Phil Spector: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Ratings

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5.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: March 24, 2013

Summary: Written and directed by David Mamet, the biopic about the events leading to Phil Spector's (Al Pacino) 2007 trial for the murder of Lana Clarkson, focuses on his professional relationship with his defense attorney, Linda Kenney Baden (Helen Mirren).

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E1. Phil Spector
Air Date: March 24, 2013

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

David Wiegand

Mar 21, 2013

Mamet is very much on his game in Phil Spector, but so is every member of his cast, including Al Pacino as Spector and Helen Mirren as attorney Linda Kenny Baden: Watching these two titans of acting work is half the fun. Read full review

Dorothy Rabinowitz

Mar 21, 2013

To watch Mr. Pacino's Spector pull himself back from the edge to shout, bitterly, that of course he knows this is only a rehearsal--he'll go on, awkwardly, to assure the shaken defense team that they've done well--is to feel the full force of the intelligence behind this drama. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Mar 21, 2013

In the end, Phil Spector succeeds on the strength of its two marquee thespians. Mirren is wonderful throughout, Pacino scores in double figures and they have enough scenes together to make it all well worth your while. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Mar 21, 2013

Phil Spector is just about ideal as an HBO movie; watchable and gossip-worthy but just not that compelling. Read full review

Bruce Miller

May 29, 2013

Both actors [Al Pacino and Helen Mirren] could thrive with this story (Pacino's a ringer for Spector) but Mamet speculates a bit too much. Had he eliminated the title character entirely, it might have been more intriguing. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Mar 22, 2013

Claustrophobic, stagey and muddled, the movie offers two memorable set pieces. Read full review

Glenn Garvin

Mar 25, 2013

It’s an insidious whitewash of a convicted killer and an infamous smear of his victim. It’s a shame on all involved.... The closest thing to fairness in Phil Spector is the blow-you-away performance by Al Pacino in the title role. Read full review

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User Reviews

MikaelZ

Mar 18, 2014

Pacino and Mirren are absolutely fantastic in this! And Mamet wonderfully captures Spector's tortured soul and Linda's determination, which is just as strong as her (Mirren's) performance.

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beingryanjude

Sep 1, 2014

Regardless of whether it is true or not--it's held together by two strong performances and wonderful writing. Phil Spector is a bold view of a nationally recognized court case--by the end, you'll have plenty of opinions.

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heyitsmegrif4

Apr 2, 2013

Nothing about this film pops out. It seems like any other HBO show. Sure it features big names but they give dull performances rarely even shaping a character. The story is plain and would have been the same difference as a documentary.

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GPSpector

Mar 25, 2013

Regardless of what people may say about this poorly researched movie or what they may say about Al Pacino, he nailed my father in his acting. But, as an author of another article stated regarding the movie as a whole "What's the point?". I certainly was not entertained by a movie that usedRegardless of what people may say about this poorly researched movie or what they may say about Al Pacino, he nailed my father in his acting. But, as an author of another article stated regarding the movie as a whole "What's the point?". I certainly was not entertained by a movie that used misinformation to prove reasonable doubt. This movie was not only disrespectful to Lana Clarkson (whom I never met), it mischaracterized George C. Brand (the "bodyguard" that Al Pacino took the gun from in the studio). George (was my guardian and like a father to me and my brothers), would never have allowed my father to take his gun, especially since my father would have had his own.

This movie was very disrespectful to even the Spector family by not at least acknowledging he had a wife (as bad as she was), at the time of the trial, in favor of a story more about LKB than my father.

This movie is definitely NOT worth watching.… Expand

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Seasons & Episodes

60

Series Overview
Season 1

60
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 24, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E1. Phil Spector
  Air Date: March 24, 2013