The Star-News out of North Carolina says Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd "deserves a wide audience." The Star-News review praises Burton for making "easily the best movie musical of 2007" and creating for it a concept that "works brilliantly." In the end, it's Sondheim's score that proves to be "the real hero of the show." In the film, "the music is powerful ... but what strikes you is how lyrical it is" and "far more complex and interesting" than your standard musical-theatre fare.
The Star-News out of North Carolina says Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd shouldn't be seen as too "New York" for the rest of the country, and the Tim Burton–directed film version "deserves a wide audience." In his Star-News review, writer Ben Steelman praises Burton for making "easily the best movie musical of 2007" and creating for it a concept that "works brilliantly." He also compliments Johnny Depp—"spot on target," vocals and all—and the rest of the "exceedingly well chosen" cast.
In the end, Steelman says, it's Sondheim's score that proves to be "the real hero of the show." In the film, "the music is powerful ... but what strikes you is how lyrical it is" and "far more complex and interesting" than your standard musical-theatre fare.
"In all," writes Steelman, "this is a peculiar Christmas present indeed, but believe me, it works."
To read the complete review, visit starnewsonline.com.
