Phil Spector

Don't Expect A Spector Biopic! Speculative Fiction That Examines The Nature of Celebrity, The Media, And The Legal System
The fascinating HBO production "Phil Spector" was one of the season's most pleasant surprises in my estimation, but it might not be exactly what you are anticipating. If you are looking for a traditional legal picture about Spector's alleged crime and subsequent trial, this might not fulfill your requirements. If you are looking for a standard biopic detailing Spector's life up to and including his current incarceration, that's not to be found here either. Playwright David Mamet, the writer and director of "Phil Spector," does not seem particularly interested in recreating the Spector spectacle. Instead, he uses it as a speculative entertainment, a what-if scenario. A disclaimer at the beginning of the film says that this has no real basis in actual circumstances, but was instead merely inspired by the case. It's an interesting notion and one that is executed expertly. What we get unfolds very much like a play. Spector (Al Pacino) is confronted by a defense attorney (Helen Mirren) and...
Fine performances, but little depth in the story
This was a story that mesmerized entertainment junkies several years ago, but I found it vaguely unsatisfying in a lot of respects. Pacino and Mirren were outstanding in their portrayals of the principals, but the program wasn't long enough or deep enough to really show how these people got to where they were. The dissection of Phil Spector's character was interesting, but who was Linda Kenney-Baden that she was sought out for her contribution to his defense? And who was Lana Clarkson and how did she end up dead in that mansion? Helen Mirren can do just about anything on stage or screen, including look frumpy and deathly ill without self-consciousness. I liked her performance, but it was basically limited to the immediacy of that investigation and trial, and I would've preferred more. That's not her fault -- or for that matter Pacino's, who can also inhabit any character -- but maybe a longer, deeper production would've better suited my expectations. Nevertheless, I'm glad I watched...
An Excellent Movie - and Well Acted
I guess it can be easy to confuse one's feelings for Phil Spector and the alleged crime with one's feelings toward the movie itself as a stand-alone work of art. Some people love the man and think he's innocent, and will love the movie for those reasons. Others, I suspect, dislike him and think he's guilty, and will therefore dislike the movie for those reasons.
However, it is important to remember that the movie should stand on its own. And, in reflecting on it this way, it comes across as an excellent work. Al Pacino turns in an absolutely stunning and mesmerizing performance, and Helen Mirren and Jeffrey Tambor turn in strong performances, too. In addition to the excellent acting, the movie starts out with a strong sense of tension and maintains it throughout. In sum, it is a riveting and well-acted movie from start to finish.
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