Comments on: Trailer: Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

By: packsoldier

packsoldier — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 07:52:40 +0000

This is my all-time favorite Broadway musical. Sondheim is a genius. I’m interested to see Burton and Depp’s take on this, but it will be inferior to the Hearn/Lansbury version regardless.

By: john1schn

john1schn — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 04:52:14 +0000

I’m not a fan of Rickman’s or Depp’s politics, but I can’t stay away from Sweeney Todd. This is an actor’s dream, to play roles such as these. I had this chance, though my best performance would not have passed a small town American Idol audition.

And I really mean that.

By: emmaline1138

emmaline1138 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:26:39 +0000

Well, not perverse necessarily, but usually twisted.

By: emmaline1138

emmaline1138 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:25:51 +0000

Ugh. Save the people-food for Soylent Green. Never seen the play or anything, but I’ve read about it. It looks a bit on the perverse side. I’m generally not a fan of Burton for this reason.

However, I went to a Josh Groban concert in the summer, and he sang “Not While I’m Around” from the musical. That was pretty good.

By: Captain Scarlet

Captain Scarlet — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:51:17 +0000

I doubt anyone could pull this off better than Tim Burton.

Looks like Rickman’s best bad-guy role since “Quigley Down Under.”

rivlax on November 21, 2007 at 2:04 PM

You’re forgetting the cad of a husband he played in “Love Actually?” Carrying around a nice bit of bling for his girlfriend while his wife gets a Joni Mitchell CD for Christmas. Emma Thompson deserved an Academy Award nom just for that scene.

(Oh, wait? Did I just admit to having gone to see “Love Actually?” My defense: a very charming pre-”Pirates” Keira Knightley. I rest my case.)

By: Captain Scarlet

Captain Scarlet — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:47:34 +0000

“The Feel-Good Movie of the Holiday Season!”

By: Shy Guy

Shy Guy — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:13:27 +0000

Edward Scissorhands II.

By: Mojave Mark

Mojave Mark — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:12:07 +0000

One of the best musicals ever written.

By: Missy

Missy — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:02:52 +0000

Just from seeing the new trailer, I still thing the George Hearn/Angela Lansbury version (available on DVD) is better. Depp is going for subtlety, and I prefer Hearn’s florid insanity.

JimC on November 22, 2007 at 12:54 AM

JimC, I was just typing out a similar comment when I saw yours. I totally agree. I grew up watching the Hearn/Lansbury version and it is terrific. Also, I doubt Depp can really sing this material – Sondheim is difficult.

By: JimC

JimC — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:54:55 +0000

Just from seeing the new trailer, I still thing the George Hearn/Angela Lansbury version (available on DVD) is better. Depp is going for subtlety, and I prefer Hearn’s florid insanity.

By: Doctor Zero

Doctor Zero — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:16:32 +0000

Sweeney Todd looks good, and I’ve been pumped about Cloverfield since that first, enigmatic teaser months ago, but I’ve got to tell you that I just saw “The Mist” a couple of hours ago, and my powers of speech have not fully returned. I watched a packed theatre rise without a sound and stagger for the exits, looking like they were in shock. What an incredible, terrifying, brutal movie… easily the scariest thing I’ve seen in years. You have to put up with a great deal of religion bashing, if that sort of thing bothers you, but if you can get past it, and you like having your cage violently rattled, you’ll love the film. People will be talking about the ending for years. It’s like getting through every grisly, visceral terror imaginable, and then finding out there’s one more kind of horror you didn’t even have a name for.

By: jummy

jummy — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:10:28 +0000

i think depp is merely what one might term an “affective leftist” and a mild one at that.

By: Alden Pyle

Alden Pyle — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:51:46 +0000

OK, slashing throats, revenge, etc, but it’s still a musical. Guys singing while prancing about in tights…I’ll skip it.

By: reine.de.tout

reine.de.tout — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:13:11 +0000

I don’t care for Depp’s political views, but there’s no doubt in my mind he is one of the most talented, best actors of today.

