I've been--how to put it?--conflicted about the notion of Tim Burton's film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd ever since it was first announced. This puts some concerns to rest, even as it creates more:
First of all, it's hard to guess what the movie's like from watching a trailer, especially these days. They're cut the same way, and this has all the usual elements: Whooshing transitions from shot to shot, generic narrator, generic music.
The most infuriating thing about this trailer, of course, is how it works overtime to hide the fact that the movie in question is a musical. Sure, we hear Johnny Depp kinda sorta breaking into song at one point, but is this the best way to sell this picture? Will audiences showing up for the bloody thriller this seems to promote be surprised by all the singing? Why even make the movie, then try to hide its nature?
Based on what can be gathered from this, however, I have qualms. I realize this is an adaptation, and is not honor bound to follow Hugh Wheeler's book for the musical, but clearly the title character's backstory, merely alluded to in the play, has been given an elaborate visualization. This seems an insult to an audience's intelligence--underline the point or else we'll miss it--and by showing us Sweeney's presumed-dead past love, it would give away a major climactic surprise...assuming that plot point is still included.
Then, of course, there's Depp's singing. From the brief snippet we here, his voice seems rather thin, and I suspect they may have tried to adapt the more operatic passages of Sondheim's score into rhythmic dialogue, easier for Depp to handle. Again, why do this project if your leading man isn't up to the challenge?
Of course, I'm just guessing. There's no doubt Depp looks like he belongs in this world, and he seems to have thrown himself into the role with real dedication. Certainly this is a gorgeously produced film, but with this material, there's only one way to evaluate it: It will either work or it won't. If it works, it will be thrilling. If it doesn't, it'll be awful. There's no middle ground.
