Going into this film I had two things on my side: I’m not familiar with the original and I hate most musicals. Sweeney Todd took me away from the safe side of My Fair Lady and took me to gruesome murder and Johnny Depp singing. Even though this is now my second favorite musical (Once is top if you consider it a musical), it was not the best film. I hate to say it, but without Johnny Depp this film would have been bad. No matter how much darkness Tim Burton creates, Depp is the reason for watching this one.

One of my major dislikes from the film was that I could not stand the side narrative of Anthony Hope (Jamie Campbell Bower) and Johanna (Jayne Wisener). I just couldn’t get behind the love story, in fact I was glad to see that most of this story was just a set-up. Not that I’m against love stories, just ones where the two lovers act like foppish idiots. Oh let me take you away, and then we can go skipping in the daisies. I much prefered the love story between Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp), Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham-Carter), and Lucy, Todd’s lost love who supposedly died. No more secrets, but I saw it coming from a mile away. I like the fact the Lovett just can’t win over Todd’s heart.

The story itself is interesting, if not a bit overdone. I was slightly annoyed by the ending (only one thing bugged me but you’ll just have to email me to discuss it), but I thought it moved along at a nice pace. Sweeney Todd’s madness and final step into murder is brilliant, especially the chair making scene. However I wonder if Todd could actually make the chair let alone saw through the floor in such a precise manner. The loosely held together side stories slowly become intertwined, which is why the ending acts more like a Usual Suspects ending. You are given all of the key points to figure everything out.

Now on to Johnny and his co-stars. I am now a firm believer that Depp is one of the greatest living actors. I didn’t even mind his singing. In fact, it fit his roles perfectly. Imagine a heartbroken barber set on revenge who has been gone for 15 years and living in the worst envrinmental setting of London. I think the deeper scratchy voice works well. Bonham-Carter even pulls it off a bit, with less interesting results but it wasn’t horrible. But Depp has a way of overshadowing everyone else. That is never more apparant that when he rediscovers his “friends.” Two other performances of note, Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) and Signor Adolfo Pirelli (Sacha Baron Cohen). Rickman has a knack for playing a bad guy while Cohen proves that he can work outside of his off kilter comedy. I was not so enthralled by Bower’s performance of the love sick puppy. He grated on me, I admit it. Perhaps his lack of range came from a clear goal for his character or just than he wasn’t terribly good.

Sweeney Todd provided me with some fun, but yet grim, entertainment. I doubt I’ll watch it again, but it was a nice departure from a more traditional film. In the end, the reason to watch this film is Johnny Depp. And perhaps Helena Bonham-Carter’s revealing outfits.

The film follows Borat as he travels to America to discover and bring back to Kazakhstan the secrets of our happiness. Although starting in New York, his love of Pamela Anderson takes Borat on a cross country trip to propose marriage to his American dream. Along the way, Borat tries to learn the way in which Americans live. This leads to the hiring of an African American escort to accompany him to a Southern style religious dinner and drinking with some good ole’ frat boys. Each encounter brings the viewer to the edge of disgust and humor. We laugh because these people are truly hilarious, but we cringe because they are not actors playing a role, they are just people living their lives. There are some great parts in Borat, especially those revolving around Cohnen’s use of language. One particular scene I found enjoyable was his discussion with the rodeo promoter before Borat destroys the National Anthem. Is it good we can laugh at ourselves? Yes, but Borat is not about laughing out ourselves. It is about the cultural criticism of the masses. I am proud to be an American, but ashamed at the type of people Borat ferrets out.

If we discuss the film as art, we may found more beneficial criticism. This is definitely a satire on par with A Modest Proposal, yet not so tongue-in-cheek. The art really relies on Cohen’s ability to coerce people into being themselves. It is funny that many of the participants are suing Cohen now that film is a success. I cannot wait to hear those arguments, “Yes I know I said that but I was just kidding. It’s his fault for lying to me.” I am that will get someone some money. The best thing about Borat is Borat. The character is so precise that anyone could easily fall into his trap. One of the more telling moments of the film comes when Borat is rejected by Pamela Anderson and he retreats to his American Dream, the escort. I guess this could also be labeled a romantic comedy.

I did enjoy Borat, but it only leaves a minor impression. The concept and the follow through were spot on, but that still does not make this film one of the best films I have viewed. Unfortunately, Borat may just fill a cultural niche that will soon be passed by. I do hope that Cohen makes tons of money from this, because he deserves every penny for putting his health and safety on the line. Maybe we can give him danger pay and an autograph from Pamela.