Phil Spector

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Phil Spector

TV-MA

2013

1h 33m

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

51%

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41 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Lawyer Linda Kenney Baden (Helen Mirren) defends music producer Phil Spector (Al Pacino), on trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

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Critics Consensus

Its top-shelf script and terrific cast ensure that it's always watchable, but Phil Spector fails to provide truly compelling drama.

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John Doyle

Globe and Mail

Pacino is excellent, savouring Mamet's script and disappearing into this figure who has a God-complex and is, at the same time, a god in the music industry.

Jun 11, 2020

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Mamet's film isn't sure what the hell to make of Spector. But, strangely, that's part of what makes it so compelling.

Jun 21, 2016

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Alessandra Stanley

New York Times

Even with a Mamet screenplay and actors like Mr. Pacino and Ms. Mirren there is not much anyone can do to make the audience care.

May 22, 2013

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…only David Mamet would be so deliberately obtuse as to make a feature-length film about a famous trial and halt the action before the trial even starts…Pacino is on top form, matched every inch of the way by Helen Mirren as attorney Linda Kenney Baden…

Rated: 3/5

Jul 11, 2024

Full Review

Stephen Marche

Esquire Magazine

Victims' rights groups have openly worried that the movie will call into question the nineteen-year sentence Spector received... They needn't worry. The film is no challenge to anything except the careers of those involved with it.

Oct 17, 2018

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John Powers

Vogue

Spector is almost the platonic ideal of the crazy showbiz madman. He makes a great fit for Pacino, who has for once found a character so charismatically odd that he doesn't need to overact to keep himself interested.

Jul 13, 2017

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Michael W

This HBO movie was terrible. Al Pacino, Helen Mirren, Jeffrey Tambor, and the rest of the cast did a terrible job in this movie. The plot of the movie was tedious and dull. It's about trying to get a famous record producer acquitted of a murder charge. If you haven't seen this movie yet, don't waste your time. It's very boring.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/23/24

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Alec B

Mamet's central thesis about the importance of impartiality in the legal system is not without merit, however centering his argument around Phil Spector was a gross miscalculation especially since his exploration fictionalizes some of the facts of the case. This only undermines his argument and exposes him as something of a hypocrite.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

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Audience Member

....this is the most heinous piece of garbage I have ever had the displeasure of yawning my way through....David 'muppet' Mamet should be ashamed of himself...as should Pacino & Mirren....it's an abhorrent slur on the memory of Lana Clarkson....

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

Why does Al Pacino keep playing people I have no interest in learning anything about?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

Murderer or not, Spector belonged in prison anyway for how he butchered "Let It Be"

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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stephen b

Early in the movie it seemed like this would have been better as a documentary. Then when I saw where the movie was going, I thought this is ok as a drama, but it needs another hour so it doesn't all seem rushed. Then when it ends like it does, I was right all along. It would be better as a documentary.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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David Mamet

Director

Al Pacino

Phil Spector

Helen Mirren

Linda Kenney Baden

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Mock Prosecutor

Jeffrey Tambor

Bruce Cutler

Rebecca Pidgeon

Dr. Fallon

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Synopsis

Lawyer Linda Kenney Baden (Helen Mirren) defends music producer Phil Spector (Al Pacino), on trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

Director: David Mamet
Producer: Michael Hausman
Screenwriter: David Mamet
Production Co: HBO Films
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 33m

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