Helena Bonham Carter: 15 Greatest movies of all time
#15. Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Original release date: December 21, 2007
Box office earnings: $13,635,390 (opening weekend), $52,898,073 (USA gross)
Critical acclaim: 1 Oscar win (Best Achievement in Art Direction), 2 Oscar Nominations (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Achievement in Costume Design)
2 Golden Globe wins (Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical), 2 Golden Globes nominations (Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Director – Motion Picture)
About the role: Bonham Carter took on the role of Ms. Lovett, the pie maker whose shop is connected to Sweeny Todd’s barber shop. She quickly becomes complicit in his plan to serve up pies that are made of the people Sweeny kills in his barber shop. No spoilers on whether the two are eventually caught in case you’ve never heard of the story of Sweeny Todd and Ms. Lovett.
This is a musical, so the story is told through song and dance rather than words. If you don’t like these types of movies then this isn’t really for you, but I’d still give it a chance to see Bonham Carter bring Ms. Lovett to life on the screen.
Simply the best: If you ever needed proof that Helena Bonham Carter could sing, this was the movie that initially did that. Of course, there’s been another movie adaptation of a musical since, but it was Sweeny Todd that really cemented her as an all-round performer.
For those who haven’t seen the musical yet because you weren’t sure about Johnny Depp (understandable), Bonham Carter really does steal the show in this. She takes on crazy, deceptive, and cunning all at the same time.
At the same time, we got another look at Bonham Carter in a period movie. She’s done many over the years and she manages to look and sound the part for her location perfectly.