The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector: Having Lost That Lovin' Feeling

This policy apparently began after Lozzi sent a written complaint to the American Cinematheque regarding its decision to show the film at the Egyptian.

"We weren't suggesting they don't show it, we just wanted to make a statement about it," Lozzi tells the Weekly. "Even though the producers have gone on the record, saying this is not glorifying [Spector], it is!"

Genius! Murderer! What's your take on Phil Spector?

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More About

• Ronnie Spector
• Phil Spector
• Vikram Jayanti
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Murder and Homicide

Lozzi says he and his fellow Friends haven't seen Jayanti's film. "I don't think any of us could sit through it. But we know what it's about. When we saw it was from the BBC, we were suspect immediately.

"The fact is, if it weren't for Lana Clarkson, Phil Spector wouldn't have the fame he has today," Lozzi says. "He's a murderer who had a couple of hits in the '60s."

Jayanti, for his part, plays the middle. "There are people who say, 'All he is is a murderer, and you shouldn't have a film about his art,' " he says. "And, there are people who say, 'He gave me the soundtrack to my generation — let's not even think about any possible shootings in his house.' I was curious about the relationship between the art and the artist, and the rather damaged and disturbed and at times really scary person who is Phil Spector. How can someone who can make such sublime music be the same guy who ends up on trial for murder, then be convicted?

"My film really isn't about his guilt or innocence," Jayanti maintains. "It's about how do you understand this music, and what do you understand about Phil from it? And how does that in some way help you understand why he's in the courtroom?"

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF PHIL SPECTOR | Egyptian Theatre | Aug. 19-25 | AmericanCinematheque.com