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Tim Burton: what went wrong?

Simon Brew


Tim Burton films used to be a must-see. And now they're not. With Sweeney Todd on the horizon, Simon wonders what happened...

Published on Sep 6, 2007
Recent news of the promising-looking Sweeney Todd has offered something of an olive branch to people like me, disaffected Burton-ites who are wondering just what happened to one of the most imaginative, creative modern day film directors.
 
Back in the 80s and early 90s, a Burton film was a must see. Rarely did they tell a story astonishingly well, yet they were in their own way so stylistic and gripping that personally, I could barely resist them.
 
It was his second full film that got me on the bandwagon. Beetlejuice remains a cracking, idea-packed carnival of fun, giving Michael Keaton the role of a lifetime in the process. It was, in many ways, a genius film. Then, of course, came his Batman movies, with Edward Scissorhands sandwiched in-between. Until Batman Begins, I adored Burton’s Dark Knight films. They suffered from aforementioned story problems, but the twisted characters were a delight, and he showed a deft touch for a bit of comedy in the midst of it too. But moreover it was a real achievement to reinvent what Batman meant to a generation of people used to seeing the 60s TV show in re-runs.
 
Scissorhands I didn’t like at all, simply because I didn’t buy the glucose-dripping tale at the heart of it. But it was no less interesting to watch.
 
As he hit the mid-90s, though, Burton seemed to peak. 1994’s Ed Wood is a superb film, Burton’s best, a loving biopic of the world’s worst film director. It should have won him an Oscar nomination, and urgently needs seeing by a lot more people. It’s flat-out brilliant. Just before, he’s also been involved in another smashing film: initiating, conceiving and producing The Nightmare Before Christmas.
 
And then the wheels started to come off. Appreciating his next film, Mars Attacks!, was eventually released – although not made – in the slipstream of Independence Day, it was still a little disappointing, not really delivering the belly laughs in the quantity that the concept offered.
 
Sleepy Hollow was better. A little bit pantomime, chock-full of style and a rollicking good night out, it wasn’t vintage Burton, but was the closest he’s come to a really good film in some time.
 
He followed it with easily his worst film, the disastrous remake of Planet Of The Apes. That put him off big studios and killed a potential franchise in one go. It was quite, quite terrible.
 
Big Fish was a good response. This one left me a little cold, although I’m aware that many regard it very highly. Clearly a far more personal film, it’s on my list of movies to give a second spin to.
 
What’s put me off though is the double bill of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride, aka 2005’s most disappointing features. A Burton take on the Roald Dahl classic should have been a match made in heaven – not least because Burton produced the very good adaptation of James And The Giant Peach in the 90s – but it was one of the most empty, dull experiences I had in a cinema all year. And then for Corpse Bride to display very little of what made Nightmare Before Christmas great was a double disappointment.
 
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street is slap-bang on my radar for many reasons. But none more so than I’m hoping, as I suspect many others are, that it’s the film that reignites Burton’s reputation as a must-see filmmaker.

 
Tags
tim burton beetlejuice sweeney todd corpse bride nightmare before christmas

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Users Comments

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By Robmac 1 September 6, 2007 10:28:32 AM

Talking of Mr Burton (no..not that Mr Burton from Big Trouble) he has just got a lifetime achievement award in Venice. I guess that the panel haven't seen any of his recent films. I agree with Simon that Burtons dark gothic and fun sense of the bizzare died adeath about the same time as grunge, Kurt Cobain, regular Neil Gaiman comics, perky goths and doc martin boots. Come on Tim.. do a Vincent Price autobiography flick or even a homage to 1950s horror or sci fi film like a remake of Teenage Werewolf or This Island earth or something

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By RonHogan 1 September 6, 2007 12:29:49 PM

I'd love to see a Vincent Price bio pic, but who would you get to play Vincent Price? And furthermore, where's the drama? Far as I know, Price was a good midwestern boy.

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By Matt 1 September 6, 2007 12:44:43 PM

He's all grown up, but Tim Burton will always be an art student.

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By twosheds 1 September 6, 2007 12:49:00 PM

Geoffrey Rush for Price.

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By Robmac 1 September 6, 2007 01:33:22 PM

A Vincent Price casting call... well i would pick john de Lance from Star Trek.. he seems to fit..or maybe Wayne Pyngram from Farscape.. he looks a bit like him in real life. I would just like to see a Ed Wood style one.. and as you said Vincent Price was a nice bloke then maybe having him as the main star who keeps a level head and then tell the stories in and around him would be interesting - like the controversy with Witchfinder General, Hammer and such.

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By RonHogan 1 September 6, 2007 07:13:00 PM

I can definitely see Geoff Rush, especially in younger Price. I need to get his daughter's biography of him, since apparently he lead a fascinating life.

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By Robmac 1 September 7, 2007 09:20:20 AM

I think we should drop a line to Tim Burton about this Vincent Price idea we can write it, cast it and sort it all out for him.. all we need is his Hollywood kudos and a shed load of cash

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By Robmac 1 September 7, 2007 09:21:41 AM

Has anyone seen a film called the Monster Club? - it was from the early 1980s and had Vincent Price as a club owner who explains 3 stories to a horror writer who gets invited for a night out there... its pretty good and quite spooky as well as a lot of fun

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By sitar_tattoo 1 September 7, 2007 11:50:24 AM

He is, more than anything, a hit and miss director. He needs to work with Bill Murray again though if you ask me.

Re: Tim Burton: what went wrong?
Posted By Robmac 1 September 7, 2007 12:38:25 PM

Yup - more Bill Murray too please.. Maybe they can work together and do a remake of Tim Burton Presents 'Kaddychack'... and instead of a gopher have a Sandworm instead
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Tim Burton: always interesting, but no longer great? Tim Burton: always interesting, but no longer great?
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