I FINALLY had the opportunity to see the Tim Burton directed version of Sweeney Todd. I knew I had to see this film when it was first announced! I love some of the things Burton does in his directorial visions, yet lately I find myself tiring of the same old thing; if you keep painting pictures with the same colours each time, sure people will know the artist, but for how long will they care?
Despite my excitement in the possibilities of Depp and Burton re-teaming and the material being dark enough, maybe even too dark, for Burton's talent, I had become wary of the movie. When I first saw the trailer for the film I was immediately let down by the look of the film and then of course everybody with a tongue suddenly turned up to praise the film (never a good thing...remember Titanic?)
So, here are my humble thoughts about a film that, while it is not an epic failure (again, see Titanic...well, actually don't), just did not live up to the potential of everyone involved:
I was actually thrilled at the very beginning of the film when the grand music began at the opening logos, I thought if the rest of the music was this grabbing then this may be alright after all. Alas, it was not.
The style of the film, from opening to end, was definitely Burton, although that worked against the film in many places. I should state hear that I am fully aware that some of what I will find ill within the film was a choice of style, I am aware, just not thrilled anymore.
The first musical number at the opening gave me fair warning to both faults in the editing and to Depp's singing abilities (I love the man's work upon film dearly, but this semi-Bowie tone failed to impress me, it felt like he was talking more than singing...if only). The editing jarred me in some of the songs because the studio recordings they used to sync with the filmed performance was not always the same. The emotion in Depp's eyes and his mannerisms while he sings during the filming of the boat scene, you can clearly see more raw emotion and power than the version of the song he did in the studio that we heard instead. Also, many times in the film this happens with other characters too and even worse, sometimes it looks like they were not singing during filming at all, but already lip-syncing and that took me out of the film as well.
The greatest failure in the film was Sacha Baron Cohen, as he was the most notable of the non-singers and then even worse his performance seemed to be meant for a certain comedic relief (when none was needed no less), which just did not work well with this film for me, it seemed far too planned and unnatural(yes, I am aware this is based from, and is, a musical). Usually Burton has dark films, but any comedy that comes in feels more natural and appropriately placed. Cohen's entire performance (thankfully short-lived) was just like any of his other performances, merely what he can do...and he does not do them very well to begin with.
This film needed a tighter edit and maybe would have actually been better off with less singing, I can't count how many times I wanted to see all the singing stop and have Burton come on the screen and say "just kidding" and then the real film would start.
There were two brilliant moments in the film though, yes I did enjoy some of it. I loved the interaction and how the scene flowed when Judge Turpin(Alan Rickman)was in the barber's chair for the first time, also the scene when anyone with a lesser mind finally finds out that the true demented person in the film is actually Mrs. Lovett(Helena Bonham Carter)and we are treated to an absurdly whimsical romantic montage viewed from the deluded mind of Lovett.
My last complaint is with the musical numbers themselves, which I can only assume are mostly from the actual musical having never seen it (which I now believe I may search out on DVD). Most of the songs were lyrically worthless, not all, but most and each one of them had been composed even worse. I hate to say it, but I truly missed a Danny Elfman score hear (yes, I purposely wrote that).
So, while not a complete waste of film, though close enough, I find Sweeney to be my least favourite of Burton's work. I think I have had my fill of the gloomy look and painted face genre he has uncomfortably settled in with. This film should have been better, although I wonder if the brief hiatus in filming (necessary as it was) hurt the film. I think I may try yet another viewing of the film down the road, but until then it can sit in a pool of its own tomato soup looking blood (did anyone else find that odd?).
The Burton who gave us Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow (remember, when this style was original) and especially Big Fish, please return to form again.
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