What’s It About
Piece by Piece is a unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music’s most innovative minds.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
The documentary opens with Pharrell talking to Neville; he has an idea for a story based on LEGO. He then flashes back to his life, where he grew up in Virginia Beach, in which his parents instilled a deep love for music. Growing up, he came of age with the future stars Missy Elliott and Timbaland. He later met up with a fellow musician named Chad Hugo and began a production team called The Neptunes. The work follows the life of Pharrell from his earliest days in Virginia Beach. He describes his neighborhood as a complex, musical weave of communal life. To be this kind of kid in a place like that-even Pharrell says when he walked down the street, he imagined onlookers thinking, “Oh, that’s an eccentric child. He’s peculiar.” The idea put a little rain in his parade. But, as depicted in the film, it was, ironically, Pharrell’s individuality that propelled him toward his destiny-perhaps a lesson to be imparted to young, gangly viewers who may feel like they don’t quite fit in. The documentary also shows how Pharrell and his family turned around adversity into opportunity. Hating school in seventh grade led Pharrell’s grades to spiral downward. Even though he had enough credits to move ahead, his mother made him repeat the grade and get serious. Pressured by the embarrassing setback, Pharrell’s grandmother got him to join the school band-the first time he was exposed to music-where he met his future collaborator, Chad Hugo. Early on, Pharrell reveals his synesthesia: a condition whereby he can “see” music in colors. This is superbly illustrated in a dazzling kaleidoscopic segment, in which young Pharrell hears Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” for the first time. There are moments when LEGO animation really does feel justified, as it matches Pharrell’s imagination and innovation regarding how he sees the world. The musical fantasy elements really shine in the film, as in the scene where Gwen Stefani is describing No Doubt’s “Hella Good,” where literally rock and hip-hop worlds collide and come together in an exuberant dance party. The career trajectory of Pharrell and Chad is traced from their initial break working with new jack swing producer Teddy Riley to becoming industry titans themselves. They turned out an endless number of chart-topping hits for everyone from Jay-Z to Kendrick Lamar, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Gwen Stefani, many of whom pop up as LEGO-animated interviewees. By the time the 2010s arrived, Pharrell had become nothing less than a mogul himself, leading an extremely successful solo career, along with designing clothes and trying his hand at being an entrepreneur. Although Piece by Piece doesn’t really reveal too much about Pharrell that wasn’t known, while also steering clear of any legal differences between he and Chad Hugo, it’s a documentary about their friendship and artistic chemistry. The documentary itself is an example of how prolific Pharrell has been, retold through LEGO versions of various artists. These stories are refreshingly candid, even unexpectedly human; take Stefani’s impromptu effort to quiet the lawnmowers outside of her window before enthusiastically discussing her collaboration with the Neptunes. The film is replete with setbacks as a common catalyst toward change and growth. Pharrell owns up to his mistakes and the good feeling of relevance that sometimes took him on detours. We leave the documentary with Pharrell not only as an influential musician but also as an evolving husband, father, and friend. The film points to Pharrell’s spiritual influences: The first time he went into a church sanctuary was a game-changer for him; he reflects on his grandmother’s words about the marching orders accompanying talents that God has given him. He gets down on his knees to consult with his pastor when the slumps in his career make him question his path, and his pastor gives him a broader view of frustration as mountain climbing. Most surprisingly, perhaps, Pharrell draws inspiration from the astrophysicist and religious skeptic Carl Sagan. But in one sequence, Sagan is featured, an almost angelic figure who encourages in poetic yet definitively humanist ways. With the exception of glossing over some of the darker times in Pharrell’s life, Piece by Piece is quite effective at capturing the multifaceted creativity of this producer/singer/songwriter/voice actor/fashion designer. The film’s use of LEGO animation perfectly matched Pharrell’s vibrant, synesthetic perception of the world. Therefore, it should be refreshing and uplifting rather than just another slightly tired biographical experience.
OUR RATING – A VERY HAPPY 8.5