Sweeney trailer

[ivyfic]

Last night I watched the Sweeney trailer, which I had not seen before. It does not fill me with confidence. First off, it's a fairly random collection of moments from the story…I wonder if it makes a whole lot of sense to those who've never seen it. But my real worry is Johnny Depp. He sings a little bit of "Epiphany" in the trailer, and it's just not good. If there is any moment in the play for full force, from the diaphragm belting, it's "Epiphany." This song should be sung at absolute top volume. It's about his loss of control, and what gets that across is the power of the singing. Johnny Depp does not have that power. His performance is more…mincing. And I can't help thinking, if that's the best he can do vocally, what hope is there for the rest of the film?

What I also find interesting is that he's playing it with a cockney accent. In the original production, Mrs. Lovett had a cockney accent, but Sweeney did not. Most productions since have done the same (in the way that most productions of any musical pattern themselves on the Broadway production). But accent is not an incidental trait in this musical. Sweeney Todd is all about class distinctions. So to give Mrs. Lovett a low-brow accent and Sweeney not automatically lowers Mrs. Lovett's status below Sweeney's. It creates an imbalance between them—she's the true blue collar; he presumably was middle class before being sent to prison. But if he has a cockney accent, that makes him just as poor and lower class as Mrs. Lovett. The only major production I know of in which Sweeney has a cockney accent is the original London production. In any case, it's an interesting choice.

I really need a Sweeney icon.

Comments

[deltagrl.livejournal.com]

Heh. :) It was so cool seeing the big smile on your face yesterday when you talked about the upcoming film.

I found a video of Johnny Depp singing "My Friends" and it was similar to "Epiphany." When I saw "Epiphany" in the trailer, I went and found the George Hearn version and saw the difference. Then I thought, ok, maybe they want him to be more brooding in the film, but now I'm not so sure after hearing "My Friends" in which he always broodingly talk-sings. Alas, I just don't think Johnny Depp can sing. :(

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Yes, this has been my problem with the movie from the beginning. There are few people who can pull off the crazy period serial killer thing as well as Johnny, but this is a musical, and the singing? Not so sure on that.

George Hearn shout-sings everything, which I've never been a fan of. I always figure there are two classes of Sweeney: the George Hearns who are OMFG SO CRAZY! THEY'RE CRAZY SO THEY YELL EVERYTHING! CAUSE THEY'RE CRAZY!, and the Len Carious, who are calm and subdued and therefore creepy as hell. Characterization-wise, I bet Depp falls into the second category. However, Len Cariou still has a phenomenal voice. And I think about the song "Johanna" (the one in the second act that Sweeney sings--too many songs with the same title), and I just weep to think of Depp singing it. That song requires serious breath control on the held high notes, and even Len Cariou goes flat on the recording. Just--urgh. I'm thinking Depp's going to be more like Nicole Kidman than Ewan McGreggor for latent singing ability.

[tirtzah.livejournal.com]

I think the problem this movie may encounter is that they seem to have gone for casting some very appropriate actors for these roles, but not necessarily very good singers. I know Johnny Depp can sing, but it's not like it's his main focus and I have no idea how much vocal training he has. Sweeney's not just any musical so even someone who otherwise has a good voice would run into problems with it. I do have high hopes for the movie but I think we're might get a movie with really good acting and cinematography and sort of mediocre vocals.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

The only one I'm sure can sing is Anthony Stewart Head. And I get casting good actors, but this is Sondheim. He's tough for trained professionals. What do you think are the chances they'll change the key for Cohen so he won't have to hit Pirelli's high notes?

[tirtzah.livejournal.com]

Pretty good, but then I have no idea what his capacity for singing is. Alan Rickman's done theater (or rather theatre) but I don't know if that includes musicals. And much as I love Alan Rickman, ASH would have made a good Judge too. Johnny Depp had that horrible Cry Baby musical way back in the 80s, but uh, that's not really comparable to Sondheim.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Apparently Steven Sondheim's approval was sought for all the casting choices. Johnny Depp was the only one he didn't hear singing; he just approved him on principle. So, I guess, it can't be that bad?

[ecmyers.livejournal.com]

Here is an awesome clip with Alan Rickman (not singing!). Or would watching it be too spoilery?