Movie Monday: Sweeney Todd

I didn't want to do back-to-back Tim Burton reviews, but since today was Stephen Sondheim's birthday I feel obliged to share the joy of his finest musical's film adaptation with you.

A stretch? Maybe, but nobody else ever wants to talk about Sweeney Todd.

Basically, Sweeney Todd is a stock revenge story that's also a musical and has Alan Rickman in it.

Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is wrongfully imprisoned in order to make way for the evil Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) to steal his wife (somebody who isn't important).

After years of sweating in a horrible prison under a false charge, Barker escapes. He adopts the name Sweeney Todd and is saved by the young sailor Antony (Jamie Campbell Bower) while floating lost at sea.

They return to London, where Todd seeks out his former neighbor, Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter). She always loved him but he was married, yadda yadda, generic revenge story stuff. Anyway, turns out his wife poisoned herself and the judge has his daughter, so now he's pissed.

He starts his barber shop back up and starts killing people. Sacha Baron Cohen plays an Italian guy. I won't spoil the story for you.

The film is violent and horrifying in a number of ways. Like, Kill Bill levels of blood. But it's also a delightful story about the dysfunctional little "family" Todd makes while questing for his vengeance.

So if you think the plot sounds a little cookie-cutter, I won't call you out on it. It goes a lot more dark than most movies, but it still follows a pretty clear format. But the songs are so good! Some of my colleagues (ALLI) think it was stupid, but I really enjoy the soundtrack.

I like musicals, so I thought Sweeney Todd was one of the best movies ever made it. When it came out on DVD I watched it like 5 times a week at least for a month and a half. I still sing songs about murder and revenge in the shower (in a totally nonthreatening way). They're catchy and easy to follow, but they're also kind of creepy and disturbing in a fun way.

Rent Sweeney Todd.