Critics: Johnny Depp is Bloody Good!

Johnny Depp keeps with the bloody theme at the New York premiere of the Tim Burton-directed Sweeney Todd at the Ziegfeld Theater on Monday in New York City.

The film, the silver-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim‘s award-winning musical thriller, is scheduled for a nationwide release on December 21st.

Here are some of the early reviews from last night’s screening. Critics are bloody loving it!

“Assembled artistic combo assures the film will reap by far the biggest audience to see a pure Sondheim musical, although just how big depends on the upscale crowd’s tolerance for buckets of blood, and the degree to which the masses stay away due to the whiff of the highbrow. In all events, DreamWorks-Paramount and Warner Bros. have a classy and reasonably commercial delicacy on their hands.” — Variety

“Depp is the movie’s heart and guts… The musical numbers ooze with Sondheim‘s audacious wit and scathing lyrics… Teaming with Depp, his long-time alter ego, Burton makes Sweeney a smoldering dark pit of fury and hate that consumes itself. With his sturdy acting and surprisingly good voice, Depp is a Sweeney Todd for the ages.” — The Hollywood Reporter

“This is the film to beat for Best Picture this year; the only “big” picture that is also a work of art. Academy voters should eat it up, pun intended.” — FOX News

40+ pictures inside of Johnny Depp at the NY premiere of Sweeney Todd…