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Phil Spector

  • TV Movie
  • 20132013
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
7.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Al Pacino and Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer0:21
3 Videos
61 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Music

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
6.2/10
7.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Mamet
  • Writer
    • David Mamet
  • Stars
    • Al Pacino
    • Helen Mirren
    • Jeffrey Tambor
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Mamet
  • Writer
    • David Mamet
  • Stars
    • Al Pacino
    • Helen Mirren
    • Jeffrey Tambor
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 11 Primetime Emmys
      • 2 wins & 37 nominations total

    Videos3

    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 0:21
    Teaser Trailer
    Making "Phil Spector"
    Video 1:31
    Making "Phil Spector"
    David Mamet on Making "Phil Spector"
    Video 5:07
    David Mamet on Making "Phil Spector"

    Photos61

    Al Pacino, David Mamet, and Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
    Al Pacino and Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
    Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
    David Mamet and Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
    Al Pacino and Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
    Al Pacino and Jeffrey Tambor in Phil Spector (2013)
    Al Pacino and Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
    Helen Mirren and Chiwetel Ejiofor in Phil Spector (2013)
    Al Pacino in Phil Spector (2013)
    Al Pacino and Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
    Al Pacino and Helen Mirren in Phil Spector (2013)
     Linda Kenney Baden attends the "Phil Spector" premiere at the Time Warner Center on March 13, 2013 in New York City.

    Top cast

    Edit
    Al Pacino
    Al Pacino
    • Phil Spectoras Phil Spector
    Helen Mirren
    Helen Mirren
    • Linda Kenney Badenas Linda Kenney Baden
    Jeffrey Tambor
    Jeffrey Tambor
    • Bruce Cutleras Bruce Cutler
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Mock Prosecutoras Mock Prosecutor
    Rebecca Pidgeon
    Rebecca Pidgeon
    • Dr. Fallonas Dr. Fallon
    John Pirruccello
    John Pirruccello
    • Nick Stavrosas Nick Stavros
    James Tolkan
    James Tolkan
    • Judge Fidleras Judge Fidler
    David Aaron Baker
    David Aaron Baker
    • DDA Alan Jacksonas DDA Alan Jackson
    Matt Malloy
    Matt Malloy
    • Dr. Spitzas Dr. Spitz
    Jack Wallace
    Jack Wallace
    • Music Store Owneras Music Store Owner
    Dominic Hoffman
    Dominic Hoffman
    • Mr. Brownas Mr. Brown
    Philip Martin
    Philip Martin
    • Jamesas James
    Grim Reaper Q.
    Grim Reaper Q.
    • Bodyguardas Bodyguard
    Vernon Campbell
    Vernon Campbell
    • Bodyguardas Bodyguard
    • (as Vernon W. Campbell)
    Adalgiza Chermont
    • Focus Group Womanas Focus Group Woman
    • (as Adalgiza Chemountd)
    Gail Silver
    Gail Silver
    • Focus Group Womanas Focus Group Woman
    Jenn Lyon
    Jenn Lyon
    • Focus Group Woman #3as Focus Group Woman #3
    Steve Park
    Steve Park
    • Focus Group Manas Focus Group Man
    • (as Stephen Park)
    • Director
      • David Mamet
    • Writer
      • David Mamet
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Record Producer Phil Spector (Al Pacino) hires Bruce Cutler (Jeffrey Tambor) to defend him when he's accused of murder. Cutler persuades Linda Kenney Baden (Dame Helen Mirren) 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? —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    • year 2003
    • year 1944
    • year 1949
    • year 1968
    • threat to murder
    • 208 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The truth is somewhere in the mix.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Music
    • Certificate
      • TV-MA
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie revolved around the murder of Lana Clarkson. Clarkson appeared in Scarface (1983) with Al Pacino, who played Phil Spector in this movie.
    • Goofs
      In one of the interviews with Phil Spector, he says "Sam Cooke, in bed with some girl, the husband comes home - bam bam bam!". In reality, Sam Cooke was killed by a manager at a motel to which he had brought a prostitute. Sam Cooke was using the toilet in his room when the prostitute ran off with all his clothes, presumably to rob him. Cooke went into frenzy and headed for the manager's office, wearing nothing but shoes and a jacket, to ask where the prostitute had gone. The manager perceived Cooke's aggressive manner as an attack and shot him in the stomach. Court ruled the case as "justifiable homicide" and the manager was freed of all charges.
    • Quotes

      Bruce Cutler: The girl fucking shot herself.

    • Crazy credits
      'This is a work of fiction. It's not "based on a true story." It is a drama inspired by actual persons in a trial, but it is neither an attempt to depict the actual persons, nor to comment upon the trial or its outcome.'
    • Connections
      Featured in The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Unchained Melody
      Written by Alex North and Hy Zaret

      Performed by The Righteous Brothers

      Courtesy of Universal Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews40

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Hardly Breaks the (Wall of) Sound Barrier
    This is a frustrating Made-for-TV-Movie. It is so short in length that it leaves the viewer with a wanting for much more. There is so much potential untapped power here. The magnetic lead Actors, the always interesting and divisive Writer/Director David Mamet and of course, the legendary Music Producer, Phil Spector.

    His unique blending of multi-tracked Music into what became known as the "Wall of Sound" was so impressive and unusual that he attracted clients as diverse as The Ronnetts, The Rightheous Brothers, Tina Turner, The Beatles, and The Ramones to name a few. He was labeled a Boy Genius.

    All this adulation made him into a neurotic, reclusive, abusive, megalomaniac, arrogant, show-off, but he also made the best and greatest Music that filled the much needed gap between Elvis and The Beatles with his rich and beautiful Pop Songs. He also had very few friends and quite a few jealous enemies. When asked if he liked People, he responded..."I don't know, I've never spent any time with them".

    This is just a very short Movie about the weeks before the beginning of his first trial for murdering his Date. So the insights into Spector are crammed in here and what is here is interesting, but ultimately just some footnotes of a life. His guilt or not in this snapshot of the trial ordeal is fascinating. But considering all that could have been it cannot help but be nothing but a well done tempting tease.
    helpful•18
    11
    • LeonLouisRicci
    • Mar 25, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 菲爾史佩克特傳奇
    • Production company
      • HBO Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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