Shadows on the Wall | Piece by Piece

Piece by Piece

dir Morgan Neville
scr Morgan Neville, Jason Zeldes, Aaron Wickenden, Oscar Vazquez
prd Pharrell Williams, Mimi Valdes, Caitrin Rogers, Morgan Neville, Shani Saxon
voices Pharrell Williams, Morgan Neville, Chad Hugo, Helen Lasichanh, Carolyn Williams, Pharoah Williams, Jay-Z, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Pusha T, Teddy Riley, N.O.R.E., Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes
release US 11.Oct.24,
UK 8.Nov.24
24/US Focus 1h33

TORONTO FILM FEST

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A Lego-animated biographical comedy meta-documentary, this genre mashup is delightfully original as it takes a quirk-filled approach to the life of Pharrell Williams. Filmmaker Morgan Neville happily dives into visual surrealism, creating moments that are riotously funny and deeply emotional. While it may feel odd to tell someone's life story in this way, the blast of energy, colour, humour and music is infectious. And Pharrell's life is fascinating.

Entirely rendered in Lego, the film is framed with an interview between Pharrell and Morgan, flickering back to tell the story chronologically from Pharrell's early days in Virginia Beach making music with pals Chad, Timbaland, Missy Elliot and Pusha T. Eventually, Pharrell and Chad become the Neptunes, producing music for major artists. But Pharrell's first solo hit Frontin' leaves him regrouping for years before he meets his wife Helen. And their infant son inspires his mega-hit Happy, igniting a new outlook on life as something that is continually being rebuilt piece-by-piece to become even better.

Using musical riffs to cleverly make narrative points, the film takes time to delve into many of Pharrell's key collaborations, as his memorable hooks continually spark our memories, including the fact that McDonald's I'm Lovin' It is one of his. A section about Snoop Dogg's Drop It Like It's Hot is hilarious. Daft Punk's Get Lucky provides a wonderful kick of adrenaline. And Kendrick Lamar's Black Lives Matter anthem Alright adds some deeper moods. The film's soundtrack is jam-packed with instantly recognisable beats.

It's also loaded with memorable characters, voiced by themselves and played by gorgeously customised Legos. The designs and animation allow their personalities to ripple through the story, as Neville continually finds outrageously visual ways to render internalised thoughts and feelings with plastic blocks. As a result, the viewer gets caught up in the story while continually being dazzled by the sights and sounds.

In between the lines, the animators wedge in micro-references to Pharrell's life, including witty versions of his fashion-forward style and nods to his skater-boy persona and Star Trek fandom. Sometimes it feels like there's too much on-screen to properly take in, but the way the story is so integrally assembled with music makes the film feel like a wave that carries us forward. And this reflects in Pharrell's refreshingly optimistic world view, reminding us that curiosity and compassion are essential.

themes, language 30.Oct.24

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