Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sondheim’s
musical turned into film and a dark one at that, by Tim Burton. Remarkably effective and one of Burton’s best
films matching and surpassing Mamma Mia for getting non-singing actors to sustain
a musical. There is plenty of gore and revenge but the tightness of the music
and the flow of wonderful Burtonesque images make it captivating. Johnny Depp is once again most effective in
the lead role and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs Lovett gives an excellent
performance. 
Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron
Cohen and Timothy Spall are among a fine supporting cast and finally Dante
Ferretti’s sets and design top off the work.
For the
violence, maybe I could not say that this is my favourite type of film but there
is no doubting that the final product here is a superior film musical and one
of the best movies of the year.
****+
