Album Spotlight- Various Artists- Sweeney Todd

I had mixed feelings about reviewing Sweeney Todd. It’s not because I don’t like musicals; in fact I love them. It came more from the fear that I would be bitterly disappointed in the updated version of Sweeney Todd.

Under the direction of Tim Burton, who is well known for his gothic flair, Stephen Sondhaim’s music is once again brought to life on and off-screen. Actors Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen showcase their talents (or lack of talents if you will) in this latest version of Sweeney Todd.

What should be firstly noted is that Sweeney Todd is not your average musical. Instead it’s a tale about a Nineteenth Century Barber who slits his customers’ throat, which is revealed in bursts of songs.

Interesting, Tim Burton chose the actors not because they were talented singers (as most Directors would do), but because they were actors first, and singers second. He wanted the film to be credible from start to finish, and the actors certainly do a wonderful and gory job of that.

However, the question that lingers on most lips is whether the actors successfully pull it off in song.

Surprisingly, yes most of them do. Johnny Depp is brilliant as Benjamin Barker AKA Sweeney Todd.

Depp’s character seems to flit between sorrow and rage, and his accent suitably changes between both. While his character deals with sorrow, he seemed to be an incarnation of one of Depp’s previous characters, Willie Wonka. But, once his murderous rage filters through that sorrow, his singing style becomes one of a Cockney punk rocker.

The highlight of Depp’s song is his ode to his beloved wife 'Johanna' and 'Pretty Woman, his duet with Alan Rickman.

Unfortunately, not the same can be said for Helena Bonham-Carter’s Mrs. Lovett. While there is a charming naivete to her character that seeps through successfully on “The Worst Pies in London”; her singing still remains weak.

Having said this, her and Depp are brilliant together on 'A Little Priest', in which they conjure up stuffing Todd’s victims into Mrs. Lovett’s pies. They also shine on 'Final Scene', their voices both growing stronger with each nuance of passion, murder, and rage.

Amongst the supporting cast, Alan Rickman is his nastiest as the Judge Turpin and performs his songs with gusto, if not sounding like they are sung with clenched teeth.

Sacha Baron Cohen is definitely a highlight, and is a joy to hear as Pirelli, the Italian Barber competing against Todd in the amptly named “The Contest”. Cohen seems to enjoy playing the role from start to finish, and this filters through the songs.

For me, however, the real shining star of the show is Edwards Sanders who plays Toby- the boy who befriends Mrs. Lovett. Sanders’ steals the show with his natural voice that is, without a doubt, the best within the film and soundtrack.

Musically, Burton has successfully managed to transform the score from screen to soundtrack without losing any of the Gothic appeal, which wowed moviegoers

Not the best adaptation of Sondhaim’s Sweeney Todd, but still very entertaining and enriching for music lovers.