comment #1

Dan Revill says ...

I think some have forgotten how wonderful Depp can be when he's not in full Jack Sparrow mode.

The trailer looks pretty interesting. It's good to see they've thrown a clip of Depp singing, so that at least some people will catch on that it's a musical (if they didn't know already that is).

comment #2

actionman says ...

Awesome trailer. Depp will get an Oscar nom. Love, love, love the look and feel of the cinematography. I hate musicals but this is one I am psyched to see.

comment #3

IClavdivs says ...

Depp decided to give acting another go then?

comment #4

btwnproductions says ...

I think there's a certain ambivalence toward acknowledging that this is a musical...

comment #5

BurmaShave says ...

Someone let me know when this is up on Youtube. Fucking buffering. The first 27 seconds look great though. I still say this is Daniel Day-Lewis' year, and I'm personally pulling for Viggo.

comment #6

christian says ...

i thought it was a musical. the pasty faces look quite apropos though.

comment #7

Ian Sinclair says ...

I thought that was a lot of fun and Depp looks great (as does Bonham-Carter). Loved the ending, which made me laugh out loud.

comment #8

VedaPierce says ...

Looks thrilling. Do wish we could hear a snippet of HBC sing...Mrs. Lovitt's numbers are the best in the show.

comment #9

Alan Cerny says ...

That was cool.

comment #10

Joe B. says ...

Going to sound like a geeky fanboy, but: I am soooo freaking excited for this. (And soooo freaking hoping not to be seriously disappointed.)

comment #11

lazarus says ...

Christ, that title flashes by so fast there's no way the average moviegoer is going to be able to read anything except for "Sweeney Todd". Either shorten the title or leave the fucking thing up longer.

This won't be as bad as Burton-detractors expect it to be, and not as good as Burton-apologists want it to be. It looks like From Hell and Edward Scissorhands had a cinematic baby, and I don't think it's likely BP material.

Golden Globe for Best Musical is a possibility. And I agree that they seem to be glossing over the fact that it IS a musical, which would not be good for word of mouth if people go in thinking they're gonna see a straight thriller. Better to make it clear it IS a musical, and let word spread after release that even people who aren't partial to them will love it.

comment #12

Rich S. says ...

With Burton's films, does it really matter all that much whether they are musicals or not? All his films take place inside a sort of hyper-reality anyway. The fact some characters break into song would almost appear to be par for the course. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was more-or-less a musical. Pee Wee and Scissorhands might as well have been. The average moviegoer might be misled, but Burton fans won't mind.

comment #13

Edward says ...

I've never seen Bonham-Carter look so awful (this is a good thing here). I hope this is as good as the trailer makes it look.

comment #14

le corbeau says ...

"Someone let me know when this is up on Youtube. Fucking buffering."

Download one of the HD versions, then play when it's finally all there.

comment #15

D.Z. says ...

I'm not sure I like how they tried to update it to reflect current times by inserting the "Never Forget" phrase into the ad. It sounds like it's gonna wind up being preachy...

comment #16

Hopscotch says ...

I'm still not totally sold, but if Depp can wow people with his vocal cords, I bet he'll be picking up that golden statue.

It definitely has a Sleepy Hollow vibe about it (look, production design, accents), so we'll see.

comment #17

Nick Rogers says ...

D.Z.: That phrase seems, at least to me, clearly tied into the story, namely Barker's revenge for the personal wronging done him at the start. I got no vibes of preachiness or modern-day resonance. Besides, would YOU forget if some judge framed you for a crime, sent you to an Australian prison, stole your wife and ... I'll say no more.

comment #18

Ray says ...

UGH ... yet another vacuous Burton exercise in visual excess, without even a whiff of authentic human interaction. And once more we get to see another over-the-top Depp performance to boot.

When was the last time a Burton film featured a character even remotely realistic?? "Big Fish" might be the closest he's ever come to an actual, semi-realistic film. Every single one of his films before or since have been all flash and no substance. And he keeps dragging a bonafide talent like Depp down into his pit of excess.

I mean, it was cool when Burton was in his twenties and just building his career. But isn't it time to grow the fuck up and start making something a little more substantial?? Is it too much to ask for more than a series of pretty pictures and another damn Elfman score??

www.therecshow.com

comment #19

PerfectTommy says ...

