What is this movie based on? Why is Sweeney Todd familiar to me? For some reason , I'm thinking gangland figure, but maybe I'm mixing him up with David Courtney.
Either way, if you put Johnny Depp and Tim Burton together and you've got a decent chance that I'll like the movie.
I'm guessing that the movie is based on the Broadway show. I have never seen it but I believe it is about a barber who kills his clients and eats them....is that correct? That's what a friend of mine told me and in the movie Jersey Girl they did a song from Sweeney Todd and that was kind of the gist of the song.
So sorry for the delay, Niall—crunched, you know. Sweeney Todd is a musical by Stephen Sondheim. If you don’t know American musical theater (and gosh I don’t know who would skip out on it), Sondheim’s most popular work was probably one of his earliest. As a kid, he wrote the lyrics for West Side Story. But the majority, and most innovative, of his work is as composer/lyricist. He’s well known in the theater world, and not well known out of it.
Sweeney Todd is based on an urban legend about a barber who slits peoples’ throats. On a lower floor of the building that houses the barber shop is a pie shop. It’s the mid-19th century so there’s a bit of scrounging for meat. All of a sudden, the pies get better. By the time Sondheim picked up the story, Todd had found a mission, and his story had turned to revenge rather than mere violence. Sondheim added his own twist—it’s a dark comedy with witty lyrics and some sound musical composition.
Tim Burton has since picked it up. There’s been a lot of hay made that this isn’t just the Broadway-staged musical transferred to film. Rather, claims have been made, that Burton has reinterpreted the material specifically for film. We’ll see.
Here’s a short clip about the history of the story and show:
So I wasn't too far off the mark with what the story is about.
You weren't off the mark at all. Also, in looking back at your post, I forgot to mention that I didn't know Sweeney Todd was referenced in Jersey Girl. That's a film that I should probably rent. Both for the Sondheim nod and because I actually am a Jersey Girl--well raised in Jersey anyway.
I love the musical and so was very nervous about seeing this movie - the thought of Johnnie Depp singing? OK now I see no one will be singing. Depp should be excellent for this part. My daughter is obsessed with him - I'm sure she'll be seeing this first run...
Hey LanDroid, glad to hear someone else here is excited about this film.
LanDroid wrote:
OK now I see no one will be singing.
Oh no, they’re definitely singing, LanDroid. Everyone does their own vocals, though I’m sure there has to be some touching up. Personally, I think Depp’s voice is a little too pretty to sing Sweeney well, but we’ll see. Also, be aware that though the material is the same as the stage production, there’s been talk that Burton’s totally recreated the direction. It’s not supposed to be a stage to screen production—actually that’s what excites me about the film the most.
Alas, I don’t think I’m going to get to see it Christmas day as I originally thought that I would. I think my people are bailing out on me—bastards.
Oh right, here’ s a clip that talks about the actors’ singing.
So I wasn't too far off the mark with what the story is about.
You weren't off the mark at all. Also, in looking back at your post, I forgot to mention that I didn't know Sweeney Todd was referenced in Jersey Girl. That's a film that I should probably rent. Both for the Sondheim nod and because I actually am a Jersey Girl--well raised in Jersey anyway.
Then you are not too far from me in PA! Jersey Girl was actually better than I had expected. In the movie, Ben Affleck's daughter wants to go see Cats but he takes her to see Sweeney Todd instead. Then for her school talent show she wants to do a song from the musical. She did "God That's Good" and since she went to a catholic school they thought it was a religious song so the audiences faces afterwards were pretty funny.
Heh, actually I live in PA now. Philly, actually. Where in PA are you?
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She did "God That's Good" and since she went to a catholic school they thought it was a religious song so the audiences faces afterwards were pretty funny.
That sounds like a pretty comical premise, especially if you know the show. I’d imagine parents’ faces at any school, Catholic or not, would be pretty horrified if a student sang “God That’s Good” for a talent show. And, looking up the movie, I see that Liv Tyler is in it, who is one of my favorites when she picks the right films.
Heh, actually I live in PA now. Philly, actually. Where in PA are you?
I am in a northern suburb of Philly - about an hour from the city give or take depending on traffic.
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That sounds like a pretty comical premise, especially if you know the show. I’d imagine parents’ faces at any school, Catholic or not, would be pretty horrified if a student sang “God That’s Good” for a talent show. And, looking up the movie, I see that Liv Tyler is in it, who is one of my favorites when she picks the right films.
Liv Tyler was really good. I had stayed away from it at first because I am not much of a JLo / Ben Affleck fan, but I caught it on HBO one night and was pleasantly surprised. It's a little saccharine, so not for every taste, but I enjoyed it.
Oh right, I forgot to mention, I got to see Sweeney Todd on Christmas, as I had originally hoped. It was meh. I was impressed with the overall production. But I was disappointed with both Depp and Carter’s performances. Which, I guess, could say a lot for Burton’s direction. But I think it probably says more for Sondheim and Wheeler’s work. One of the better movie-musicals I’ve seen, but nothing compared to watching a good stage version.
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OK now I see no one will be singing. Depp should be excellent for this part. My daughter is obsessed with him - I'm sure she'll be seeing this first run...
