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Holiday Movie Review Roundup: Sweeney Todd, Charlie Wilson's War, The Savages
SWEENEY TODD (B+)
I saw Sweeney Todd in its most recent Broadway run, and left with my mind unblown. Stephen Sondheim's music is more concerned with rhythm than melody, so all of the songs sort of run together and none get lodged in the mind. And the story of "demon barber" Sweeney Todd -- falsely imprisoned man murders half of London for revenge, teams up with woman to bake his victims into pies -- is dark fun but had no business being stretched to three hours. This Sweeney slashes the fat and pours on the blood. It's a total blast.
It's got a nearly perfect cast. I don't know that anyone other than Johnny Depp could have played Todd. Helena Bonham Carter is a bit too timid for her role, but she's got a cracked way with sick lines that brings the movie a lot of humor. Alan Rickman steals the show, as he always does, and should not be denied an Oscar nomination. Hans Gruber, Sheriff of Nottingham, Professor Snape, and now Judge Turpin -- if only every movie could be lucky enough to have Rickman as the bad guy. And Sacha Baron Cohen is hilarious in a far too tiny role as a rival barber. Had anyone other than Burton directed this thing, he or she would have been doing a Burton impression. It's a film he was born to do, and he knocks it out of the park. I'm still not gung ho on the music, but the material could not have led to a finer interpretation.
CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR (B-)
Directed by Mike Nichols, written by Aaron Sorkin, starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman -- how could it go wrong? Not sure, but Charlie Wilson's War manages to take a thrilling, shocking, funny story and render it fairly dull. Unlike some critics, I'm not upset about the movie brightening the darker edges of the real-life tale -- that's what movies do. Plus, the fact that "Charlie Wilson's War" helped put us in harm's way and certainly contributed to September 11th is not something the film glosses over, if you're paying attention. But Sorkin's script plays like an average first season West Wing episode (or a really great Studio 60 episode, depending on how you look at it). That style worked on TV, but on the big screen it's way too talky and dry. And Nichols' direction is painfully flat, he brings all the visual flair of a Kevin Smith movie.
Hanks' considerable charm carries him, but I didn't buy him as a sleazy Texas womanizer for a minute. Julia Roberts is flat-out bad in her role. She doesn't seem to know the character, and thus the audience never figures her out either. The gusto with which Philip Seymour Hoffman tears shit up in his supporting turn (his introductory scene is a classic) makes everyone else look even more timid. As a satire, it doesn't go far enough. As a comedy, it doesn't go funny enough. As a drama, it's lifeless. I'm being a bit harsh, and the film held my interest for its 90 minutes, but for all the talent on board, this is quite the letdown.
THE SAVAGES (B)
Speaking of Hoffman, he is outstanding in The Savages as well, and matched scene for scene by the great Laura Linney. For an hour, this tale of two unhappy siblings whose lives are uprooted when their father (Philip Bosco) gets sick and can no longer care for himself is a brilliantly written, directed, and acted film, one of the best of the year. And then it totally loses its way. Minute by minute, I felt my love for the movie trickle away. Maybe writer/director Tamara Jenkins felt that her story wasn't sexy enough, but she devotes a completely unnecessary half hour plus to Linney's romantic adventures. I guess the point was to show us that she's searching for a father figure, but we would have gotten that from one scene with her older boyfriend.
There weren't many more interesting characters this year than those played by Hoffman, Linney, and Bosco. Their story is painful, realistic, and one we don't get to see on film very often. Had Jenkins trusted in those characters and let us engage with them for the full running time, without random subplots, she would have had a moving and funny character study on the level of a previous Linney classic -- You Can Count on Me. Instead we get half a great movie. Better than nothing, but what a shame.
Completely off topic: After meeting Denzel Washington, can you confirm the
rumor that he in fact has a weak handshake? Please say yes.
Thanks for the reviews, as I must ponder how to spend my entertainment
dollars wisely. Mahalo nui loa (google it if you don't know) for the
excellent entertainment you've provided all year. Best wishes for success
in all that you strive for in the upcoming one.
I think Sweeney Todd was the best movie I saw this year, which was a real
surprise. I had a blast throughout. I thought the all of the performances
were spot on, it was beautiful to look at, and the tone and pacing were
just right. And despite no clear cut 'songs' in the film, i still find
myself humming the tunes over a week later.
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
and it's filled with people who are filled with shit!
And the vermin of the world inhabit it!
I have no desire to see Sweeney Todd. I hate movies where everything is
nightmarishly black and white and I don't like gore either. I do love
Johnny Depp and I am sure he's brilliant as usual. I get a little annoyed
that Burton uses HBC for every weirdo role (even if she perfectly looks the
part) just because he's squeezing her.
Nutsy
M. Kemper Brown: Easy Tiger!! You're right. I momentarily forgot about
the Oscar. Please forgive the transgression. Being an old fart, I'm
probably using a mindset a few years old. That is why I read Patrick's
blog. It helps bring me back into the current day.
Patrick,
I bested my personal record for "most movies seen in theatres in one day"
yesterday, with four (and I know you've blown this out of the water for
years on end), and saw THE SAVAGES third. I think I am a sucker for
sentimental stories focusing on, or prominently showcasing, sibling
relationships, and THE SAVAGES was no exception. I do agree that it lost
focus a little bit, and at times even seemed a little boring, but overall I
did love it.
Hi Patrick,