Sweeney Todd...A Review

2007-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

On Thursday afternoon, I had the pleasure of watching the musical film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The film was directed by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd), Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs. Lovett), and Anthony Rickman (Judge Turpin).

From the opening scene it was obvious that Tim Burton's unique style would help push the entire story line. Since the 19th century, there have been tales of the fictional character Sweeney Todd. Through these years many critics have tried to figure out what the story is about. I've found that the film is about love and loss.

A young man, Todd, has the love of his life stolen from him by a cruel, self-serving judge, Turpin. Todd is sent away on false charges and returns years later to find his love had poisened herself. Out of desperation through loss, Todd begins killing people. His barbershop is above a meat pie shop belonging to Mrs. Lovett. As Todd kills people, Mrs. Lovett grinds them up and makes meat pies out of them. Throughout the film, the story becomes one of revenge, but Todd isn't the only one who repays a loss.

I thought that the movie was excellent, even with the bloodshed and gore. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are perfect for Tim Burton's style. If the two of them had children, they would fulfill all of Burton's future film dreams. Nobody else could have pulled the story together like three of them. I hope they all work together in the future.

A World in Review

Sweeney Todd...A Review