Sweeney Todd

I saw this film last night. Yes, it's gory (lots of slit throats, gushing blood, and spatter) but it is definitely worth seeing. In my opinion (which counts, apparently, for naught or he would already have one) Mr. Depp has turned in (yet another) Oscar caliber performance. The entire cast was terrific, actually, and from my perspective, the only downside was Helena Bonham Carter's very flat singing voice (especially in one song toward the end of the film). Another thing that did bother me was the cinematography during the beginning of the film when Mr. Todd first arrived in London: it was shot Blair Witch style and made me sick to my stomach for no reason other than the camera movement. I thought to myself, "if this keeps up, I will have to leave the theatre." Thankfully, that technique was only (and obviously gratuitously) employed during that one scene.

After the film, we dragged our sorry selves to Fairfax to catch the tail end of the Papermill Creek Rounders' winter solstice show. First of all, it was not yet winter solstice and second, it was not really the Papermill Creek Rounders. It was, however, David Nelson and Banana Levenger backed by three somewhat competent yet mediocre musicians. 'Nuff said. I shouldn't have gone, I was predisposed not to enjoy it, already feeling ill, bummed, and wiped out emotionally from Sweeney Todd.