Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman
Directed by: Tim Burton (“Sleepy Hollow”)
Written by: John Logan (‘The Aviator”)

By Kiko Martinez

The combination of actor Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton is always something to get at least a little giddy about.

In their sixth film collaboration (their last was 2005’s remake of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”), the duo brings to life the dark and sadistic Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Depp takes on the title role of Sweeney Todd, a man known once as Benjamin Barker, a one-time barber living in London, who is seeking vengeance on a judge who destroyed his entire life. Because Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) was attracted to Benjamin’s young wife, he has the family man thrown into prison so he can make her his own. By the time Benjamin is released from his confines, his wife has committed suicide because of her unhappiness with Turpin and the scaly judge has taken guardianship of Ben’s only daughter Johanna (newcomer Jayne Wisner).

Now, Sweeney seeks out the judge to get his revenge the only way he sees fit: reopening his barber shop and slicing the life right out of him with one of his many sharp razors. To accomplish this feat, he puts his trust into Mrs. Lovett (Helen Bonham Carter, who has worked with Burton five times now), the owner of a meat pie shop located right under Sweeney abandoned parlor.

In a diabolical partnership, Sweeny and Mrs. Lovett work together to murder anyone who comes in for a quick shave. With a flick of his blade, Sweeney ends lives and then distributes his customer’s bodies into a room of the pie shop where the dead will have a new calling in the kitchen (they don’t call Mrs. Lovett’s meat pies “the worst pies in London” for nothing as Carter so emphatically sings during her character’s introduction to the film).

Actually, with her new ingredients, everyone is flocking to the pie shop for a taste of her new recipe. As patrons fill their stomachs, Sweeney supplies more of the product while he waits for Turpin to pay him a visit and ask for a close shave.

Brilliantly shot in Burton’s usual gothic-like backdrops, London has never looked as sinister as it does in “Sweeney Todd.” Along with the perfection in art direction, Depp and Carter together for the first time in a live action film will have you wondering why Burton didn’t match-make sooner. It’s really is one of the best casting jobs this year. Also in the acting department, Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat”) is at his best as a jealous barber who accepts a challenge from Sweeney in shaving skills. Who knew Kazaks could sing so well?

With enough outlandish blood spurting for the horror fanatic and memorable music for the Broadway lover, “Sweeney Todd” is a great addition to the musical-to-film adaptation, which has become increasingly popular in the last few years. It’s a bloody-good time for everyone involved. Grade: B+