The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector

• Director: Vikram Jayanti
• Cast: Phil Spector
• Theatrical Release Date: June 30, 2010
• On The Web IMDB Entry

Synopsis: Legendary music producer (Lennon, Harrison, the Ramones etc), songwriter (‘You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’), originator of the ‘Wall of Sound’, and accused murderer, Phil Spector is interviewed at length in this mesmerising documentary. Archival footage of his greatest hits (The Righteous Brothers, Tina Turner, and more) is interspersed with scenes from his 2007 murder trial. Spector talks about his father’s suicide (when he was a toddler), his early singing career, and his spat with Scorsese over the illicit use of ‘Be My Baby’ in Mean Streets. His bizarre hair backgrounded by the famous white piano from Imagine, he rants about everything and everyone (Tony Bennett is a frequent target), making Jayanti’s film, notwithstanding the violent crime of which Spector is accused (and since the film was completed, found guilty of), highly amusing, and his discriminating musicianship all the more startling. [Synopsis courtesy of SBS Films]