PeaceBang
The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather. Blogging about Unitarian Universalism, UU Christian spiritual practice, occasional cultural and political ravings, and the inner life of ministry. PeaceBang is the alter ego of a small town pastor serving an historic New England Unitarian Universalist congregation.
Attend the Tale Of Sweeney Todd
December 29, 2007 on 6:38 pm | In TV/Movies/Theatre/Book Reviews |After at least ten years of patient waiting, I finally got to see the cinematic version of “Sweeney Todd.”
Before I discuss the movie, let me say that I think it’s one of the most genius pieces of musical theatre ever written — it is, after all, the musical Leonard Bernstein once admitted he was quite jealous he hadn’t composed himself — and I had the great privilege of playing the female lead, Mrs. Lovett, in a 1994 production (Good Lord, was it that long ago!?). I adore the score note for note, and I thought it would bother me a lot that neither of the film’s leads could sing and that so much of the score would be edited out for (I suppose) reasons of pacing and relevance. After all, a six minute song about baking people into meat pies, so charming and rolicking onstage, would just seem like a pretentious indulgence of Sondheim lyrics on the screen.
But I shouldn’t have worried. It’s a fantastic movie. My nerves have been shaky lately, it’s true, but I thought I know this score inside and out, I know all the dialogue, I know all the business, none of the murders could possibly surprise me, and I’m well-acquainted with Tim Burton’s cinematic style. Wow, though. Even with that level of familiarity I was gasping at times, clutching at my friend’s sleeve, and overwrought by the intensity of the violence and the sadness of it all. I was practicing deep breathing the rest of the day and had to play a soothing lullaby CD before bed (thanks, Chris and Regina and Brian!). This film packs a wallop.
It’s true — Depp doesn’t have the voice for the role but he more than makes up for any vocal deficiencies with his acting, his total willingness to get lost in Benjamin Barker, and Helena Bonham Carter is such an alluringly damaged Goth goddess, you almost don’t care that she has practically no singing ability at all. Those eyes! That ratted hair! I assume that the average audience member lost 75% of her lyrics and dialogue since she near-whispers everything but she’s like a silent film star — who needs dialogue when you’ve got eyes like that? I painted my nails in a deep blue-black in tribute. If I could drag around for the next few days in tatted lace gloves and ratty velvet gowns with deep-cut bodices, I would. No one makes decrepitude fun like HB-C.
The secondary cast is perfect — and I so appreciated that the sailor Anthony was scruffy and raggedy as he should have been; he’s so often done up like that sailor boy on the Cracker Jack box and that’s all wrong. Some little English rosebud plays the locked-up ingenue Joanna, with one of those perfect nymphs-and-shepherds pure British sopranos that totally redeemed the often-insipid “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” aria for me. Let’s not even talk about Alan Rickman as the lecherous creep Judge Turpin! Alan, you will always be my heartthrob from “Sense and Sensibility” and it just hurt me to see you get stabbed in the jugular like that. There’s no respect.
Look also for Sascha Baron Cohen as the arrogant mountebank Pirelli — another wonderful performance for our “Borat” (is there anything this guy can’t do?) that requires him to transition from twinkling, unctuous fathead to cobra-like predator in a split second.
So this is a great triumph for director Tim Burton and another marvelous collaboration with Johnny Depp, who should just get some kind of lifetime achievement award for being the coolest actor in the world already.
And will someone please mount a local production of this show so I can try to play Mrs. Lovett again?
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Yay - I loved Sweeney Todd, too! I laughed, shuddered, and averted my eyes …. Going to see it again tomorrow with a friend.
p.s. HB-C was my favorite in the film; enjoyed her singing, too. As a person who cannot sing at all, I’m amazed that a non singer could learn in just two months to sing as catchingly as she did.
Comment by h sofia — December 29, 2007 #
Is it ok to admit that I won’t go see Sweeney Todd because Johnny Depp is the lead? If somebody who could sing were in the lead, I would jump to go see it, but as I’m not that big a fan of Depp anymore it’s easier for me to not spend the $$$ to see the movie.