Ray - at least you don't have to worry about Elfman this time.

comment #20

hatchetface says ...

Ray, that's like asking an apple tree to drop acorns, a tiger to change his etc. I wouldn't suggest holding your breath.

comment #21

AbeGoldfarb says ...

Aah, D.Z. It's oddly comforting that you can comment on nearly anything in total ignorance. "He never forgets and he never forgives" is a famous lyric from the FIRST SONG IN THE FUCKING SHOW. Still, I know, it's totally lame that they would make it so woefully current by using a lyric from 1979 in the ad campaign. Man, do I hate those trend-chasers.

On a different note, being a massive fan of the show, I think this looks aces. Beautiful design, nicely shot, mean as hell, mordantly funny and, against all odds, well-sung.

comment #22

D.Z. says ...

Nick: "Besides, would YOU forget if some judge framed you for a crime, sent you to an Australian prison, stole your wife and ... I'll say no more."

I understand what you mean, but the way it's being phrased is the same as one of those post-9/11 semi-jingoistic slogans.

Abe: "Aah, D.Z. It's oddly comforting that you can comment on nearly anything in total ignorance. "He never forgets and he never forgives" is a famous lyric from the FIRST SONG IN THE FUCKING SHOW. Still, I know, it's totally lame that they would make it so woefully current by using a lyric from 1979 in the ad campaign. Man, do I hate those trend-chasers."

The phrase may be from the song, but that was clearly not the context in which the lyrics are re-used in ad campaign.

comment #23

bmcintire says ...

I find it a little bit odd that they are masking the fact that this is a musical until over a minute into the trailer, as if they were embarassed by the fact. And Stephen Sondheim's name doesn't pop up until the second-to-last credit screen. Love or hate the movie, at least the trailer for ACROSS THE UNIVERSE opened with the kid singing directly into the camera, no apologies.

comment #24

AbeGoldfarb says ...

Er...yes, it is. In the show, the context is, they're singing about this dude who lives for vengeance and holds a big-ass grudge. In the trailer, the context is, it's about this dude who...wait. WAIT A MINUTE! It's exactly the same! Yeah, no, you're an idiot, D.Z.

comment #25

D.Z. says ...

Abe: The context within the show would not resonate with anyone who's not seen it, but who reads the tag-line.

comment #26

lazarus says ...

D.Z., exactly what angle do you think they're going for? Trying to goad the public into showing up over memories of the Holocaust? 9/11? O.J. Simpson? Jack the Ripper? Not much sentimentality to take advantage of with the subject matter.

If this was In the Valley of Elah's tagline, maybe you'd have something. But as usual, you don't.

comment #27

D.Z. says ...

lazarus: I said 9/11.

comment #28

jeffmcm says ...

DZ, your comments show that you have no idea what the content of the original musical was.

(Spoilers)

Sweeney Todd seeks revenge, and in the process destroys everything in his life he ever loved, plus several other peoples' as well. It's a tragedy. Your standard knee-jerkism is not appropriate here.

Shut up.

comment #29

D.Z. says ...

jeff: Actually, my music professor summed it up,
but, again, I wasn't commenting on the original music, but the ad campaign for this version.

comment #30

MAGGA says ...

I know nothing of the musical, but my gut-reaction to this is to stay away. Used to love Depp, even used to like Burton, but the stupid computer assisted camera moves and gothic make up and theatrical acting are a complete turn-off. Also, the story is about revenge, the least interesting thing in the world for a movie to be about at this point.

comment #31

krout says ...

This trailer did nothing for me. Would have liked to see more numbers, and less "trailer-voice-guy."

comment #32

jeffmcm says ...

DZ, your music professor is wrong and you're jumping to - the only word is stupid - conclusions. You're saying that anytime people see the words "never forgive" that they're going to not just think of it in the context of 9/11 (already an insane notion) but automatically and literally take the words at face value, as if being commanded from on high like so many apes?

By that logic, when people saw the American tagline for Akira (a movie I believe you have seen), they would automatically react in panic and fear for all the millions of innocent citizens of Neo-Tokyo who were about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E.

Stop embarrassing yourself.

comment #33

le corbeau says ...

