Sweeney Todd News

During a recent press conference in Europe, the cast of Sweeney Todd came together to answer a few questions about this Oscar-nominated movie.

Here are a couple replies from stars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter:

How was it doing your first musical? And will you be doing it again?
Johnny Depp: We're doing the sequel now [laughs]. I actually did do a musical many years ago with John Waters called Cry-Baby, but technically it was only half me - it wasn't me singing. Tim's the only person brave enough to actually let me try to sing.

It was the first time I'd ever sung - I'd never even sung in the shower, I'm too mortified.

But once I got over the initial fear it was kind of enjoyable. Sondheim's melodies and lyrics are a real pleasure to tromp around in, it's really beautiful stuff. Would I ever do it again? No, I doubt it.

Was it easier or harder getting the role when your husband was the director?
Helena Bonham Carter: It was probably harder. I mean he told me: 'You look right for it but we have no idea if you can sing.' So I thought: 'well, I'll try and learn' and did singing lessons, but you know I had to be righter than right.

I wouldn't want people saying I got a role in his film just because I slept with him. At the end of the day Sondheim said I was okay... and I definitely didn't sleep with him!

Read the full recount from these stars now.

The awarding of the Golden Globes may have been anticlimactic this year - the ongoing writers' strike caused the ceremony to be canceled, resulting in an awkward, boring press conference that announced the winners - but it's still worth noting the films and actors that were honored.

Leading the way and building their resumes for an Oscar? Atonement and Sweeney Todd. Here's the list of honorees:

Best Motion Picture â€" Drama
Atonement
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture â€" Drama
Julie Christie â€" Away From Her
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture â€" Drama
Daniel Day-Lewis â€" There Will Be Blood
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Marion Cotillard â€" La Vie En Rose
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Johnny Depp â€" Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett â€" I'm Not There
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Javier Bardem â€" No Country For Old Men
Best Director - Motion Picture
Julian Schnabel â€" The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Best Animated Feature Film
Ratatouille

Take this with a grain of salt the size of Sweeney Todd's thirst for revenge, but...

The younger cast members of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street are hoping to star in a sequel to the gory musical.

For example, Jamie Bowers, who plays the love-struck sailor Anthony, wants his character and his lady love Johanna (played by Jayne Wisener) to run away together and begin a new killing rampage.

"We're the killers this time," he said to MTV. "But you can't tell anyone yet."

However, the would-be couple have some competition from street kid Toby, who actually commits acts of violence in Sweeney Todd.

"He's quite a troubled young man, he's seen a lot," said Ed Sanders, who plays the character"I think he would be the next Sweeney Todd."

Sanders theorizes Toby would throw people "straight in the fire," as opposed to slicing them open in a chair.

"I think that's because that's what's traumatized him the most," he said. "I'm sure there's many other possible outcomes. It's worth thinking about."

Sweeney Todd is an unusual movie - a demonic barber sings and murders people?!? - but is this Johnny Depp film a good movie?

Critics around the nation weigh in:

- [Sweeney Todd] is mighty entertainment that makes you feel sorry for the poor saps in the next theater at the multiplex. -- The New York Post

- Most of the jokes fall flat in this joyless version. It's a movie for people who'd like to hear Depp do another British accent and wear a Bride of Frankenstein wig. -- Charlotte Observer

- An invigorating experience that ranks among the best stage-to-screen translations ever filmed. -- Orlando Weekly

- Sweeney Todd is as much a horror film as a musical. It is also something close to a masterpiece. - The New York Times

Here are a couple highlights of an interview Johnny Depp and Tim Burton recently gave to Movie Web:

Why did you want to do this picture, Johnny?
I mean I was familiar to some degree with the earlier versions of this, this stuff that you know I'd seen the, the video of um Angela Lansbury quite extensively.

And, and I'd seen the more recent production of it and then just thought it might be, you know certainly a great opportunity to, to try to find a, a new Sweeney, a different Sweeney in kind of a way I suppose like a ... just like a little contemporary in the sense of like also the punk rock Sweeney you know.

How would you describe the process?
I think I was probably more frightened than anyone, except maybe Tim. No he really trusted me with it you know and, and like you know I, I was very lucky that he allowed me to ... 'cause I didn't have a process really you know in terms of the singing. I've never sang before in my life so er so, so I had to kinda find my way to it.

I thought it was important that I, you know, keep it very, very low key and, and so yeah I initially did these demos in my friend's garage studio and, cause I didn't know if I would be able to hit a note or. I just, I wanted to make sure I could do it for Tim.

So then, we did, I think the first demo we cut was with my friend, and like you know I showed it to er I showed it to Tim. You know he waited for the outcome really.

Read the full interview now.

As you count down the days until you can see, and hear, Johnny Depp singing in Sweeney Todd, here's a brief look at the beginning of the film.

It's not a major spoiler, don't worry. It's just a glimpse at the film's opening credits:

Anyone who has seen Borat knows Sacha Baron Cohen isn't shy about getting naked.

As Signor Adolfo Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, though, the actor's privates aren't entirely natural.

"Yeah, we augmented," Sweeney Todd's two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood said about Cohen's rather large chunk of manhood in the flick.

Not surprisingly, it was Cohen's idea to enlarge his romantic region for the film. His body-hugging pants were stuffed with "a little quilted thing."

Of course, it's not so little. But Atwood said she hopes it comes off somewhat authentic.

"We tried different materials and different sizes and positions," Atwood said, trying not to laugh too hard. "You kind of forget what you're doing, and you're just sort of looking at what looks the best. I like if a lot of people think it's real."

Below, Johnny Depp poses for the cameras at the premiere of Sweeney Todd earlier this week.

In the movie, Depp teams up again with Tim Burton. Despite their frequent collaboration, the director said this is the first time he's heard Depp sing: "He did surprise me. It was better than I thought so that is always an exciting surprise."

Meanwhile, the actor said his role in Sweeney Todd was therapeutic.

"With every character you play there is some opportunity for therapy in a sense. There is exploration to some degree, exorcism in a way."

The CW aired a two and a half minute making-of feature on the new theatrical adaptation of Sweeney Todd. Check it out now:

Check out this new clip with behind-the-scenes footage, along with scenes/interviews, with the Sweeney Todd cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen and director Tim Burton.

Sweeney Todd will open nationwide on December 21st.