Concrete Playground

Phil Spector is a creative genius. And, yes, a convicted killer. The documentary The Agony & Ecstasy of Phil Spector was filmed after his 2007 murder trial which resulted in a mistrial, and would be taken back to court in 2009 where he would be sentenced to 19 years in prison. It was this time when Spector, infamously reclusive, finally allowed a filmed interview inside his own home (a 30 room mansion). On tape, he speaks candidly of his legacy as a singer/songwriter and producer, and about his relationships.

No matter your opinion of the murder case, his self-confessed "insanity", or for that matter, his erratic hairstyles (which he discusses in the film!), his jawdroppingly, heartgrabbingly, kneebucklingly influential artistic output in the twentieth century is not up for argument. This is the guy who invented the Wall of Sound, the man that Brian Wilson felt was his rival, the producer who worked with The Ronnettes, The Crystals, The Righteous Brothers, John Lennon, Tina Turner, George Harrison, The Ramones, and — goddamnit! — gave us A Christmas Gift from Phil Spector.

The content of Agony & Ecstasy is much better than the actual film making (its attempts at poignancy fall flat every time), but with a subject like this it's impossible not to be involved and occasionally, it's downright chilling. Having sold out its single session at the 2009 Sydney Film Festival, Popcorn Taxi is presenting this documentary alongside a live Q&A with the director from London.