I think everyone is being way too hard on D.Z. The tagline for a major motion picture is not chosen by accident; it's obvious from the theme and the costumes that Sweeney is meant to be a Bush figure, driven mad and murdering randomly, egged on by his compatriot (Cheney). The "never forget" themeline is thus merely the latest in a line that includes "In space, no one can here you scream" (a reference to Reagan-era SDI plans), "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water" (echoes of the Pueblo incident) and "Two Dads. One Toy. No Prisoners" from Jingle All the Way, which is an obvious parallel to the Iran embassy hostage situation in the Carter administration, with Schwarzenegger demonstrating the new tougher Republican approach and Sinbad representing the (according to the film) discredited multicultural approaches of the left. I believe Baudrillard made this very point in one of his later essays on the hermeneutics of the Christmas comedy as a simulacrum of combat.

comment #34

Bocephus says ...

Not all taglines are manipulative in a harmful manner. Take Garfield: The Movie; "It ain't the Cat in the Hat."

It's obviously a warning to buy condoms for your cats to protect them from the feline AIDS epidemic.

comment #35

D.Z. says ...

jeff: I said "Never Forget", not "Never Forgive". And why the fuck would they care if Tokyo was gonna explode when it was in another country? Bad analogy.

Mgmax: The Alien thing was before Reagan became President...As for Arnie movies, I'd imagine True Lies was a last-minute attempt to cash in on the Gulf War.

comment #36

jeffmcm says ...

Well, DZ, you're still wrong on several levels:

1) Sweeney Todd has nothing to do with 9/11.
2) "Never forget" in the context of 9/11 is good advice for everyone. I'm pretty sure you believe in conspiracy theories, though, so you should do as much forgetting of that brand of garbage as possible.
3) "why the fuck would they care if Tokyo was gonna explode when it was in another country?" this tells me you are not taking this discussion seriously and it's another one of your masturbatory timewasters.
4) True Lies has nothing to do with the Gulf War. It's a military-minded movie, yes, and it has odd sexual politics, and cartoonish Arabs, but nothing specific beyond that.

comment #37

Gus Petch says ...

I'm still not totally sold, but if Depp can wow people with his vocal cords, I bet he'll be picking up that golden statue.

It's a foregone conclusion that Depp will wow the critics and Oscar voters with his vocal chords. Has there ever been a major star who did his/her own singing and was panned for it?

comment #38

le corbeau says ...

Lee Marvin.

comment #39

christian says ...

"Lee Marvin"

BZZZZZ! Incorrect sir! Even Pauline Kael praised Marvin's singing in her devastating review of PAINT YOUR WAGON. Marvin in fact had a number one hit single of "Wanderin' Star" in England and it also made it in the top 40 here.

Had you said Clint Eastwood however...

comment #40

jeffmcm says ...

The cast of At Long Last Love.

comment #41

christian says ...

And THE LOST HORIZON remake...

comment #42

BurmaShave says ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdsKVbINBsU

For anyone interested in playing it on a loop, or pausing on Helena Bonham Carter's cleavers.

comment #43

christian says ...

I can't wait for more computerized swooping back shots. Those are so unique.

comment #44

D.Z. says ...

jeff: "1) Sweeney Todd has nothing to do with 9/11."

The play/musical doesn't, but we don't know for sure about that in the movie. After all, Burton was dumb enough to insert a line used by Rodney King in Planet of the Apes...

""Never forget" in the context of 9/11 is good advice for everyone."

It's acceptable in its own right, but not when used to start an illegal war...

"True Lies has nothing to do with the Gulf War."

It had to do with the paranoia left over from the Gulf War about not doing anything about Saddam...

comment #45

jeffmcm says ...

If Sweeney Todd: The Movie has any thematic relevance to 9/11, it will surely be on the side of 'revenge is a bad idea'. That's what the musical is about.

The Rodney King line in Planet of the Apes was one of the only good things about that movie.

The illegal war in Iraq has nothing to do with any of this.

True Lies has nothing to do with the Gulf War. It could have just as easily been made in the 1980s.

By the way: in your stubborn insistence on seeing everything through a paranoid 9/11 filter, you - yes, you, Daniel Zelter or whatever your name is - are allowing the terrorists to win. As much as the most xenophobic right-winger. You are cut from the same cloth.

comment #46

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