Review of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) by J.k. — 03 Jan 2008
Has a case of high expectations pulled the wool over our eyes? The emperor has no clothes with this one. Brilliant set design, inspired casting, flawless performances, and technical mastery all can't make up for the fact that this film has no soul.
The bit of audience empathy Burton stirs up for Todd is frozen in minutes by his humorless misanthropy. Soundheim's lyricism does bring needed life to the film. The tunes are good, but not great.
They are ultimately forgettable and inadequate supports for the weight of so much mindless gore. With the lack of emotional center, by the time the blood really starts to spurt, each beautiful cut makes me cringe.
Somehow the film is much less than the sum of it's parts. Despite truly lovely performances from all, by midway through I don't care anymore, and I'm less enjoying a film than simply waiting for the gore to end.
This review of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) was written by J.k. on 03 Jan 2008.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has generally received very positive reviews.
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