 21st.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 1:06pm

I know what you mean. I guess I'm just saying anything's POSSIBLE, but you have 30 + years of foresight to say that... the logical progression of time and development means I don't think it would have occurred to anyone to do the show like that at the time.

Oh, absolutely, I think that's implicit in saying it's somewhere, somehow built into the text's world of possibilities. And that's why I'm saying that given the time's theatrical climate, it was obviously not the way to go. Historically, no, artistically, yes.

I think Sondheim said he never really imagined it taking place on that huge set Hal Prince employed. I know Sondheim has always said he wanted the show more intimate.

Yeah, it's in a piece about the recent scaling-down of Sondheim's work that was in The Sondheim Review a while ago, I think.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 1:26pm

Have you read the play I Am a Camera? I thought it was a bit lame. The musical is way edgier.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 1:35pm

Yup. And I liked it, but I agree that it's a bit boring -- and I definitely of like the dirtier, edgier version of the story. But I wanted to see where that came from. Have you read The Berlin Stories? Not particularly edgy either, but fascinating, I think -- and beautifully written.

Updated On: 12/5/07 at 01:35 PM

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 1:55pm

I haven't but I'd like to. Maybe I'll pick it up and read it soon.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 2:26pm

So much for this being an official review thread

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 2:33pm

Hi Michael Bennett how are you? :)

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 3:22pm

Heh. I was going to write "Anyway, back to Sweeney Todd" at the end of my last post but I figured it was redundant.

On topic (um, sort of?)... there are like two different contests on the Sweeney Todd Myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/sweeneytoddmovie


If I could figure out how to customize my myspace page I'd totally enter.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 3:40pm

Before this thread gets back on topic, I just wanted to tell Emcee and Ronin that their discussion is highly entertaining and informative. It's discourse like this that keeps me coming back to this board. Thank you!

And I agree with Margo, you simply MUST watch Cabaret from beginning to end. Enjoy it as a distinct piece of work, seperate from any staged version. Not only is this my favorite musical of all time, this is my favorite MOVIE of all time. I just wish I could see it in a real movie theater again. I wonder if we'll ever get a deluxe DVD treatment of it--it is long overdue.

[broadway86]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 4:14pm

I don't think this has already been noted, but Tim Burton won the National Board of Review (best director) award this afternoon. AND, the movie itself made the top 10. Woo-hoo!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 5:38pm

http://emanuellevy.com/article.php?articleID=7812

Levy gives is an A and calls it brilliant.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:17pm

I don't think this has already been noted, but Tim Burton won the National Board of Review (best director) award this afternoon.

That's an AWESOME surprise! Oscar Igloo was predicting Sidney Lumet (BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD) or Marc Forster (THE KITE RUNNER).

[pab]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:23pm

"Tim Burton was named Best Director for his film version of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical Sweeney Todd, which was also named one of the group's top 10 films."
Link to National Board of Review story

[MovieDan82]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:38pm

"No movie gets cross the board raves, and there are a couple of major reviews that have been filed for publication next week that aren't as favorable as these early ones" - Michael Bennett

You've seen these reviews?

[lovinlovett]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 10:21pm

God, That's Good!


I just got back from an advance screening in Atlanta! It really is an amazing film that I think you'll all enjoy. Johnny is incredible! His performance was flawless and brilliant. He was such a joy to watch - he totally nailed it. HBC is also very good, vocals are a bit weak for my taste but her acting makes up for it. Honestly everyone else was just spectacular with a special nod to Sacha Baron Cohen. His Pirelli is just too funny! And they weren't kidding about it being bloody...oh my! On the way home I passed a big Red Cross Blood Drive sign and I couldn't help but laugh! The songs all came off very well though I felt that God, That's Good was so scaled down I really missed it and I missed a stronger voice for that part. I especially loved Pretty Women...excellent!


My big questions is how will that average movie-goer like this film? It was hard to tell from the crowd I was with tonight. One man said, "this is wierd". Then I heard a man say afterwards he didn't like it but then his wife said that she really did. There was applause afterward but it was brief.

I hope it's a huge hit!

Edit: I forgot to mention that I was really thrilled to be there! (my first screening) I waited an hour and a half in line. The screening theater was full and crowd reactions were loud! The sound system could've been better but it sounded great even so. I will definitely go see it again in a couple of weeks.
Updated On: 12/5/07 at 10:21 PM

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 11:14pm

At the beginning of Levy's article:

"...who had shipped him off to the other side of the world on a trumped-up charge in order to steal his wife Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly)..."


At the end of Levy's article:

"Beggar Woman - Laura Michelle Kelly"

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 1:28pm

Since there are five official reviews up on Rotten Tomatoes now, a percentage meter (TomatoMeter) has been posted - and it's 100% positive:

"The story is so very strong. The music is so magnificent. And with undeniable performances by Depp, Rickman, and Baron Cohen, the film really works."
-David Poland, MOVIE CITY NEWS

"It's bloody--and it's bloody excellent."
-Christopher Smith, BANGOR DAILY NEWS (MAINE)

"Dark, haunting, and visionary, Sweeney Todd reps Tim Burton's best film since Ed Wood and his sixth and most challenging teaming with Johnny Depp, resulting in a mesmerizing, Oscar-caliber work that should satisfy Sondheim's fans and bring new recruits."
-Emanuel Levy, EMANUELLEVY.COM

"This represents one happy instance of a film made by a director without stage experience that genuinely serves the intentions of the original piece."
-Todd McCarthy, VARIETY

"The show couldn't have fallen into better hands."
-Kirk Honeycutt, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

[MovieDan82]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 1:30pm

Christopher Smith gave it an A as well.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 2:49pm

I thought Emanuel Levy's review was pretty terrific, I'll have to keep reading his reviews.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 5:36pm

This is totally random, but I uploaded an audio clip of the prelude/Ballad from the Opening Night in 1979 on that site.

[RetroBoy]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 6:10pm

I am so psyched about seeing this film! I've waited all year long and it's almost here!!! It's amazing the reviews it is getting!
Updated On: 12/6/07 at 06:10 PM

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 7:22am

Time Magazine online:

A bitter man (Johnny Depp) has lost his wife and child; now he is ready to carve out his revenge. In their film of the 1979 Broadway show, Burton and Depp infuse the brilliant cold steel of Stephen Sondheim's score with a burning passion. Helena Bonham Carter and a superb supporting cast bring focused fury to this musical nightmare. It's bloody great. A-