I grew up listening to Phil Spector’s music. At one point in his career, he was the most influential record producer in the business. Spector produced The Beatles’ last album.
“Phil Spector is renowned for his groundbreaking “Wall of Sound” production technique and his work with numerous iconic artists. Some of his biggest hits include “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by The Righteous Brothers, and “He’s a Rebel” by The Crystals. He also produced hits like “Da Doo Ron Ron” by The Crystals, “Then He Kissed Me” by The Crystals, and “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, among others.”
But Phil Spector had a Dark Side. He had a hot temper and he loved guns. Those two flaws led to Phil Spector being charged with the shooting death of Lana Clarkson.
On the morning of February 3, 2003, American actress Lana Clarkson was found shot dead inside the Pyrenees Castle, the Alhambra, California, mansion of record producer Phil Spector. The movie, Phil Spector, written and directed by David Mamet, presents the lawyers who defended Spector in this case. It stars Al Pacino as Phil Spector, Helen Mirren as defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden, and Jeffrey Tambor as defense attorney Bruce Cutler.
The movie focuses primarily on the relationship between Spector and Linda Kenney Baden, his defense attorney in 2007 during the first of his two murder trials for the 2003 death of Lana Clarkson in his California mansion, and is billed as “an exploration of the client–attorney relationship” between Spector and Kenney Baden.
“The film is controversial for fictionalizing aspects of the case and for neglecting significant evidence that was presented by the real life prosecution, leading to accusations that the movie was created as an advocacy piece in Spector’s favor. Spector was not involved with the film, and disputed its historical accuracy. Although it is based on real people and an actual event, it opens with an unusually worded disclaimer that states: This is a work of fiction. It’s not ‘based on a true story.’ It is a drama inspired by actual persons on a trial, but it is neither an attempt to depict the actual persons, nor to comment upon the trial or its outcome.”
I’ll watch anything with Helen Mirren in it. Al Pacino creates a believable Phil Spector. GRADE: B
Mamet more than a little too fond of characters like Spector, hence the “fictionalization” charges seemed likely valid, and I can certainly see Pacino playing “Mamet’s Spector” well. Even as fond as I am of some of the music Spector produced, not a film I’ve made any effort to see over the years. (LET IT BE was handed to Spector, I’ve gathered over the years, as a hopeless mess drowning in grudges, that his kind of pop “sweetening” might make it less embarrassing to the band and more likely to please casual/Maniac fans.)
Who are you quoting about Spector, above?
Mamet & HBO promo reel for the film: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1686747673/?ref_=tt_vids_vi_3
Todd, I’m fond of Phil Spector’s WALL OF SOUND but his treatment of his musicians and wife leave a lot to be desired. Mamet’s film shows Spector’s warts, but it’s clear Mamet is in his legal corner.
Very hard pass. Spector may have been a “brilliant” producer, but he was also an odious POS. I just listened to a podcast episode about “(You’ve Lost That) Lovin’ Feeling” and it makes it pretty clear that he sought to undermine the Righteous Brothers and destroy their partnership because they, and not he, got credit for the record.
Mamet is pretty despicable himself, and Bruce Cutler’s claim to fame was his time as John Gotti’s defense lawyer, which got him suspended.
WordPress changed Spector to Spectrum!
Jeff, welcome to what WORDPRESS does to me EVERY DAY! Changing words without my permission. Pure aggravation!
No way to cut that off? Annoying.
Probably wouldn’t want to watch that film – I prefer remembering Phil as a musical genius. The song I liked so much that he wrote and performed while still a teenager, just a few years older than me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrwf-sIcr0M
Those were the days!
Wolf, I love Spector’s WALL OF SOUND songs! I also have his BRING BACK MONO album.
I’d watch a documentary about Spector’s mucic career in a heartbeat. He created one of the most brilliant sounds in pop music history that by its very nature was destined to be timeless in appeal but also limited to a short moment in time. Any of the Spector anthology CDs and, of course, his Christmas album, are just brilliant. Unfortunately, he never had the savvy and skills of all the other producers who followed him from the seventies through nineties (the golden era of record producers as stars in their own right) which is why his later efforts were such disasters.
Oh, and he was nuts. Then of course so is Mamet which I guess is why he gravitated to this project that I’ve avoided like the plague. Mamet is one of those narcissisticic nihilists who thinks the world owes him everything and when he doesn’t get it then its the fault of those liberals in Hollywood. Both Mirren and Pacino paid their dues and of course can make whatever career choices they want but both of them need to check their compasses as they’ve each been in a lot of junk for awhile now.
Byron, while I’m a fan of Mamet’s GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, his later work is suspect. Spector was a genius who went off the rails…
First of all, I didn’t realize this movie was made in 2013–I was thinking to myself, why haven’t I heard of this? Well, I may have heard of it…12 years ago 😂. Secondly, Mamet wants to have his cake and eat it too: the movie isn’t “based” on Spector, but it uses Spector’s name & image and the events of Lana Clarkson’s death to create the story. Frankly, I’d prefer to watch the Law & Order episode that is clearly based on this case but fictionalizes everything to the point that I can watch it without the ick factor.
Deb, the ick factor of PHIL SPECTOR was manageable in my estimation. I found it a story about decline and fall of a genius. Helen Mirren plays a lawyer well.
Next up, apparently, a docudrama based on the Karen Reid case. I’m sure one about the Bryan Kohberger case won’t be far behind. I can’t fathom public interest in rehashing these things in semi-fictional form, but then, the appeal of trashy “reality” shows eludes me too.
Let’s not forget Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie.
Yeah. I saw a promo the other day for a reality show with that woman named Gypsy who either killed or had her boyfriend kill her abusive Munchausen-by-proxy mother. She’s apparently about to have a baby. Why are people so fascinated by this?
Deb, I’m not fascinated by lives that are dumpster fires, but clearly the ratings show plenty of people love this stuff.
Fred, I think the “fictionalized” strategy is protection against law suits.
Some peple are inteested in these strange murder cases and have long, long discussions on them-
In Germany there is a site which has tens of thousands comments on crime cases all over the world – for example several thousands just on the 4 – times murder case in Moscow, Idaho.
Sometimes I look at a special case if it sounds interesting.
Of course the comments are in German language, but if you’re interested …
allmystery.com
Wolf, thanks for the heads up!