Sunday, December 30, 2007

• Sweeney is a Meanie!

  Currently Listening Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Deluxe - Complete Edition see related

  Ok, ok Red, I get it. You want my review of the Sweeney Todd movie. I wasn't planning on really doing one, but since you asked, and since I'm still trying to scrub the blood splatters from my memory, I guess I shall have to review.

  First, it's true, I am a Sweeney virgin. Meaning, I came to the theater without having ever seen the broadway version. As a matter of fact, I only had ever heard a couple of the tunes, and I remember the old promo commercial with Angela Lansbury from the early 80s. The concept of the play put me right off -- a slasher musical? Thus, I was never really interested in seeing it.  Oh, yes I love the songs "Nothings Gonna Harm You" and "Pretty Women", and in fact had even sung the former to my babes as lullabies without having any idea how they fit into a murderous romp. But I have never been a fan of bloody slasher flicks.  In fact, I avoid them like the plague.  An old boyfriend took me to see Friday the 13th (the original) on a date, and I never forgave him. I don't like being terrified in the movies.

  Ok, so add all this up and what would be the ONE thing that would ever get me to go see a slasher musical? Johnny Depp.

  Yes I admit, my one and only motivation (at first) was it's a Johnny Depp movie and I am unashamedly smitten by the dark eyed depraved young man with the pretty face. And he can act. Oh yes he can. And sing too as it turns out.

  So, can I write an objective review? I think so.

  It blew me away.

  The movie was dark, and the scenery -- classic Tim Burton -- made me want to scratch, and take a shower it was that real.  I was glad that I had a chance to hear the soundtrack a few times before seeing the movie, because it made it easier to follow the story.  My son and husband had not, and I kept getting asked "what did she say?"   A lot of the plot is driven along in the lyrics of the songs you see, and Helena Bohnam Carter sings them very fast, and you have to listen very closely to get it all.   My son gave up trying to follow the story, and just laughed when the blood started flowing. (he's a bit warped that way).

  The performances were spot on, and the casting inspired. I was blown away with Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin. Even when he's slimy, he's sexy, but he just seemed so natural in the role.  He's not a singer, but you could fool me. His baritone on "Pretty Women" was spot on, and he and Depp made a right fine duet.  He brought a tiny bit of humanity to the role, and at one point, seemed genuinely miffed when telling his friend that his beautiful young ward was 'unmoved' by him.  For an instant, one could almost feel sorry for him.  But only for that instant, afterall that scene came moments after he sentenced a nine-year old boy to the gallows. 

  As Sweeney so eloquently put it "they all deserve to die".   The judge, his potzy, the flamboyant rival. . . even you, Mrs. Lovett, even I. . . but I digress.  Once Sweeney got the hang of it, the killing became quite easy, and gory. The blood flowed.  And flowed.  Dear lord there was a lot of blood.  But it was surreal too, as Sweeney sang longingly about missing his wife and the daughter he was trying to reunite with, while slashing throats and dumping bodies with as much regret as one has of flushing a toilet. 

  I found my sympathies for Sweeney to be completely bi-polar going from empathizing with his loss and longing, to loathing him for his willingness to spill so much blood.

  Ah, but then there's Mrs. Lovett. The Baker downstairs who has the hots for good old Sweeney, and always has.  From the beginning we know she's a half bubble off center - afterall she bakes her pies while bashing roaches with the rolling pin, and fully admits to baking the worst pies in London lamenting the high price of meat.  But she is more than a half bubble off when she comes up with a plan to bring the price of  the meat in her pies down. "shepherds pie with genuine shepherd on top" anyone? 

  It's a given her motivation goes beyond wanting her pie shop to do better, she also wants to be close to Sweeney. Add to the mix a young boy she takes in (after Sweeny 'shaves' the lad's master) and truly starts to care for.  Mrs. Lovett waxes romantic about a life in the future, married to Sweeney with little Toby as their own - a proper happy family.  But Toby isn't dumb and knows Sweeney is up to no good, and when he warns Mrs. Lovett that he'll not let anything harm her. . she realizes the kids knows too much. 

  So Mrs. Lovett turns out, in my opinion, to be even more warped than Sweeney. 

  I will not give away spoilers here, I'm sure if you want them, they're all over the net by now, but I will say, that as a Sweeney Virgin, I was completely deflowered by the ending.  I didn't see it coming at all, and it was like a rabbit punch to the gut. 

  I enjoyed the music, and the performances, but I must confess to watching portions of it through my fingers. It's still a slasher, even if it did have music and Johnny Depp in it. I think I may just keep to the sound track in the future.  That being said, I give it 4 out of 5 stars (one off for the blood).  And all performances an A+ and five stars.

  Go see it.  Purists, leave your preconceptions at home, and enjoy it as a slasher movie that just happens to have music in it.

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