Comment by Kim Hampton — December 29, 2007 #
… If Depp is in the movie, I’m watching it. If Tim Burton is directing it, I’m watching it. If both Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are involved? I bow down before the altar that was once the movie screen. It’s as simple as that.
There are a good number of people who might not be interested in musicals that would be interested in this movie if only because the leads CAN’T really sing. Think about it; why do some people despise musicals? Its all that pretty singing and pretty music. Meh… But when the singers aren’t really singing, it gives the music a bit more edge. It’s kind of like getting Kurt Cobain to sing “The Sound of Music…”
… Okay - it’s nothing like that, but I think you get the idea. [I do, and it’s an interesting idea I hadn’t thought about. Thanks for the input! - PB]
Namaste.
Comment by John Pageless — December 29, 2007 #
This is my first visit to your blog, PB, and I’ve really been enjoying it! Keep up the good work. ; ) I shall return.
Comment by Surcie — December 30, 2007 #
So, I’ve been having a Rickman-athon this weekend, watching some of his more obscure flicks. If I’m still mourning his death in “An Awfully Big Adventure,” which I watched two nights ago, would seeing Sweeney tonight plunge me over the edge?
If one were to build a classification scheme for Rickman films, one distinction would have to be “films he survives” and “films in which he dies.” S&S has the double bonus of his being absolutely brilliant and massively attractive, and his *living*–happily ever after, no less–at the end…
Yours in AR love…
Comment by Gillian — December 30, 2007 #
I have to say, I didn’t like Sweeney Todd much. Don’t get me wrong, I like Depp, and I adore Helena Bonham-Carter and Alan Rickman is my hero (and I’m a Jane Austen girl all the way, so I swoon for Sense and Sensibility), but I have a few quibbles:
-they took away the choruses. And, actually, it felt like they got rid of much of the humor. It’s a musical for Pete’s sake. Where did the music go?
-Uh, the humor. Johnny got a little into Sweeney. I’ve always picture Sweeney as a slightly deranged fellow driven mad by years of false imprisonment. Johnny’s Sweeney seemed a bit, er, calculating and scary-crazy. Again, it’s a black comedy. A little funny crazy would be good.
-Helena Bonham Carter. I have seen her in some great stuff, but I’m worried she is starting to repeat her roles. She’s done the crazy ratty lady for the past few films I’ve seen her in. She’s adorable and fantastic and no one does it like her, but I hope she’s not typing herself.
-Being a chaplain, I can’t help myself from wondering about the long-term psychological aftermath on the poor kid…
-the HUMOR! The humor! It just didn’t make me LAUGH guiltily the way it ought to…
Ahhh. I suppose I’ll have to be in the minority on this one.
Comment by Rev. Bee — December 30, 2007 #
Rev, thanks for your movie review. I do so enjoy the weirdness of Johnny Depp, and of course he’s the only one who could complement a Tim Burton movie. I plan to see it today. And thank you for your kind words the other day. I’m writing a response in response.
Comment by Debbie — December 31, 2007 #
Jana-who-creates and I made a pact to not see it without the other and we’re finally seeing it in the next couple of days.
Can’t wait!
CC
who saw Charlie Wilson’s War last night with LF and theCSO. That was pretty good too.
Comment by Chalicechick — January 2, 2008 #
PB - I thought you were great in the production from ages ago. I hope you have another chance soon.
And thanks for the review. [Thanks, Jinnis! What fun that was!]
Comment by jinnis — January 2, 2008 #
Loved it!
Comment by Chalicechick — January 6, 2008 #
Personally I loved this movie. I thought Mr. Johnny and Ms. Helena both sang incredibly well, and I am a singer and a musical theatre major.
And to Rev. Bee:
Sondheim himself approved the cutting of the chorus numbers; he wanted different pacing and a different feel to the movie, thus they cut out the random street singing (it works well on a stage, not so well on a screen). And “long-term psychological effects”? Give the boy some credit! He knows it’s acting, and further more he’s not in any of the scenes with massive blood-letting.
Comment by Ruviwen — April 25, 2008 #