Though in the works for a while now, we didn’t realize that the Al Pacino-starring, David Mamet-directed Phil Spector biopic had started rolling, but we’re glad it has.
The New York Post has snagged the first look at Pacino as the famed music producer prior to his transition to his crazy big hair phase. Penned by Mamet, the film will chronicle the relationship between Spector and his defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden (Bette Midler) with Jeffrey Tambor playing Bruce Cutler, another member of the defense team. Spector was put on trial in 2007 for the murder of actress/model Lana Clarkson. The first trial ended in a mistrial, but in the second he was found guilty and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison. Before coming back into the public consciousness as a killer, Spector was famous for his Wall Of Sound production, which helped create the instantly classic songs for a variety of girl groups including The Crystals and The Ronettes, and he was even enlisted to mix The Beatles last album “Let It Be.”
While we were utterly dismayed at Pacino’s appearance in the upcoming Adam Sandler cinematic disease “Jack And Jill,” this project will go a long way towards rectifying that situation. Pacino seems to be becoming a regular player over at HBO, winning huge praise last year for his award-winning turn in “You Don’t Know Jack,” and this looks it will definitely be another Emmy baiting project. So, we’ll forgive Pacino doing big, dumb and brazenly terrible studio projects if he keeps following it up with stuff like like this. No word yet on when it will hit — or even what the title is — but keep your eyes peeled for it to land in 2012.
