Never Forget. Never Forgive.Background: This is the latest film from Tim Burton (Beetlejuice), and Burton's sixth collaboration with muse Johnny Depp, who takes the lead as Sweeney Todd. The film is a musical adaptation of the Broadway musical, about a legendary 19th-Century London barber who slaughtered his clients to provide the fillings for meat pies.
Review: As you'd expect from a Burton costume drama, the Sweeney Todd trailer looks gorgeous; inky blacks, Gothic architecture, foggy streets and pallid faces. Johnny Depp's performance seems to be channeling a darker Jack Sparrow -- which looks fun, if predictable. However, the trailer downplays the musical aspect to the film, only showing a stilted moment when Depp breaks into song. Helena Bonham-Carter looks fine as pie-shop owner Mrs Lovett, while comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) pops up in a few shots.
Prediction: Strangely, the marketing people aren't selling this as a musical in the trailer-- and I'm not sure why! Sweeney Todd is a musical adaptation, so it will attract audiences familiar with the stage-show, and Burton's fans are psyched for a Gothic sing-song. So why the cold feet, ad men? Are they keeping the songs a big surprise, or is Burton out of his depth when it comes to song-and-dance routines?
Whatever the reason for the trailer's emphasis on the pure narrative of Todd's life (which has similarities to The Count Of Monte Cristo), the trailer certainly looks promising. Burton's movies always have an unmistakable atmosphere and I refuse to believe the Burton-Depp combo will deliver a turkey for Christmas.
Unless the songs makes the audience want to cut their own throats.
HD 48P (50 MB)
HD 720P (129 MB)
HD 1080P (172 MB)
(Rename the downloaded file to "whatever.mov" before playing.)
