As Episode 1 of "Spector" (2022 release; 4 episodes of 50 to 55 min each) opens, it is "February 3, 2003" and someone is calling 911 to report a possible murder at the residence of music producer Phil Spector. We then go back in time tp Spector's youth in New York. His world is rocked to its core when his dad commits suicide when Phil was 9, and his mom and older sister weren't the easiest on Phil in subsequent years... At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.
Couple of comments: this is the latest bio-documentary about the life and times of Phil Spector. The mini-series is directed by Sheena M. Joyce ("Framing John DeLorean"). Here she revisits Spector's meteoric rise in the music industry at a very young age in the early 1960s, only to then fall deeper and deeper into abusive behavior, culminating in the murder of Lana Clarkson in 2003. There have been prior documentaries and movies about Spector, but none go into the rich amount of detail about Lana Clarkson than does this series. Using ample archive footage, the series make clear how deeply flawed (and worse) Spector was. His daughter Nicole is interviewed extensively (and credited as a "consultant" in the end credits). Even better is British reporter Mick Brown, who seems to be the ultimate Spector connaisseur. In the end, this makes for somewhat grim but always compelling viewing.
This mini-series had been heavily promoted in recent weeks and I was very much looking forward to seeing it. "Spector" finally premiered on SHO last night, and I binge-streamed all 4 episodes right then and there. Even though there aren't any "new" revelations as such in this mini-series, I found it to be compelling viewing from start to finish. Such a massive talent, such a waste of life. Of course don't take my word for it, so please check it out and draw your own conclusion.
