Sidewalks On The Corner

Johnny Depp stars in another soon-to-become Tim Burton classic, "SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET.” Burton brings his wild and gothic imagination in the big screen version of a Broadway icon.

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The tale of "Sweeney Todd" is one of murder and a lust for revenge.

In the story, Benjamin Barker (Depp) returns to London after a being falsely imprisoned for 15 years in Australia. He has a vendetta for the sinister Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) and his henchman Beadle Bamford (Timothy Spall), who shipped him off to the other side of the world on trumped-up charges in order to steal his beautiful wife, Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly), and his baby daughter, Johanna, from him. Barker takes on the alias Sweeney Todd, a new barber in town. He befriends Mrs. Nellie Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), a pie bakery owner, who tells Todd that his wife poisoned herself and that his daughter is now the ward to the judge. In order to get his revenge on Turpin and Bamford and rescue his daughter, Todd sets up a barbershop above Lovett’s pie bakery. Meanwhile, Turpin falls for the now teenaged Johanna (Jayne Wisener), who is imprisoned in his house. She tries to escape from the judge with the help from a young sailor (Jamie Campbell Bower), who once saved Barker/Todd’s life. Concurrently, a rival barber (Sacha Baron Cohen) threatens to expose Todd's real identity, which forces Todd to eliminate the problem. Lovett, who has a growing interest in Todd, helps him dispose of his victim – and later others -- by offering him a plan that also saves, at the same time, her ailing pie business.

Here's a brief history lesson on “Sweeney Todd." The earliest version of the film dates back to 1936. It was adapted from a story written by author Thomas Priest called "The String of Pearls: A Romance.” Priest usually wrote dark tales that were based on truth and stories that were floating around town at the time. From then on, it has been adapted many times, eventually evolving into Stephen Sondheim's 1979 Broadway musical, the most famous version of the story. "Sweeney Todd" has become a landmark in the theater world, so it's no surprise that Tim Burton decided to take on the film version starring "a little known actor” whom Burton has worked with before in such films as “Edward Scissorhands” (1990), “Ed Wood” (1994), “Sleepy Hollow” (1999), “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005), and “Corpse Bride” (2005).

I liked the lead actors in the roles. Johnny Depp lends his musical vocals to the well-known title character … and, in my opinion, actually shines. Once again dressed in a ghoulish character, Depp, known for jumping head first into an unusual roles like this, sings like an 80's glam rocker, yet he simmers with deep and stirring emotion -- all while putting his voice on display for the first time. So, who would be better than Johnny Depp to take on such a creepy role? Helena Bonham Carter (Tim Burton's real life wife) adds charm to her role as Nellie Lovett. Carter’s dry wit and perverse sense of humor allows her to play Mrs. Lovett with a lighthearted approach.

Other highlights in the cast are Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen. Rickman has played his share of cold-blooded bad guys in past movies (“Die Hard”), and in “Sweeney Todd,” he has ice water flowing through his veins. Playing the classy but conniving judge, he has a chilling and low-key approach to the character. Rickman plays it smooth with an underlying touch of wickedness. The underestimated Cohen – best known as comic characters Borat and Ali G -- gives a note worthy performance as Sweeny's rival barber, Pirelli. Cohen is a master at playing a cast of multi-cultural characters; here he switches from an Italian accent to a British accent with ease without breaking away from his characters sneaky personality.

Tim Burton's dark, gothic vision is a perfect fit for this film. He has created a dank, cold, dark late 17th century London that is full of secrets, romance, and death. The visuals are rich with deep dark colors and dreary sets and artwork. The make-up work is true macabre, with pale shades of gray, sunken eyes and facial effects. The scenery is pleasing to the eye at the same time it's cold and stark. The use of blood that flows from Todd's victims is strictly for show and is not intended to just gross out the audience. It's more for “Pulp Fiction” sake .

Keep this in mind, "Sweeney Todd" is a musical, so if you're willing and able to sit through two hours of music, blood and morbid humor, you can get through this film. Others may not be able to keep their eyelids peeled long enough to enjoy the ironically sweet storyline. The theme of revenge, death and romance is an all too familiar one and anyone who has read Romeo and Juliet or has sat through "The Phantom of The Opera,” would know the story of "Sweeney Todd" all too well. Revenge is a dish best served on a silver platter. These elements make "Sweeney Todd" morbidly entertaining.