GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★1/2
Rated: TBA
Directed by: Morgan Neville
Produced by: Mimi Valdes, Pharrell Williams
Original Songs by: Pharrell Williams
Original Score by: Michael Andrews
Animation Director: Howard E. Baker
Written by: Morgan Neville, Jason Zeldes, Aaron Wickenden, Oscar Vazquez
The Collaborators: Shae Haley, Chad Hugo, Pusha T, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Teddy Riley, Busta Rhymes, N.O.R.E, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar.
‘Everyone wants you to win.’
Opening another Universal LEGO® animation world, a handheld cam follows a LEGO® Pharrell William as he enters a room to sit opposite Morgan Neville to talk about his life.
This is a LEGO® movie with a difference.
“You probably think I’m out of my mind,” Pharrell says, chuckling. The musician, mega producer and multi-hyphenate artist is speaking about what he hopes for his film, Piece By Piece — to be an instrument of unity, to inspire people of all ages and stripes, to tell people that they really could wake up tomorrow and build their dreams, piece by piece.
“The only caveat is that after we shoot it, I don’t want to use the footage,” Pharrell remembers telling his agent. “I just want to use the audio.”
Piece by Piece is a documentary, in LEGO®.
This is a history of Pharrell’s life, of his contribution to Hip Hop, his clothing brand, Billionaire Boys Club, then Billionaire Girls Club, to the music scene and how his beats became famous worldwide like:
T’S HAPPENING, MAYBE, I WISH, FUNKYTOWN, SEÑORITA, BLURRED LINES (FEAT. T.I. AND PHARRELL), MY PEROGATIVE, VIRGINIA BOY, RUMP SHAKER, HOLLABACK GIRL, GOD BLESS US ALL, ROCK STAR, TUBTHUMPIN, BONITA APPLEBUM, EVERYONE NOSE (ALL GIRLS STANDING IN THE LINE FOR THE BATHROOM), NOTHIN’, SPLASH, KNOCK YOURSELF OUT, SHAKE YA ASS, L’EGO ODYSSEY, HELLA GOOD, LIKE I LOVE YOU, LOOKIN’ AT ME (FEATURING PUFF DADDY), SUPERTHUG, I JUST WANNA LOVE U (GIVE IT 2 ME), HOT IN HERRE, DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT (W/ PHARRELL), PASS THE COURVOISIER PART II, GRINDIN’, BEAUTIFUL (FEAT. PHARRELL & UNCLE CHARLIE WILSON), SOONER OR LATER, FRONTIN’ (CLUB MIX), I’VE SEEN THE LIGHT / INSIDE OF CLOUDS, GET LUCKY (FEAT. PHARRELL WILLIAMS AND NILE RODGERS), HAPPY (FROM THE FILM DESPICABLE ME 2), ALRIGHT, PIECE BY PIECE, PURE IMAGINATION (from WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY), FOR REAL.
The soundtrack is what makes this film. And the idea of music creating colours in Pharrell’s mind. He has a condition, sound-color synesthesia or chromesthesia.
Growing up, Pharrell thought everyone related to music in the same way – music seen in colours.
He didn’t do well in school. But his grandmother knew he would be good at music.
There’s a fascinating backstory here, that lends itself to the LEGO® world, the assistant blown away by Pharrell’s beats so his LEGO® head pops off, the parents browsing through LEGO® photo albums and the beach is the flow of small LEGO® pieces, a mix of white and blue to create waves.
Pharrell was obsessed with water growing up in Virginia Beach, where Pharrell and his mates, ‘just loved doing music.’
Then fate brought famous producer Teddy Riley to town.
Hearing Pharrell perform at a high school talent show in 1991, Riley knew he was hearing something unique when Pharrell went from rapping to playing the drums to singing.
Pharrell grew up with the idea of, What if nothing’s new? That you’re borrowing from colours that already existed?
By combining two different ideas, he found he could create something new. He created until suddenly, everyone wanted his beats.
There’re appearances from: Shae Haley, Chad Hugo, Pusha T, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Teddy Riley, Busta Rhymes, N.O.R.E, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar.
All LEGO®.
Two pieces, a light shining set next to another LEGO® represent a new beat.
It’s all creativity. Of the magic of the hood, where ideas come from the future.
It’s an autobiography told in pieces. An idea that was unique in itself, but in the end became a meandering philosophy of how best to serve this thing called life.
Not a usual LEGO® movie but more a contemplation of a life using the LEGO® world to explain an idea, to see through different eyes, like Pharrell and his colours.
As documentaries go, this has to be one of the most creative.