I saw Sweeney Todd yesterday, mostly because Tim Burton's main cameraman was the director of photography on my student film and I really, really needed to see his name in the credits — as you can imagine.
Did you know that Sweeney Todd is a musical? I didn't. Any time I've seen a musical I've spent the whole film telepathing furiously to the actors: "Please don't sing. Whatever you do just please do not start singing". Johnny Depp must have forgotten to switch his telepather to vibrate though, because he completely ignored me and sung his little heart out all the way through.
There's only one musical that I like, and that's West Side Story: that classic tale of two dangerous gangs of guys as they, um, ballet-dance their way around New York.
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Aside from the singing do you recommend it? Does the gore and blood out weigh the singing?
ReplyDeleteAt first the production design is really beautiful – dark and gothic and beautifully shot. But it gets a bit much after a while, there's not much reprise. There's a great sequence towards the end where it gets all sunny and colourful, but apart from that it's quite monotonous.
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of blood and gore, yes, it's all very theatrical.
I recommend it if you're a Tim Burton fan.
I love musicals! Well, except for all that singing and dancing.
ReplyDeleteThe only one I can stomach is Camelot.
When I saw the previews for Sweeney Todd I thought it was Edward Scissorhands II.
I guess it kind of is.
(they should have known better after Crybaby)
Yeah, he looked VERY Edward Scissorhandsy, I think it was a kind of homage in a way.
ReplyDeleteCabaret's good. And Guys and Dolls.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm very fond of Calamity Jane with Doris Day, but am not a gaymosexualist.
Not mad about proper musical meself but what about stuff like Willie Wonka and the chocolate factory, Bugsy Malone, Rocky Horror, Oliver, Wizard of Oz, The Blues Brothers etc?
ReplyDeleteI'm not usually a big fan of musicals and that was by far the most musical musical I've ever seen. I mean it was 90% singing 10% talking. But I loved it, sure I thought I'd like it as it's a Johnny Depp/Tim Burton film.
ReplyDeleteWho knew Johnny Depp could sing ? And Borat?
Time magazine said JD deserves the oscar for Sweeney Todd and I ain't gonna argue.
Oh and all the blood is really coool. !
I remember so well buying 'West Side Story', I think it is my only passable musical but that is because of the writer and composer.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tim, aren't you a bit young to be a Doris Day fan?
I loathe musicals. The music always seems a completely artificial interruption of the story. Plus the totally contrived way they sing and dance. I just don't get it.
ReplyDeleteditto on West Side Story- it's the only musical I can stand. Wild horses couldn't drag me to Sweeney Todd.
ReplyDeleteHello Ms Rhiannon.
ReplyDeleteMusicals need to be avoided at all costs, I'm afraid. There is simply no excuse for them. My girlfriend, unfortunately, is a staunch and dribbly fan of Bollywood films - and this fact has caused me untold misery in the past. (Although there was once a good musical extravaganza about cricket that came out of Bollywood. It lasted for about three days, if memory serves, and I may very well have been dancing by the end, but this is entirely by the by - so back off.)
So yes, I have every sympathy with you. But the thought of Sweeney Todd as a musical, however, is v. funny indeed. There is surely no way you kept a straight face throughout?
I look forward to seeing a musical about The Soham Murders or genocide in Rwanda. And by "look forward to", of course, I mean "dread".
Don't go to see any more musicals, k? K.
Apart from that, we're sweet.
Kind regards etc....
TPE
The worst musical ever is 'Across the Universe'. It's just so...sad. All those Beatles songs and not much going on. I think 'Cabaret' is a masterpiece and I love Grease; it's so gloriously kitschy.
ReplyDeleteSweeney Todd made me want to slash my own throat, it was so excrutiatingly dull. Those songs just droned on and on and on without even adding anything to the story. They weren't even very good songs, they were just dreary dirges which served no purpose other than to ruin what could have been a great film.
ReplyDeletewow! such incredible musicalism being expressed in these comments! don't we all know that isms and aren't supposed to be PC?
ReplyDeletei used to dream of being a musical theatre star, took all the classes, when to a performing arts high school and all that biz, and then totally OD'ed on them by the time i was 18.
from time to time i foray back into that former life by taking one in. sweeny todd was admittedly, pretty fun. and even though johny depp started his careeer as a rock star, i firmly believe he just shouldn't ever sing. ever again.
