SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET — *** 1/2 — Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman; rated R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, nude art).
As expected, the blood flows freely in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," filmmaker Tim Burton's adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical.
In fact, even the film's titles are a gory affair, as crimson ooze drips from the scenery and the opening-credit lettering.
That might be a little much for some, and in a few respects, this is an acquired taste. But those with strong stomachs will find this darkly comic piece is not just a bloody mess. Instead, it's bloody good fun.
A lot of that is due to Johnny Depp. He stars as the title character, a once-prosperous barber whose real name was Benjamin Barker. He was sent to prison on a trumped-up charge by the corrupt Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman).
Years later, he's been freed from prison and is bent on vengeance against Turpin. He's also keen to find both his wife, Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly), and young daughter, Johanna, whom the judge spirited away.
Unfortunately, piemaker Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) informs him that his wife is dead and that the now-teenage Johanna (Jayne Wisener) is being held against her will by Turpin.
The seemingly helpful baker also suggests Sweeney bide his time and that he should practice his now-murderous barbering skills. And that will provide her with a source of materials for her unappetizing meat pies.
It should be mentioned that the blood and gore here has the same deliberate, unrealistic quality as that in Burton's 1999 film "Sleepy Hollow." (Both show that he's obviously a fan of the old Hammer horror movies.)
And this is an ideal match of filmmaker and actor to the material. Burton's direction is artful and assured, while Depp's Sweeney Todd is both menacing and sympathetic.
(One can only imagine what would have happened if "American Beauty" director Sam Mendes had gotten to make his version instead, with Russell Crowe as the title character.)
Bonham Carter, Burton's off-screen partner, is arguably the film's sourest note, because her singing voice is plain at best. But she is a fine actress and her performance works dramatically.
The movie boasts a superb supporting cast as well. That includes Rickman, Timothy Spall, who plays the judge's slimy henchman, and a scene-stealing Sacha Baron Cohen as a barber rival.
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is rated R for strong scenes of violence (throat-slashings, stabbings and other disturbing imagery), graphic gore and blood, scattered profanity, some suggestive song lyrics and references, and glimpses of nude paintings and statues. Running time: 116 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com