The Infamous Sweeney Todd. Review on Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Movie

*Directed by: Tim Burton Screenwriter: John Logan The Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Jayne Wisner. Theatrical Release: December 21, 2007 Running Time: 1:57 min. Genre: Musical Rated PG-13 Distributed by Paramount Pictures

While my knowledge of Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 Broadway musical of “Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” is very limited because I didn’t get the chance to see this outstanding play, I found its cinematic adaptation to be delightful. I saw this movie at its premier screening. After watching the movie I thought it was indeed very colorful, full of zest, and has an odd twist of horror that captures the attention of its audiences, ingredients of murder, and the macabre are indeed sightful and shocking. “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” tells the story of Benjamin Baker, a man wrongfully prosecuted, and imprisoned by an evil judge who sets out on a diabolical path of deceit. The judge plans to kidnap Baker’s wife, and infant daughter, and marry Baker’s daughter when she gets older.

“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” offers a good ensemble of English actors that are most notable for their acting roles in the Harry Potter releases. The most impressive elements of the film are its wonderful cast, brilliantly done 18/19th century old English gothic ambiance, costumes, make up, and musical lyrics that successfully keeps the movie’s pacing interesting, along with very good performances by the cast, and a well developed storyline. Lead actor Johnny Depp delivers a strong and plausible lead role as the eccentric sinister, and doomed serial killer Sweeney Todd. Todd is an entrepreneur with a vengeful mission in mind. Socha Baron Cohen(Borat) brings on a short and brief role as a scheming black mailer who soon face a terrible fate when meeting up with his avenger.

In this movie, Johnny Depp portrays Todd Sweeney a.k.a as Benjamin Baker a former Barbershop owner who returns to England after he’s wrongly sentenced and imprisoned by the tyrannical Judge Turpin(Alan Rickman-Harry Potter). Todd returns to England and reopens his barber shop, and befriends and begin a fantastical marriage to bakery shop owner Mrs. Lovett(Bonham Carter-Harry Potter) together this husband and wife indulge themselves in a series of vengeful murders of those on Todd’s hit list including the evil Judge Turpin. And eager gentleman that come to the barbershop for a face shave never to be seen again and eventually end up in the infamous meat pies of Mrs. Todd Sweeney/Lovett. Later we see the fate Mrs. Todd/Lovett that ends with a surprising twist. Audiences can look forward to a blissful, and creepy holiday attraction when watching “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” This cinematic adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway musical is splendidly entertaining, well-cast, well-acted, and encompassed with a very good storyline along with a well done musical score.

It’s three and half stars for “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”