Johnny Depp looks quite Scissorhandy in most of his films (think 'Headless Horseman'). Dancer in the Dark is also a musical, but like Sweeney Todd not a normal one.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't been able to watch Dancer in the Dark all the way through and I'm a Bjork fan.
ReplyDeleteNo, sorry people, but West Side Story is still the only musical I like. Although I do remember dancing around the living room to "These are a Few of My Favourite Things" as a child. I think I liked the bit about puppy dog's noses.
lc, couldn't disagree more. The music in Sweeney Todd is brilliant, far higher standard than in most musicals. Went to see it when the Icelandic Opera Company staged it 3-4 years ago and loved it. But then we had excellent singers for the parts, I sort of can't imagine JD beats the lead we had...
ReplyDeleteOh God, I was thinking about going to see this until I read your post.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much the musical thing (though, grown men and women suddenly bursting into song during their ordinary day IS a pain in the hole) that's putting me off, it's the film being shot all dark and gothic..Sigh. Will it never end?
I saw the Da Vinci Code a few weeks ago and Sweet Divine Jesus it was the blackest thing I've ever seen, I mean literally black! There was nothing on the screen, it had been shot in such darkness to create 'atmosphere' that I couldn't actually see anythign! I sat watching my black television screen for two hours while Tom Hanks' voice occassionally bellowed out. By the end of it my eyes were so sore from squinting trying to make SOMETHING out that I was half blind. I had to wear an eye patch for days! Ah har me hearties.
Why? Why do directors/producers/whatever do that? Why shoot something in complete darkness? There's atmosphere and there's atmosphere!
Er, in case you didn't get that, I won't be going to see this. Thanks for the heads up!
(KnackeredKaz - can't remember my password to sign in)
Okay, in fairness to musicals, I have to admit that lots of them have very catchy music. I mean, who doesn't know at least one song from The Sound of Music or Grease or The Jungle Book whatever? But the music in Sweeney Todd was just... meh.
ReplyDeleteAt no point did I feel like getting up, twirling around, and singing along. And I can't remember ANY of the melodies today.
Kaz: there is a very beautiful sequence towards the end where they go on holiday by the sea. But instead of breaking up the darkness it just kind of exaggerates it. I think he went overboard with the gloom.
ReplyDeleteI didn't, Annie. No, it's true.
ReplyDeleteI thought Sweeney Todd was a demon barber.
I can't wait for Sweeny Todd, as I A) Am a maniacal TB fan B) Want to have JD's babies C)Want to impregnate Helena Bonham Carter (I'd sooo bonham her carters...) and D) Love musicals so long as they are kinda fucked up.
ReplyDeleteHence I love musicals like Rocky Horror, and Paint Your Wagon (Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood singing!) but hate with an unholy passion "typical" musicals. My vision of hell is having to watch Westside Story and Oklafarginhoma for all eternity...
I'd love to see it but I'm a wimp and can't watch gore. Plus I'm not sure I could handle all that singing - I like musicals but not where there's more singing than dialogue.
ReplyDeletePS. love your name too :) and the 'daaaaad' comment, i giggled
Annie! I can't believe you don't like Annie! (as in the little orphan version). Ahhh, I can remember dancing round the living room singing, but mine was 'the sun'll come out TOMORROW...' etc. My brothers still remind me. The gits.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I'm one of those musical lovers here....
ReplyDeleteWhen I was bored in class I used to imagine everyone suddenly breaking out into synchronized song and dance in the middle of class. That would have been cool.
Obviously, I'm not cool... and I have a tendency to randomly break out in song... and possibly even a dance step or two if I think no-one is watching.
You do realise Stephen Sondheim who wrote the score for Sweeney Todd, also wrote the lyrics for West Side Story?
ReplyDeleteHe should have stuck to writing lyrics. The music for Sweeney Todd was... blah.
ReplyDeleteThat's my favourite - and quite a bit better sung than in the movie...
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ! Does no one know that S.T. is a musical? It's only my favorite musical of all time! The songs are brilliant! Who ARE you people? Oh, and Sweeney could make short work of your light in the loafers "gangsters" any day of the week. Bring it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I didnt realize it either. Hated that, same as you.
ReplyDelete>I still haven't been able to watch
ReplyDelete>Dancer in the Dark all the way
>through and I'm a Bjork fan.
You'll have missed the happy ending then ....