Sweeney Todd OST
Monday, 17 Dec 2007 10:33
Depp stars as the Demon Barber.
Nonesuch Records/Warner Bros., out now .
In a nutshell…
Gorblimey! Johnny Depp sings Cock-er-nee!
What's it all about?
Based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim, director Tim Burton gets to indulge his love of all things gothic yet again as he teams up one more with Johnny Depp, seemingly his on-screen alter ego, to breathe cinematic life into the tale of Fleet Street's infamous barber.
Who's it by?
Music and lyrics come courtesy of the legendary Stephen Sondheim based on the stage musical he composed with Hugh Wheeler, whose book provided the inspiration for both the stage and film versions.
Of course, director Tim Burton has a definite hand in the soundtrack acting as its executive producer.
As an example…
"I will have vengeance/I will have salvation!" – Epiphany
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
If there is any justice in Grammy-land then we should be seeing Burton's unruly mop of hair and Depp's chiselled features atop tuxedoes as the duo are suitably honoured by the great and good.
What the others say
"On the whole, the actors perform with gusto." – bbc.co.uk
"Who knew Johnny Depp could sing? Or Alan Rickman or Sacha Baron Cohen for that matter. Discovering just how good is one of the many delights of listening to the soundtrack – whether you've seen the film or not." - IndieLondon
So is it any good?
Okay, I'll admit it, I don’t mind a musical now and then. And Sweeney Todd fits the bill nicely as it neatly darkens the era of My Fair Lady and The Phantom Of The Opera with a touch of Oliver!
It's chockful of the requisite verbal extravagance thanks to Sondheim's skilful writing but overlaid with Burton's penchant for gothic menace, and he's dipped into similar territory with The Nightmare Before Christmas and Batman Returns was a musical in all but name.
With Sweeney Todd you get to hear Johnny Depp make a decent fist of imbuing his vocals with a violent anticipation that makes the listener a co-conspirator in the barber's revenge plans.
Depp's cockney growl is majestically countered by Helena Bonham-Carter's lilting tones, and the stunning, measured voice of Alan Rickman as Todd’s nemesis Judge Turpin.
The soundtrack acts as the perfect aperitif to the movie, drink it in!
8/10
Lee Davis
"This is the most amazing film, and the soundtrack is immense. The best song by far is My Friends, with Sweeney's and Mrs Lovett's vocals :)" - Heather
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