Mutant Reviewers from Hell do
"How about a shave?"

2007 R / Musical Drama Directed by: Tim Burton Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman

Tagline

Never Forget. Never Forgive.

Summary Capsule

Wrongfully imprisoned scowly barber returns to London to seek vengeance. Also, there's people in pies.

Mutant Meter

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Amazon.com: DVD | Amazon.com: Soundtrack

Mike's Rating: 5 out of 5 bottles of gin offered to underage urchins
Mike's Review: Fair warning up front, this flick is violent. Pervasively so. Graphically so. Remember Sleepy Hollow? The decapitation scenes? Ok, there you go. The camera is not going to shy away from the throats slit in this one (and a freakin LOT of throats are slit), and don't think just because it's a musical the violence is somehow going to be "poetic". If you think that kinda thing will make you queasy, then stay away. I mean it, if you're a wimp who can't hack it then go away and watch something more your speed, like the Care Bears Movie.

"The camera is not going to shy away from the throats slit in this one (and a freakin LOT of throats are slit)"

What? You can handle it? No, you can't, it'll give you nightmares and make you wet yourself. What? OK, but I don't wanna hear a word about it later... and you're NOT sleeping with me and your mother tonight!

I love Tim Burton. I've extolled his brilliance again and again, so it'll come as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed his treatment of Stephen Sondheim's rather macabre musical, chronicaling London's urban legend of a barber and landlady who killed several of his customers, disposing of the bodies by putting them into meat pies, which were then sold to the public. Of course Burton did a great job of shooting a stylish (if overly dark) movie, and Sondheim's music is superior. Let's move on to the less obvious praise.

First off, let's give credit where credit's due: Johnny Depp knocks another one out of the park as the titular "Demon Barber", not only totally disappearing into the character, but also proving that he can carry a mean tune. Helena Bonham Carter, as Ms. Lovett, provides a nice straight-person to Todd's increasing rages, and portrays a believable love for him that edges out everything else in her estimation, up to and including any twinges of conscience over killing a crapload of people. Sacha Baron Cohen is entertaining in a small part, and Alan "By Grapthar's Hammer" Rickman plays Judge Turpin with genuine menace and evil, leaving behind any comedic nuances you might expect from his performances in Harry Potter or Prince of Thieves. Also, serious points to newcomer Ed Sanders as Toby. The kid steals every scene he's in, and when you're talking about the likes of Depp and Baron Cohen, that ain't nothin' to sneeze at.

The only real yawns in the movie come from the subplot of Antony and Johanna's love story, but thankfully only a bare minimum of time is devoted to it. Both actors can sing well and can act decently, but the really action is waiting for Sweeny to open up a can of... shaving creme. Also, I have a hard time believing any sailor is that pretty after years sailing the world.

As the body count rises, the blood flows freely, meat pies are thoroughly enjoyed (tastes like chicken!), and serial killers spontaneously burst into song, all that's left for the audience is to marvel at Burton's beautiful shots and take in the atmosphere of a Dickens tale gone horribly awry. Just trust me, anybody offers you the meat pie, refuse. You'll thank me later.

"By Grapthar's Hammer, what a haircut!" *hums bonanaza theme song* "dummdadummdum shiny scalpel... dummdadummdum gonna cut you up." Harry finally gets his revenge on Snape

Didja Notice? [some sources: IMDb]

• Does anybody besides me wonder if Johnny Depp had to deal with migraines from all that constant scowling?
• That roach just keeps getting away, huh?
• When Pirelli gets brained with the tea pot, I was thinking "Caffeine'll KILL YA!"
• That kid really likes his Gin.
• In the scene where Todd shaves Turpin, he does half his face, but when he stands up all the shaving creme is still there.
• The crunching noises when somebody hits the bottom of the shoot.
• Probably the first love song duet in which the girl is singing to the guy and guy is singing to a collection of razors.

Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?

Indeed! There are words! ...and they go up the screen!

Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]

When filming began, there was to be an inclusion of the spirits of Sweeney Todd's victims (including actors Anthony Head and Christopher Lee), who would sing The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, its reprises, and the Epilogue. These songs were recorded, but eventually cut since director Tim Burton felt that the songs were too theatrical for the film.

Several songs from the Broadway musical are missing from the film, including The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, Ah, Miss, Johanna (Judge Turpin's version), Kiss Me, Parlour Songs, City on Fire, and Epilogue. All ensemble/choral singing was also eliminated, most notably from God, That's Good in which the title of the song is now never even sung. Many other songs remaining in the film have been shortened.

The film was shipped to some theaters under the name "Skunk". If you don't get it, check out Sweeny's hair throughout the movie.

Groovy Quotes

Sweeney Todd: No! Not Barker. That man is dead. It's Todd, now. Sweeney Todd. And he shall have his revenge...

Sweeney Todd: 15 years gone on a false charge, 15 years spent dreaming I might come home to a wife and child.
Mrs. Lovett: Well, I can't say the years have been particularly kind to you Mr. Barker.

Mrs. Lovett: Mr. T, you didn't! You're barking mad! Killing a man what done ya no harm!
Sweeney Todd: He recognized me from the old days. Tried to blackmail me. Half me earnings.
Mrs. Lovett: Oh, well that's a different matter then. For a moment there I thought you lost your marbles.

Beggar Woman: 'ey, don't I know you, mister?

Sweeney Todd: How about a shave?

Judge Turpin: How seldom it is one meets a fellow spirit.
Sweeney Todd: With fellow tastes... in women at least.

Sweeney Todd: The years, no doubt, have changed me, sir. But then I suppose the face of a barber, the face of a prisoner in the dock, is not particularly memorable.

Mrs. Lovett: Here we are. Hot out of the oven.
Sweeney Todd: What is THAT?
Mrs. Lovett: It's priest. Have a little priest...
Sweeney Todd: Is it really good?
Mrs. Lovett: Sir, it's too good, at least. Then again, they don't commit sins of the flesh... so it's pretty fresh.

Sweeney Todd: For what's the sound of the world out there?
Mrs. Lovett: What, Mr. Todd? What, Mr. Todd? What is that sound?
Sweeney Todd: Those crunching noises pervading the air!
Mrs. Lovett: Yes, Mr. Todd! Yes, Mr. Todd! Yes, all around!
Sweeney Todd: It's man devouring man, my dear!
Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd: Then who are we to deny it in here?

If you liked this movie, try these:

• Little Shop of Horrors
• Sleepy Hollow
• Oliver!