Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ray Winstone | ... | Sweeney Todd | |
Essie Davis | ... | Mrs Lovett | |
David Warner | ... | Fielding | |
Tom Hardy | ... | Matthew | |
David Bradley | ... | Sweeney's Father | |
Roger Frost | ... | Customer | |
Anthony O'Donnell | ... | Gaoler | |
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David Foxxe | ... | Rector |
Ben Walker | ... | Tobias | |
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Jessica Hooker | ... | Polly |
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Paul Currier | ... | Thornhill |
Mircea Drimbareanu | ... | Mr Lovett (as Mircea Drambareanu) | |
Gabriel Spahiu | ... | Thief | |
Vlad Radescu | ... | Sailor | |
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Bogdan Cotlet | ... | Youth |
A BBC adaptation of the Victorian "penny dreadful" tale of 18th century "demon barber" Sweeney Todd, of Fleet Street, who cuts the throats of unsuspecting clients in his London shop.
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.