Monday, September 9, 2013

Record producer Phil Spector hires Bruce Cutler to defend him when hes accused of murder. Cutler persuades Linda Kenney Baden to advise him. While the prosecutions 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 jurys 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

Review

This is a frustrating MadeforTVMovie. 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 WriterDirector David Mamet and of course the legendary Music Producer Phil Spector.His unique blending of multitracked 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 showoff 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.