Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Ed Sanders
Synopsis: Based on the hit Broadway musical. After hard years in exile for a crime he didn’t commit, Benjamin Barker now Sweeney Todd, returns to London to find his wife dead and his daughter in the hands of the evil Judge Turpin. In his anger, Sweeney goes on a murderous rampage on all London, with the help of Mrs. Lovett, he opens a barber shop in which he lures his victims in with a charming smile before casually ending their life with a flick of his razor across their neck. But not one man killed, nor ten thousands men can satisfy Sweeney’s lust for revenge on those who’ve caused his years of pain. [from IMDB]

Rating:

I have not seen the original nor read the book, so I went into the cinema with great excitement and anticipation. The tale is quiet simple. Benjamin Barker is wrongfully sentenced to exile so as to allow the evil Judge Turpin to lure and capture his beautiful wife. Barker returns years later as Sweeney Todd, his wife dead, his child under the claws of Turpin, and only he with only a thirst for revenge. In a mad mutual pact with Mrs Lovett, the piemaker of Fleet Street, Todd lures unsuspecting customers into his barber shop, slicing them to death, while Mrs Lovett makes good use of the unused flesh in her meat pies. Even as Todd gets his just revenge, he meets a cruel turn of fate that has severe consequences for all involved.

In spite of the niggling plot flaws, it’s all well compensated for in the amazing performances by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter, with notable mentions of Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Sacha Baron-Cohen (hardly recognisable from Ali G or Borat), all at their Victorian Gothic best. The song numbers are frequent and somewhat ease the overall gloominess that pervades the film. My particular favourite is ‘By the Sea’ and basically every scene that has Helena Bonham-Carter pwning Johnny Depp and/or vice versa.

Much bloody love from me! Not that I’ll ever eat a pie with such fondness again…