PHIL SPECTOR

US, 2013, 92 minutes, Colour.
Al Pacino, Helen Mirren, Jeffrey Tambor, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Rebecca Pidgeon, James Tolkan, Matt Malloy.
Directed by David Mamet.

Phil Spector was written and directed by eminent playwright, David Mamet. Mamet states that, while the film is based on actual characters, it is not a true story. Rather, it is a reconstruction of events, looking at evidence, offering a favorable interpretation for Spector.

The film is brief, just over an hour and a half. It focuses on the period when Spector was first on trial, with verbal flashbacks to what happened, or not.

There are discussions, speculations, the reconstruction of a skull and a blood test for the spray from the bullet, a test with a gun and the mouth and the pulling of the trigger and its a sudden sound.

Al Pacino, as might be expected, gives an intense performance as Spector, capitalizing on his self-absorbed and aggressive personality, the vanity in his reputation as influencing the American music industry and beyond, the eccentric clothing, the choice of wigs. He is matched by Helen Mirren as the tough lawyer brought in to defend Spector. There are some fine intense scenes in their discussions together. The supporting cast includes Jeffrey Tambor as the lawyer hired by Spector, Chiwitel Ejiofor, and Mamet’s wife who has appeared in many of his films, Rebecca Pidgeon, who also sings the song during the final credits.

Just as Spector divided opinion and raced protests in real life, the film would do the same.

1. Audience knowledge of Phil Spector and his role in the music industry, over many decades? The story of the death of Lana Clarkson? His music skills? Promotion? His life? His eccentric and erratic personality?

2. The death of Lana Clarkson, the story, the stories? Opinions, protestors? The court case, hung jury, the evidence? The second case? In prison?

3. HBO and production values? His mansion, the interiors? Legal offices? The rehearsal room? The court? The musical score and songs? Illustrating Spector’s career?

4. Al Pacino and his performance? Look, manner, speaking, eccentric, melodramatic, the wigs and the clothes? The impressions he made? Self-absorbed? Guilty or not?

5. The director’s perspective, not a true story but based on actual characters? Guilty or not guilty?

6. David Mamet, as playwright, as director, screenwriter? His interest in the drama? The quality of his writing and characterize action? His interpretation?

7. Linda, Helen Mirren’s presence and performance? Her character, knowledge of the law, skills? Having the flu and this theme influencing her decisions and behavior? The prospect of the holiday in Venice? Going to the office, Tambor and the others, listening, taking the job?

8. The meetings, the discussions, in Spector’s house, her reaction, her wanting the truth? Her assessment of Spector was character? The way he treated her? Her reconstructing the episode, the various possibilities and the story, Spector and women, the break-up of his marriage and his harsh attitude towards the screening of his wife’s comments? Taking Lana Clarkson home, a desire for fame, the audience seeing her audition tape? Reconstructing what happened? Spector finding her? The chauffeur and his evidence? Spector’ reaction?

9. Spector and the music, playing the records, the Beatles, his treatment of them and Linda’s questions? The articles, his vanity?

10. Asking for Tambor, relying on his skills? The high price for his services? Linda’s demands? His going to New York, being absent? Spector complaining, his outburst, Linda reminding him of the public agreement in court?

11. The issue of the blood, the splashing on Spector’s clothes? The reconstruction of the skull, the trajectory of the bullet, the flow of the blood? The visual reconstruction and test? Whether to use it or not in evidence?

12. The gun test, the girl and her participating in the experiment, the gun in her mouth, the shout, pulling the trigger? Possible evidence?

13. Linda, the assistant, their research, the chauffeur, the testimony of Spector’s wife? His vitriolic response?

14. The set up for the rehearsal, Spector agreeing? The performers? The intensity, the judge, the prosecution, the attack, his vigorous outburst, eventually coming down, his apology?

15. The trial, his arriving late, his look, the wig and his explanation, Linda’s reaction, the judge? The jury?

16. The doctor, priming him for his testimony, the percentages, his nervousness, his vanity, his being called to the witness stand?

17. The final information, the hung jury, the retrial, Spector found guilty?

18. The value of this kind of film, probing a public figure, looking at the evidence about his guilt, reconstructing possibilities of innocence?