Sweeney Todd Movie Review Thread — Page 6

Oh, I almost cried like fourteen times during the movie. Stephen Sondheim, you have made me into a CRIER.

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Updated On: 12/21/07 at 03:29 AM

I really enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter's take on Mrs. Lovett.

I was surprised nobody in our audience broke out into a Borat voice during "The Contest"

Just got back from a midnight showing (took a while to get back with the snow, then I talked with my friends afterwards). SPOILERS, obviously.

It was amazing. I'm a hardcore fan of Sweeney Todd (specifically the original production), so I've been worrying about my "baby" since it was rumored that there might be a movie made. I was incredibly impressed with what I saw.

I'm going to be brief, because I've been up since seven AM and I'm exhausted.

I was very anxious about the singing, since I've been weaned on Broadway voices. While some like Timothy Spall - "Ladies In Their Sensitivities" should've been traded for "Kiss Me", frankly - were underwhelming, I was impressed with several of the actors' singing abilities. I'm too lazy to look up names, but Anthony, Johanna, and Toby stood out as pleasant surprises. I don't include Johnny because I'd heard plenty of clips of him. Although his passion was definitely surprising (and welcome!). He really put himself into his singing, even if at times (to me) it came across as a little too rock-ish. But those times were far and few between.

What else...oh, the gore. Jesus Christ! I'm not squeamish about blood - but seeing the razor cut into the throats was so disgusting and realistic. I'd read articles about the gore and how it was extreme, but I didn't think it would be so bad. But that wasn't even the worst - what really got me was when the victims would fall down the chute to the backhouse. They fall head-first onto a cement floor. Realistic skull cracking sounds and brain and blood-spattering abound. I almost couldn't watch.

I'm so tired. I would I could be more...able to...think right now. What else did I want to mention? The suspense. I clearly knew every line, every thing that was going to happen - but I holding my hands over my mouth, shaking, gasping at things. Like during the first Pretty Women, when Sweeney keeps almost slitting the Judge's throat - I knew he wasn't going to, but I was just waiting for it to happen. And the whole Final Sequence...ugh. Terrifying.

Oh, that reminds me...that was one of the things I didn't like. That and the beginning of A Little Priest. If I knew nothing about the play, I feel like I wouldn't have gotten that the Beggar Woman is Lucy. I don't recall her ever saying her name, just the "you lied to me" lines and "don't I know you, she said". It wasn't really clear that she was Lucy. And in A Little Priest, if I hadn't known, I don't think I would've understood that Mrs. Lovett wanted to bake people into pies. I can't quite put my finger on it. The audience wasn't really given time to think about it. Mrs. Lovett had barely gotten "if you got it" out before Sweeney realized what she meant. And he just kind of tossed the line of realization, whatever it was.

Uhhh...what else...Sacha Baron Cohen was really good. I was worried he'd be almost too silly (even though he's Pirelli) but the toned-down counterpart that shows up at Sweeney's parlor later completely balanced it out. Uhh...I'm sorry, guys, I can't think. I need to go to bed. But - oh, when I left, I was shaking. I mean, for something I've seen countless times to have that kind of effect on me...it was impressive.

ETA: By the Sea was HILARIOUS. I have the shot of Sweeney in his stripes, brooding, in my head. God. I love it.

Updated On: 12/21/07 at 03:31 AM

I went with someone who wasn't familiar with the story, and she turned to me and asked if the Beggar Woman was his wife. So, clearly there was enough of an understanding for the question to be asked, but not enough to be 100% sure.

Even without saying the name, though, that camera shot of her on the ground with the blond hair is a pretty dead (no pun intended) giveaway.

ETA: The porch shot! With Lovett twiddling her feet. Loved it.

Also, that Sweeney kills Lucy while the three (Lucy, Sweeney, Johanna) are all in the same room? So heartbreaking, with such a strong effect. That was one of the things that was captured so well on film.

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Updated On: 12/21/07 at 03:37 AM

Honestly, I always thought it was quite obvious that the Beggar Woman was Sweeney's wife from the first time I listened to the OBC recording, but judging by the reactions of the obnoxious couple sitting in front of me at the movie theater, apparently it's not that way for some people. ::shrug::


ETA:
Also, as someone pointed out before, my biggest gripe with the movie centers around the way "A Little Priest" was underplayed. While I don't think the big, barking HAW HAW HAWs from Sweeney Todds of yore would have worked, it lacked a certain punch to it. I can see how someone unfamiliar with the show wouldn't quite get what the hell was going on. It also sort of made what little of "God, That's Good" less amusing/horrifying as I suppose it should have been.

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Updated On: 12/21/07 at 03:43 AM

LOVED IT!


I loved Toby, he was my favorite part.

Although, it was graphic and I couldn't watch the killings...too much for me, but i'm VERY squeamish.

"Helena Bonham Carter is so animated, from the tips of her Bride of Frankenstein hair to the toes of her scurrying feet, you’d be forgiven for mistaking her for her stop-motion surrogate from Burton’s 2005 Corpse Bride."


Did the LA Reviewer and I watch the same movie? Not to say that I didn't enjoy it...

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I agree with you buffyactsing.
I too wish she would have been more alive during previous scenes
before that one.

overall i thought it was great adaptation of the stage musical.

13 1/2 hours until I see it. Can't wait! I too am a bit on the squeamish side, so thanks for the heads up about Lovett burning in the oven.

"By The Sea" is arguably the most awesome moment in any modern musical movie moment ever. That is all.

Helena Bonham Carter did it for me, By The Sea and Not While I'm around made up for any other missteps she may have made.

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This is spoilerific, but I'm curious and not seeing the movie until after Christmas when my sister visits, so can you indulge me?




Toby doesn't kill Sweeney? How does he die, then?

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Saw it last night. Brilliant. As slightly odd as this sounds, the film is beautifully made. Completely seamless... there wasn't a moment when I felt awkward about the characters breaking out into song.

"Priest" was interesting since the humor was really downplayed. It seemed like the characters were actually making a "menu" rather than playing off each other's puns. I think I prefer it with more humor but this way was still very interesting.

"My Friends," "By The Sea," "Not While I'm Around," and "Epiphany" were all especially fantastic. The only song I really missed that was cut was the Judge's "Johanna," since it finished the trio of songs about her and developes the Judge's character.

I did find it odd that Tobby, at the end, seemed to end up more cruel and knowingly violent, rather than crazy. I think I like the original way more, since the insanity blurs the line between what is intentional on Toby's part and what is not.

On the whole, still a beautiful, near perfect film. Hopefully it will begin a new chapter in movie musicals.

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