By: The Ugly American

The Ugly American — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:08:52 +0000

My prediction is that Depp will finally get his Oscar in 2008.

By: Militant Bibliophile

Militant Bibliophile — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:26:18 +0000

Hmmm, a Sondheim musical with an awesome cast and Helena Bonham Carter? And you have to ask if I’ll be there? HAH! The fact that my high school choir did the theme one year only adds to my desire (it’s a really complicated song and I’d like to hear it done professionally. We didn’t butcher it completely, but we didn’t do it any justice either).

Okay, now I have to find something really macho to do in order to live down the fact that I want to see a musical…

By: Quisp

Quisp — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:17:46 +0000

“and I’m telling you them pussy cats is quick.”

Thanks for posting this! Love the show, had no idea a movie was in the works and politics aside, the casting is inspired.

The web site says “based on” the Sondheim musical, so I wonder how much of the music they’ll use? That’s what makes the show so amazing, the juxtaposition of the tenderest love song and the realization that Sweeney’s singing it to his razors, that sort of thing. I heard someone use “Not While I’m Around” at a wedding once! Obviously never saw the show.

By: Mark V.

Mark V. — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:02:04 +0000

This is a Stephen Sondheim musical? Un-friggin’-real. He’s done some dark stuff, but nothing I knew of like this.

By: D2Boston

D2Boston — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:48:19 +0000

Depp is a great actor and I bet he’s terrific in the role as Sweeney. I saw the opening night revival on Broadway a couple of years ago… great play… hope it makes for a great movie, too.

By: University Update - Johnny Depp - Trailer: Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:46:59 +0000

[...] Efron Trailer: Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street » This Summary is from an article posted at Hot Air on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 This [...]

By: Hilts

Hilts — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:43:54 +0000

Alan Rickman is a leftist idiot who produced and directed the play “My Name Is Rachel Corrie” in London.

Rickman directed the play My Name Is Rachel Corrie in April 2005 at the Royal Court Theatre, London, and won the Theatre Goers’ Choice Awards for best director. The production is based on the writings of Rachel Corrie, the 23-year-old American woman who was killed on March 16, 2003 by an Israeli Army bulldozer.

My Name Is Rachel Corrie played at the West End’s Playhouse Theatre in London from March to May 2006. The play also ran at both the Galway Arts Festival and the Edinburgh Fesitval in 2006.

By: peacenprosperity

peacenprosperity — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:41:08 +0000

As big an idiot depp is I always enjoy his movies. I used to feel the same way about sean penn but he has gotten so bad that when I see his image I just want to smack him. I wonder if these performers realize they have that effect on their audience. I respect anyones opinion, even though I might not their intellect, as long as their views are given in the appropriate forum and in a respectable manner. Some just go so far that I can’t take them anymore let alone spend money on them. I was turned off by jackson brownes arrogance and insulting statements years ago after faithfully buying his first 9 or 10 albums. I wasn’t a huge fan of springsteen but his voice is like fingers on a blackboard to me now. And cs and nash were heroes of mine but their recent embarrassing performance with chris matthews has left a bad taste. Neil Young on the other hand has made political statements in his music all his career but when interviewed about it he tends to let his musical statements do the talking and seems very careful about choosing his words. I get how he feels, disagree strongly, but appreciate that he doesn’t speak to his audience like we are all morons and need to be educated by him.

By: ScottMcC

ScottMcC — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:38:00 +0000

Lemme get this straight… you want me to see a musical?

On second thought, there’s nothing straight about it.

By: Jack Deth

Jack Deth — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:37:19 +0000

Don’t care for Depp’s politics, but he is a superb actor who pushes himself to take on roles others wouldn’t or couldn’t and make them work.

Alan Rickman can do no wrong in my book. Another great, Total Immersion actor. Look for him and Emma Thompson in the little known “Judas Kiss” to get an idea of their range.

Jack.

By: Hilts

Hilts — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:32:43 +0000

Is there anything more atmospheric then a Victorian London thriller/murder mystery? However Tim Burton’s movies are so loud you need ear plugs.