Sweeney Todd last night

[tophertilson]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 7:12am

I saw the Sweeney Todd movie last night. The screening was hosted by Stephen Sondheim. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp were also in attendance. This being a New York theatre crowd, they applauded and stood for Sondheim, but remained seated for Burton and Depp.

Sondheim gave a little welcoming speech and a small warning. What we were about to see, he told us, was not the stage musical we all knew by heart, but a movie. If we were to enjoy it, we needed to put the stage show out of our minds. I'm not sure that was entirely possible. In that room, anyway, which was packed with theatre community types. Burton and Depp didn't really say anything. They just waved. Later Burton hugged Sondheim and shouted out to us, "If you hate it, it's our (his and Depp's) fault!"

Sondheim was right, It's not a film of the stage musical. It is an entirely new beast. And for this, I am thankful. Unlike the movies of RENT, DREAMGIRLS, THE PRODUCERS, PHANTOM, HAIRSPRAY and even CHICAGO, this is as much a director's film (and triumph) as it is a version of a beloved stage musical. It's a hushed, beautiful film for the most part. But when it roars, it's deafening. And chill-inducing.

None of this is to suggest that it isn't true to its source. The "Ballads" are all gone, as is "Kiss Me." A few inner snips aside, that's about it. But Burton here has gone beyond a filmed stage musical. He's created a movie operetta of sorts. If you didn't know the piece, you might almost believe it had been written for the cinema.

Depp is exquisite. Bonham-Carter will split the theatre crowd. Her acting is deliciously low-key, but her unsupported singing voice doesn't really match her speaking voice. That said, in the end, hers might be the most haunting performance in this movie. Rickman, Spall, Cohen, and everyone else are superb. The design is breathtaking. The cinematography is sumptuous.

And the music! You think you liked the music before? Wait. Bravo, Mr. Tunick.

I spend too much time on various movie blogs. They all seem concerned that the movie is too bloody to win any Oscars. To which I say - who gives a flying f***?!?!? The film exists. And for this, I am grateful. It's a gift. A big, bloody and bloody wonderful gift. This one will endure. Getting a gold star from a bunch of LA businessmen won't change the fact that this movie has been made. A statue won't alter the reality that this film sent me soaring.

I've been a Tim Burton fan since Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. But he's hurled himself to a new level with this one. And in the process, he's shown the way in making movie musicals. By grafting his distinctive visual style and storytelling technique to a bolt-solid musical, he has transformed both the art and the artist. This is a new Sweeney Todd. His best movie since Ed Wood, and the best movie musical since Little Shop Of Horrors.

So go. See it. Leave behind your preconceptions, if that's possible. Enjoy it for the wonderful film it is. I'll be there opening day to see it again.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 8:14am

After reading this i now look forward to seeing the movie even more now. Thanks.
Everyone on here should take not of the comment 'forget the stage show and enjoy the movie' Im sure in the coming months these boards will be full of people who are disappointed by not seeing the stage show on screen! If you want the stage show its available at all DVD stores $25 so just enjoy Burtons version as it is. It will be a thrilling piece of cinema but it wont be what can be seen on a live stage.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 8:38am

Thank you for that wonderful and detailed review I am now even MORE excited.

With Burton at the helm and Johnny in the lead, I knew not to expect the stage show, but a fresh, new version of a classic horror tale. Seems as if waht I suspected and have heard is true.

I can't wait to see this!!!

[another_reprise]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 9:07am

I always thought Burton was the best director for this project, and I cannot wait to see what he's done with it! Thanks for the great review!!

[kec]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 9:08am

I've never seen the stage version, although I've heard a lot about it from friends who are big Sondheim fans. I'm really looking forward to seeing this now thanks to comments like this and what I've read elsewhere.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 1:42pm

The first tour and Lupone concert were recorded, so I am glad Burton didn't feel the need to mimic what we saw on stage. He took the smart route by allowing the film to speak for itself.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 2:03pm

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 2:06pm

Hey! Who cares! We can look up the covers on Amazon.****in.com! Thanks! Bye!~

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 2:11pm

Amazon does NOT have images THIS large AND they don't have the back covers of the DVD cases.

I posted these for those interested. Its the closest thing to holding the DVD case at the store -- you can see both the front AND back covers of the DVD case.

[James885]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 2:47pm

This is kind of off topic, but did anyone notice that the Sweeney Todd banner ad at the top of the page says "Now Playing" , but the one at the bottom right has the correct date of Dec 21st?

EDIT: Ok now the top one says Dec 21st. But a few minutes ago it said Now Playing. I know I'm not going crazy here.....

Updated On: 12/3/07 at 02:47 PM

[jpbran]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 3:03pm

You're not crazy... Another posting mentioned it too, but I've only seen it say Dec 21 all day.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 5:43pm

I saw Doyle's production twice on Broadway and bits and pieces of Lansbury and Hearn on DVD, but I'm still excited about seeing Burton's take on it. I love his body of work and feel he is the right director to bring this to the screen. Sondheim seems to feel that Burton has done justice to the material and that's all that matters. I teach high school and several of my male students were talking about the film and how much they want to see it, even though it is a musical. Unlike some recent film musicals, I really feel like this is the one that is going to appeal to a general audience.

[kec]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 7:24pm

BradyFosse, thanks for posting those. I was interested to see that Timothy Nolen was part of the concert version with Patti LuPone. I saw Mr. Nolen in the NYCOpera production of Patience, and liked his performance very much. You've given me another incentive to get this dvd.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 8:30pm

I am a newbie to "Sweeney", but I am not seeing it purely for Johnny Depp. I was introduced to it this past summer via some clips of the original cast.

I am sure people are tired of hearing this (I am one who also gets tired of the same question being asked), but I hope to see it when I go visit my mom and stepdad this Christmas. How much gore is in it? My computer's been off at the manufacturer's for three weeks and I'm just catching up. Thanks.

[artscallion]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 9:55pm

Apparently buckets and geysers of blood and lots of gore and body crunching. Well deserving of the R rating, I hear.

[roquat]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 10:54pm

Are ALL of the Ballads gone? How does the movie open?

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 10:58pm

Let us not forget that The Departed won Best Picutre at the Oscars last year. It was a VERY bloody film. I for one am very excited to see this movie.

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 12/3/07 at 11:19pm

I went tonight....it was phenomenal. More to follow.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 12/4/07 at 12:03am

Hmm this same exact review was posted on AICN this morning. But you made some cuts to it. Nice copy and paste job. Hack.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/4/07 at 12:22am

What makes you think it wasn't the AICN job who "copy and paste job"ed it?

[tophertilson]

Posted: 12/4/07 at 8:08am

Excuse me, Carl Magnum? Am I not allowed to post to two different sites? How does that make me a hack? Please explain.