I compare Burton's performance here to Vincent Price in WITCHFINDER GENERAL/THE CONQUEROR WORM.  In both cases, actors who had gotten too entrenched in their own personal schtick managed to shake it off and get back to basics.  So much of Burton's screen work is posturing and declaiming and relying on his considerable charisma.  In NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR he just by God plays the part and he is great.