• On Saturday a friend and I took in the matinee showing of “SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEE STREET” (which costume designer and Central Washington native Colleen Atwood just earned an Oscar nod for).

Now I am a HUGE TIM BURTON FAN and of sizable mention a Johnny Depp fan (but who isn’t? it’s like saying you’re a huge fan of the Beatles). I’m also a fan of Stephen Sondheim, gory blood fests and unexpected endings. So, this film should have been a sure-fire knock-out for me.

But it wasn’t, really.

I DIDN’T NOT LIKE IT, BUT I DIDN’T LOVE IT.

While the musical numbers — whether they be about barber’s knives or making people into pies — moved along at the perfect pace, the down-time between songs lagged and lost luster.

Maybe — like “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” — it’s one of those Tim Burton films I need to see again (at home on Netflix) to truly appreciate.

SPOTTED: The amazingly expressive and powerful voice on boy actor Ed Sanders, who plays Toby; and Sacha Baron Cohen — yes, Borat — using an over-the-top accent as Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

*** *** *** ***
• Then on Sunday, I went to see “JUNO,” which I absolutely loved.

Written by former stripper and pop culture know-it-all Diablo Cody, this film had all the makings to be just one snarky one-liner after another strung together into a movie.

And I was all prepared for that.

I was ready to eat my popcorn and laugh along as Juno spout out phrases no teenage girl, no matter how hip, would say.

Instead, this film has REAL HEART — Jennifer Garner, I thought, gave one of the film’s stand-out performances — and relatable, developed characters whose happiness and growth I was invested in. No, I DIDN’T CRY, but I was darn close.

SPOTTED: About one of the most amazing soundtracks you’ll ever hear. In truth, I bought the soundtrack last week after listening to this interview with KIMYA DAWSON and ADAM GREEN.
Since downloading the soundtrack — my first iTunes purchase — it’s pretty much all I’ve been listening to and now that I’ve seen the film, I love the songs even more.

*** *** *** ***
BTW, in case you were wondering, here are my TOP FIVE FAVORITE Tim Burton movies:
5. “Big Fish”
4. “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure”
3. “Batman”
2. “Beetle Juice”
1. “Edward Scissorhands”

* Kim Nowacki *