Friends and supporters of Lana Clarkson, the actress murdered by music producer Phil Spector, have been protesting at the screening of the movie about music producer trial.
Phil Spector film, starring Al Pacino, focuses on his relationship with his defence lawyer, played by Helen Mirren.
But the group against the movie says it is too sympathetic towards Phil Spector’s defence case.
Lana Clarkson’s former publicist, Edward Lozzi, called the film a “slap in the face”.
Edward Lozzi told the Hollywood Reporter the group initially hoped to stop the film from being made, but now wanted to ensure it receives no Emmy award recognition.
Phil Spector was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 for shooting Lana Clarkson in his California home in 2003.
He is serving a prison sentence of 19 years to life.
“If this in any way makes Lana Clarkson look responsible for her own death, we are going to lobby the [television] Academy to prevent anyone from receiving an award,” Edward Lozzi said to the New York Post.
“Seeing Al Pacino play a crazed murderer like Phil Spector, who wouldn’t want to see that? But it is a bunch of lies,” he added.
Phil Spector film, starring Al Pacino, focuses on his relationship with his defence lawyer, played by Helen Mirren
The film’s director David Mamet told the Financial Times in 2011: “I don’t think he’s guilty. I definitely think there is reasonable doubt.”At the New York premiere of the film, Phil Spector’s defence lawyer, Linda Kenney Baden, told CNN the film was about “soul-searching”.
“Do we convict people because of how they look, what they look like, whether they’re freaky looking? Or do we convict people on the evidence?” she said.
Producers say the film “is neither an attempt to depict the actual persons, nor to comment upon the outcome”, according to an on-screen disclaimer.
Phil Spector’s wife Rachelle has also been speaking about the film which is due to air on HBO in the US on March 24.
Rachelle Spector told Entertainment Tonight it “brought tears” to her eyes but called it “fictionalized” and “bogus”.
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Al Pacino has been transformed into legendary music producer Phil Spector for his latest role in the HBO production.
Al Pacino, 72, stars in the controversial made-for-TV film Phil Spector, who was convicted of murder in 2009.
Pictured with Al Pacino is his co-star Helen Mirren.
Dame Helen Mirren portrays Phil Spector’s defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden.
Though the two are only five-years apart in age, Helen Mirren’s fresh-faced and pale complexion makes Al Pacino’s character look rather weather-beaten.
Al Pacino’s own persona could not be further from the convict he embodies in the upcoming film.
Phil Spector was not only famous for his Wall of Sound production technique, which scored him a slew of hits including The Beatles’ Let It Be, but also for his eccentric hairstyles.
Al Pacino donned a variety of wigs to play the notorious music producer.
But the transformation went deeper than mere head adornments.
Al Pacino recently said he didn’t try to perfectly mimic Phil Spector or meet with him. Instead he “would sit for hours just looking at Phil talking about things”, on videotape.
The actor tried to capture the essence of the man in order to develop a character who was a real human being in his own right – not just a cheap imitation of Phil Spector.
Al Pacino has been transformed into legendary music producer Phil Spector for his latest role in the HBO production
Helen Mirren admitted that working on the film was “like a strange dream you are having”.
She further explained: “The nature of Phil Spector and the life that he lived encouraged that. He seemed to live in a permanent dream.”
Phil Spector movie is closer to a dream than reality as it depicts writer-director David Mamet’s re-imagining of the events, rather than a retelling of the plain facts of the case.
The HBO film comes with a disclaimer explaining that it is a work of fiction, “inspired by actual persons in a trial, but it is neither an attempt to depict the actual persons, nor to comment upon the outcome”.
What is known to be true about the murder trial’s outcome is that Phil Spector will most likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
Phil Spector’s initial trial in 2007 for the murder of Lana Clarkson, who died from a gunshot wound to the head, ended in a deadlocked jury.
But a second jury in 2009 found him guilty of second degree murder with a sentence of 19 years hard time.
HBO’s Phil Spector is set for release on March 24.
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