And Justice for Spector….. Pacino Dons the Wig

Filming has begun on the controversial, as-yet-untitled, HBO produced biopic of Phil Spector. Controversial in the sense that it is rumoured to show a sympathetic, albeit innocent view of the gun-totting music producer – currently serving a life sentence for the murder of B-Movie actress, Lana Clarkson.

Famous as the creator of the ‘wall of sound’ technique used on such classic albums as The Beatles’ Let it Be, John Lennons’ Imagine and The Ramones’ End of the Century – throwing himself into the role is Tony Montana himself, Al Pacino; snapped by UK tabloid The Sun donning the wig and glasses and displaying an eerily identical look to the oddball identity. Judging from this image reported earlier by UK music rag NME, the film looks to span time.

Joining Pacino is acting powerhouse Helen Mirren, also snapped in wig and garb playing long-time friend and subsequent failed defense attorney, Linda Kenney Baden. Mirren replaces Bette Midler after the ‘Divine Miss M’ was forced out of production due to a herniated disc.

Mirren copped a wave of protests over her decision to participate in the film after the lobby-group ‘Friends of Lana Clarkson’ launched a campaign against her, bizarrely proclaiming a lack of Emmy Nominations to be a consequence of her involvement. A spokesman for the Oscar-Winning Actress was defiant, stating; “She’s in the movie. She’s not dropping out. That’s all she’s saying.”

The biopic focuses on the 2007 trial of Spector that resulted in a 10-12 hung jury. Rounding out the cast is Arrested Development patriarch Jeffrey Tambor playing famed defense attorney Bruce Cutler, who reportedly clashed with Spector over a difference of ‘strategy’ and subsequently left his defense team.

The film is written and directed by Pulitzer-Prize winning, profanity-aficionado David Mamet – who was the man responsible for giving Pacino (as Ricky Roma) the unforgettable, insult speech delivered at Kevin Spacey from the film adaptation of his groundbreaking Glengarry Glenn Ross.

Anyone at Popcorn Taxi’s screening of the Spector documentary ‘The Agony and The Ecstasy‘ last year will know that Pacino will have his work cut out for him if he’s to pull off the salivating, drawl-like Spector speech pattern – yet from the sight of these pictures he definitely looks to be bringing his A-game.