The Popkorn Junkie :: Sweeney Todd

      Black, White, and Red are the colors of Sweeny Todd. Old London artfully filmed dark and dreary by Tim Burton suits the story of revenge and insanity. And of course you need red in a story about hundreds of murders. As the film version of the popular Broadway Musical goes on, it becomes more and more red -- and that is how the film earned its R rating.

      I loved the film and almost everything about it. The acting, music, cinematography, art direction, costumes were all great. There is not a dull moment in the film as the two hours fly by so quickly it, um, makes your head spin.

      It always amazes me how people can be so clever as to make you laugh at such a grisly topic. Not that it is a comedy at all. Most of the film is sad story of perversion, revenge and murder. For a few brief moments in the middle of the film Burton raises us out of the gloom to give us a glimpse of a calm blue sky. It was a welcome peaceful moment that allows the audience to take a breath of air before diving back into the dark depths of Sweeny Todd’s world.

      What didn’t I like? Well… a combination of Depp’s make up and his sullen portrayal of Todd was just too close his Edward Scissorhands character, and that was a little distracting. I also didn’t like the casting of Toby, the young unfortunate waif who falls into Todd’s company. He did a fine job of acting, but for a while I thought he was dwarf rather than a young boy – he looks like a shorter Patton Oswalt (Spence from King of Queens). And here’s another casting goof in my mind… Jamie Bower plays Anthony the love interest for Joanna, Todd’s daughter, but for a minute I thought it was Hilary Swank playing another in-drag role. I get confused easily. But the big problem with the film I feel could be a multimillion dollar mistake and that is all of the graphic bloodletting, spurting, and spraying. Yes, I kind of enjoyed squirming in my seat and turning my head from the screen with a gasp, but I feel it will really hurt this film at the box office. It is way more bloody than a Tarantino film and this is for the Broadway Musical crowd – come on now!

      But in spite of that, I loved it. It is an instant classic in my book and a “must see” even if you have your eyes closed most of the second half of the film so as not to get blood in them.

-- Pappy ( 4 out of 4 pops )

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