LITERAL REMAINS

It seems a little odd that the tale of a murderous barber who uses his victims’ remains to make meat pies would be the ideal subject matter for a Broadway musical.  But Stephen Sondheim thought so, and it only seems natural that Tim Burton would come along almost three decades later and do the film version.

I like Tim Burton’s works, even the failures, or perceived failures.  Sleepy Hollow is one of my all time favorite films, and I like his remake of Planet of the Apes better than the original.  Go ahead, call me blasphemous, call me not-right-in-the-head, but it’s true and I stand by my statements (I thought the original Planet was boring).  For some reason, I had never seen Sweeney Todd:  Demon Barber of Fleet Street; not that I don’t like musicals, I do–I’m a healthy heterosexual man who likes Seven Brides For Seven Brothers–but I guess I just had not gotten around to seeing Sweeney.

All that was rectified New Year’s Day.  I watched Sweeney Todd, and though it isn’t Seven Brides, it is my kind of musical.  Johnny Depp is perfectly crazed as the mad barber out for revenge on the man who stole his family, ruined his life, and had him falsely imprisoned.  The movie has a wicked sense of humor– a mad, pitch black, sense of humor.  It’s a great juxtaposition, heartfelt songs played against jets of blood firing off like broken water hydrants from the jugular.

Sweeney Todd has a little something for most everyone.  The ladies can dig on the bittersweet tale, while those manly men who cringe at the thought of a musical can at least see some wicked blood splatter.  Fans of film, you’ll just be in heaven nonetheless.

I wish I had seen this one sooner.  Love, romance, comedy, revenge, murder, cannibalism, tragedy…there is not much else you ask for from a musical, or a good movie.

the_novacula