Phil Spector (TV 2013)

A drama centered on the relationship between Phil Spector and defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden while the music business legend was on trial for the murder of Lana Clarkson.

Director:

David Mamet

Writer:

David Mamet

Stars:

Al Pacino, Helen Mirren, Jeffrey Tambor

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Phil Spector
Helen Mirren	...	Linda Kenney Baden
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Bruce Cutler
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Mock Prosecutor
Rebecca Pidgeon	...	Dr. Fallon
John Pirruccello	...	Nick Stavros
James Tolkan	...	Judge Fidler
David Aaron Baker	...	ADA Alan Jackson
Matt Malloy	...	Dr. Spitz
Jack Wallace	...	Music Store Owner
Dominic Hoffman	...	Mr. Brown
Philip Martin	...	James
Grim Reaper Q.	...	Bodyguard
Vernon Campbell	...	Bodyguard (as Vernon W. Campbell)
Adalgiza Chermont	...	Focus Group Woman (as Adalgiza Chemountd)

Storyline

Record producer Phil Spector hires Bruce Cutler to defend him when he's accused of murder. Cutler persuades Linda Kenney Baden to advise him. While the prosecution's story is contradicted by facts in the case, there is convincing circumstantial evidence against Spector, not the least of which is his appearance. As Baden gradually takes over the defense, even as she is ill with pneumonia, she must find a way to introduce ballistic evidence in a dramatic enough fashion to plant doubt in the jury's mind. Calling Specter to testify may be the only way to stage the evidence. She coaches him and rehearses him: can he (and she) pull it off?

---

Taglines:

The truth is somewhere in the mix.

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

24 March 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Fall Phil Spector

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film revolves around the murder of Lana Clarkson. Clarkson appeared in Scarface together with Al Pacino, who plays Phil Spector in this film.

---

Goofs

Phil Spector claims that Mary Jo Kopechne drowned in a Volkswagen driven off a bridge by Ted Kennedy -actually it was an Oldsmobile.

---

Quotes

Bruce Cutler: The girl fucking shot herself.

---

Connections

Spoofed in Saturday Night Live: Vince Vaughn/Miguel (2013)

---

Soundtracks

"Abraham, Martin and John"
Written by Dick Holler
Performed by Al Pacino

User Reviews

Not about Phil Spector- it's about judgment and human perception

I just read through the reviews (9 as of this writing) and I find reactions interesting yet predictable. Yes, we can talk about performances- Pacino is "masterful"! Mirren is "pure class"! Yes, we can talk about Mamet's writing style. I guess that, for me, these are reviews seemingly by film students and not people who paid attention to not the technical details but what the movie is about.

It is, in my mind, less about Phil Spector, and more about the legal system, about understanding society's inclination toward prejudging, presuming guilt, casting the first stone, and it's inability to distinguish between an eccentric and a psychotic.

As for the performances, did we suddenly expect poor acting from the talent of this cast? They're good actors and they delivered as expected. I don't think the reviews are helpful when they focus on such trivialities.

Anyway, I thought it was interesting, reflective... but not a "masterpiece". Absolutely recommended- I'd say 7 stars.