Film review: Sweeney Todd
Directed by: Tim Burton
Rating: **** (out of 5)
Review by: Alexa Williamson
As always, Tim Burton has delivered to us another beautiful ‘gothic’ adventure of a film – following in the wake of such favourites as Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands and Beetle Juice.
Teaming up yet again with Johnny Depp (Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Helena Bonham Carter (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), he now brings the musical (set in Victorian times) – about a barber who goes mad, and is bent on revenge, after he is wrongfully sent to Australia and his wife is raped and poisoned by the judge who’s sent him there – to the big screen.
Todd’s revenge focuses on cutting Judge Turpin’s (Alan Rickman) throat and in the process to get there, he also cuts many of his clients’ as well. He is aided and abetted by Mrs Lovett (Bonham Carter) who makes very tasty meat pies out of his victims.
Visually, the film is very beautiful and dark. The costumes, buildings and lighting are eye-candy. The acting by Depp, Bonham Carter and Rickman is excellent. However, it is a a plot – like a meat pie – that can be hard to stomach for some people as the throat-cutting is gruesome and, obviously, senseless violence.
If you’re not bothered by violence then it’s a great film and many find it funny. However, if you are, it can be hard (pun intended) to stomach. I’m glad I went for the fantastic visuals, acting and directing. However, closed my eyes during the ‘yucky’ parts.
