Sweeney Todd

[avevale_intelligencer]

We watched this on DVD today, after a gruelling drive to and from Bath for a hospital appointment (the nice and almost-easy route in is closed till the end of June).

It's Tim Burton, so there are things one can reliably count on, such as that the colour palette is going to be screwed down as close to monochrome as possible except for scenes which are differently coloured to make a point, e.g. flashbacks and fantasies. That said, he manages to wring an amazing number of subtle gradations from that limited palette, and give the impression of a much wider range. Depp's voicing is a variation on the Captain Jack mockney; I haven't yet worked out whom he was channelling for this one, though it might be Michael Caine again as in From Hell. I could have done without the Peckinpah-via-Python blood splatter, but that is what we have eyelids and neck muscles for. And I couldn't make out all the words of the songs, not because they were unclear, but because I don't seem to be able to listen fast enough. (Spot the pseudy artistic reference there.) Bonham Carter, Rickman and Spall are always watchable and listenable-to, and Sacha Baron Cohen managed a credible fake Italian (i.e. it was supposed to be fake).

The Countess enjoyed it very much, though she found the music a bit monotonous and would have preferred a happy ending. Quote to treasure, from one of the greatest Snape fans and apologists in the western hemisphere: "Doesn't he [Rickman] ever get to play a goodie?"

On the whole an enjoyable experience.

Comments

[faxpaladin.livejournal.com]

He did at least once, by Grabthar's hammer...

[batyatoon]

FIVE CURTAIN CALLS!

[hurdle1gal.livejournal.com]

I saw Sweeney Todd while it was in theaters, and I have to admit, I was impressed by Depp's voice. Sure, it isn't PERFECTLY in tune, but it is ok to listen to. Also, I couldn't catch all of the words to the songs, mainly because of the speed and slight accents as well...
In fact, my fiance wanted to go see it again mainly because he enjoyed the music so much.

Rickman = goodie in 'Love Actually', correct?

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Tep. Also Truly Madly Deeply, Galaxy Quest as my colleague above points out, and probably others. He seems to have mastered the art of making goodies so interesting that they seem in retrospect like baddies. :)

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

He was positively angelic in "Dogma". :)

[hurdle1gal.livejournal.com]

I forgot about GalaxyQuest and Dogma! You're right, he was goodie in those too.
Which reminds me, I need to finish watching GalaxyQuest all the way through...

[keristor.livejournal.com]

I forgot he was in Dogma. Hmm, it needs rewatching...

[hurdle1gal.livejournal.com]

He was Metradon (the voice of God), you know the guy who dresses in black and gets splashed upon first entrance?

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, definitely. Where did you stop?

[hurdle1gal.livejournal.com]

Umm... I've seen it in bits and pieces. I think I saw up until all of the people first get on the good alien spaceship, and then I saw the ending. :-|

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

There are some very good bits in between. Including one moment that made me tear up.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

Nah - cheating husband.

But still utterly, utterly yummy.

And he was the overprotective father of the Perfect Girl in Perfume. Though less yummy in horrible wig.

Definitely a goody, overcoming his bitterness, in Blow Dry, with stonkingly sensual tattooed foot moment....

I'm beginning to think I might be obsessed.

[hurdle1gal.livejournal.com]

That's why I question the goodie-ness of him in Love Actually, since he WAS tempted by his secretary and gave in a little (and still got caught)...

Haven't seen Perfume or Blow Dry, so I wouldn't know.

[batyatoon]

I'm curious -- were you familiar with the stage musical before you saw the film version? Because I wasn't, and I have since tracked down recordings of the original cast and the recent Broadway revival, and now I want to watch the film version again now that I know the songs.

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

No, not in the least. I think I may have known it existed, but that was about it.

Kit and the Widow have a very nice song about Sondheim.

All of those mornings with all of those workmen in all of those wonderful towns
Whistling all of those fabulous hit songs like...um...
(embarrassed pause, back into verse)

[pink-sweater-uk.livejournal.com]

I've been working on a piece about Todd in general, and as a result have re-visited the Caliou/Lansbury and Depp/Bonham Carter versions. They both have their strengths (and I love the film), but I feel that the sheer glee and grotesquerie which Len and Angela brought to their stage version just gives it the edge. A lot of it's on YouTube, if you want to take a look.