Piece by Piece
★ ★ ★ ★
Yes, you read that title correctly. This is a documentary. It’s about the life of Pharrell Williams and how he paved his path in the music industry. It is digitally animated and told with Legos.
And – yes, it works.
Making this documentary as a Lego film gives us a visual representation of his synesthesia, where he sees music and sounds represented as color.
Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk
© 2024 Focus Features
Admittedly, I was skeptical of how a film like this might work. How can you take a documentary seriously when the interviewees and dramatizations are all Lego? It’s certainly an unconventional approach, but film is meant to be, at times, unconventional.
It works so well that I suspect, for better or worse, more documentary and educational-type films will be told in this way.
Morgan Neville and Pharrell Williams
© 2024 Focus Features
The film takes us to Williams’ early days growing up in Virginia Beach in the Atlantis housing projects. Seeing sounds and music in color, he formed an early appreciation for artists like Stevie Wonder.
He struggled in school but became friends with Chad Hugo, eventually playing music together. They formed a small band called The Neptunes (eventually becoming N.E.R.D.) along with another friend, Shay Haley. They performed with other artists from their neighborhood: Missy Elliott, Pusha T, and Williams’ cousin Timbaland.
The Neptunes were spotted by Teddy Riley, a famous record producer, at their high school talent show. Williams would eventually help Riley complete the lyrics to the song “Rump Shaker.” Williams caught the attention of other artists, helping them complete their songs with his unique lyrics, beats and production.
The film goes on to highlight his rise to fame and struggle with maintaining a balance with his family.
Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams
© 2024 Focus Features
You’d think a Lego movie would detract from the emotions that go along with a story like this, but it doesn’t. In fact, in many ways, it makes this story more accessible, interesting and intriguing.
The Lego characters are all voiced by the documentary subjects, their actual voices giving life to digital likeness. Moments of emotional brevity maintain the level of emotion they’re intended to and the digital style allows Williams’ story to be reenacted in an innovative way.
Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams
© 2024 Focus Features
I’m not saying every documentary would be well served by being told in Legos. Not by a long shot. But in telling Williams’ story, it really works well.
Piece by Piece works because the film takes the subject matter seriously and uses the Lego animation as a cinematic tool, rather than a mere gimmick.
If I had more history lessons told this way in my elementary school days, I’d likely have done better on those nasty pop quizzes.
Running Time: 1h 33m
Directed by: Morgan Neville
Starring: Pharrell Williams
Kids & Family, Biography, Comedy, Animation
