Steinesongo Too many fans seem to be blown away

MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Ginger Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

richieandsam SWEENEY TODD.It's not bad.I have seen the Tim Burton version of this story and absolutely loved it. I am a massive Tim Burton fan, and in fact it is one of my favourite Tim Burton movies.This version of the story was made before Tim's version. It was made for TV apparently and stars Ray Winstone as Sweeney Todd.Ray is alright in this, but there are times where he is not very believable in this film. I like Ray, I think he has made some great films, but maybe this one was not for him. They could have found someone better to play Sweeney.There are some really great supporting cast in this film though... it has got Essie Davis playing Mrs Lovett. Essie does a great job. I felt sorry for her a lot of the time in the movie. It also has David Warner, Tom Hardy and David Bradley in it... David Warner is brilliant as always, Tom Hardy plays a detective really well and David Bradley plays Sweeney's father. David Bradley is great in this... but have you noticed how in every film he looks the same? Haha! He is always gonna be Filch to me. JThe effects were alright in most places, but there were a couple of times where I thought the blood looked too unrealistic. Way too thick, it looked like paint.There were quite a lot of changes in the story in this one compared to the Tim Burton version, but they are both similar also.I will give this movie 7 out of 10...I really enjoyed watching this movie and love the story... but it is not Ray's best work.For more reviews please like my Facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ordinary-Person-Movie- Reviews/456572047728204

JoeytheBrit Dave Moore's TV version of the infamous tale of the bloodthirsty barber Sweeney Todd unsurprisingly bears little relation to Tim Burton's musical version released the following year. This one is much more matter-of-fact in its portrayal of Todd's descent into madness, and gives his motive for killing as revenge for being jailed in Newgate prison as a child for a crime committed by his father. Initially, there is a skewed sense of justice to Todd's reason for killing off his clients but, as his blood lust (and feelings for the neighbouring Mrs Lovett) grows stronger his reasons become less calculated.Ray Winstone plays Todd. He is a fine actor, but loses some of his screen presence by choosing to underplay the role, his voice rarely betraying any kind of emotion. Despite this it's a choice that suits the character, even if it doesn't the actor. Cutting up his victims in the cellar of his barber shop, stripped to the waist, his bare head gleaming white and his mouth slack, Winstone makes a truly grotesque monster, one made all the more frightening because he is otherwise an extremely quiet and ordinary man.There's a lot of violence in the film, a lot of slit throats and mutilation of corpses, but, again, it's not given any kind of sensationalistic value. Essie Davis plays Mrs Lovett, another decent character whose descent into monstrosity is sparked by the things that have happened to her rather than any inherent evil. She turns into a grotesque parody of herself as the film progresses, her beauty destroyed by pox scars, sporting fine wigs made by Todd that sit incongruously atop her ruined features. It's all very grim and dark and there is no place for humour, even of the gallows variety. Perhaps a touch of humour, especially on the part of Todd, is what is needed to both round out his character and make his monstrous actions that much more horrific

Readnought You believe in every one of the characters in this movie, as well as this being historical London. (Which it may or may not have been- the story may well be nothing but urban legend, of course.)Ray Winston does a great job. He has done so often enough, but this one is my favorite, so far.It's actually pulled off portraying the 'mad barber' as a kindhearted fellow who's really only slightly disturbed (aside from being plenty homicidal) in such a way that you believe it, extreme as it sounds. Well, I certainly did, at least. All thanks to very good acting and character development.In sum, I found this movie to be far better than the musical edition of the same tale, starring Johnny Depp. But then, I always prefer psychological credibility over costumes and singing.

brb5 Sweeney Todd is a master of his craft, learnt whilst serving 20 years for a murder his father committed. Once on the outside; he excels in his trade as a barber and gains an enviable reputation with customers of all classes. Slowly cracks appear in his professional demeanour and the murders begin..PROSA superb performance from Ray Winstone as the demon barber, solid script and well supported by the main characters. Expertly played as a tragic man, Todd comes across as a very complex character; abused and neglected as a child and constantly manipulated by his drunkard murderer of a father. Yet striving for acceptance from his peers, his few acquaintances and surprisingly; his father.For what could have become a by the numbers period BBC production, Winstone's performance lifts his character, and the simple story to Lecter 'esque levels of screen infamy. Expect some 'Best Actor' BAFTA nominations for this work. The photography is very good, using a superb palette and masterful use of lighting, both artificial and natural. Convincing VFX and competent audio cap a classy production. CONS: Marred by somewhat dubious casting for the minor roles, and notably the younger members of the cast. If only the younger actors were of Winstone's calibre.