Not being a diehard Broadway fan, Tim Burton's adaptation of the beloved horror-musical Sweeney Todd was a completely new experience for me as a viewer. My quick two-cents? Burton's essentials (top-notch artistic & technical values, dark humour, atmosphere) are all there and this time; thanks to the suitable theme and concept, Burton's creative choices are a perfect, if gimmicked fit for the source material and one of the film's biggest assets. Acting-wise, there's nothing much beyond Johnny Depp's A+ portrayal of the creepy title character (yet that could probably be enough to carry the film through the whole awards season). Hopes for the Big Award should not go up so fast but I'd bet some money now on Depp's third nod.
Stay tuned for our full review and Predictions Update...
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How was HBC?
ReplyDeletewait, rickman and carter and cohen werent good? really?
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait for this movie. It's gonna be great.
ReplyDeletethis is no doubt going to be the best movie going experience of the year, and the best movie of the year
ReplyDeleteVery well reviws of the film and Johnny Depp, amazing Sacha Baron Cohen and alan Rickman and good for Helena Bonham Carter... Doubts for victory but for nominations are very possibles
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely summary review, Johnny.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the Best Actor update. Looks like the Oscar Igloo does think that the race is down to the Oil Man and the Demon Barber. :)
In your commentary, you said Day-Lewis' Plainview is a better developed character... and you question whether Depp's Sweeney character has enough depth for him to win. I'm curious, what was lacking for you in his portrayal of the character? Was there just not enough range of emotion? Sweeney is a very one-track-minded character.
Just curious.
I just have to say that Johnny Depp is terrific and what he does works fine, although I found it a little 'one note'. Helena Bonham Carter is the absolute BEST thing in this movie. She brings a sad loneliness to Mrs. Lovett that is different than ANY version I've seen and it just works. She is sexy, haunting, resourceful and pathetic. She yearns for the love of a man who is only obsessed with revenge and murder and becomes his willing accomplice. The money moment for her is at the end of 'Not While I'm Around' and the realization that sadly creeps into her face that the gig is up and her fantasy 'family' will never ever materialize. This is what makes her ending in the story all the more disturbing. I will be SO SAD if she is not nominated for an Oscar.
ReplyDeleteRickman should be awarded in the first place. But, as usual, he will not, after all he is english... and he is also one of the few actors who really ACT, with all their ressources, he is professional, he is discrete, concentrated only on his work. Then again, all this qualities are not exactly enough appreciated in Hollywood, aren`t they? I do not say that J. Depp is not good, but... he is not superior by anything to Mr. Rickman (except, perhaps, by a few drug-scandals?!?)... So...hmm... J. Depp for Oscar this year? Not for me, sorry.
ReplyDeleteThis movie is absolutely amazing. I have seen it 4 times since it opened, and I plan to see it again (and again and again).
ReplyDeleteThe songs, the orchestration, the cinematography, the costumes, the acting...all of it fabulous. I waited 6 months for this film and I was unprepared for how it affected me. Johhny Depp's Sweeney is clearly haunted and in so much pain you can feel it emanate from him, and I cannot agree more with Darrell in Seattle about HBC's Mrs. Lovett.
I always adore Rickman, who is seamless and perfect, as usual, and let us not forget Timothy Spall, one of the better character actors of his generation.
Burton is a genius, and this is easily his best yet. It is the most delicious dark eye candy I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
Oscars all around!