Pharell Williams is one of those artists who has spoken to several generations. The Virginia-born producer has significantly influenced the music industry for decades and has worked with top talents like Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dog, Kendrick Lamar, No Doubt, and many others. It would stand to reason that Williams would carry stories about his creativity, views on the world, and what makes him tick. Of course, anybody can make a documentary on a gifted person like Williams; however, filmmaker Morgan Neville worked with the multi-grammy-winning producer to create something extraordinary with Piece by Piece.
The result possibly embodies Williams’s vision, allowing audiences to immerse themselves in an entertaining and heartful way. Consequently, the film succeeds on some level with a few minor missteps.
Piece by Piece is directed by Neville, whose previous documentaries include Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, and the incredibly made 20 Feet from Stardom. The film, written by Neville, Oscar Vazquez, Aaron Wickenden, and Jason Zeldes, is part documentary, biopic, and musical under a Lego lens. What also makes the movie worth watching is the testimony and somewhat acting from the earlier musical acts, along with Pusha T, Missy Elliot, Timberland, N.O.R.E, and Williams’s music partner Chad Hugo. Neville sits with Williams and others to discuss the artist’s childhood, road to fame, creative process, and the crucial moments in his life that will define him.
All that mixes well, thanks to the amazingly done directing.
Intuitive shifts have occurred in taking documentaries and biographies and transforming them into art and unconventional storytelling methods. Key examples are Waltz with Bashir, Flee, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and the upcoming Robbie Williams biopic, Better Man. Lego-themed movies are not uncommon, but Neville takes the art form and uses it to its fullest to express the nature of Williams’s mindset and view of music. There are several scenes with beautiful, vibrant colors and creative Lego-filled settings when Williams shares his stories. A great example is when the producer discusses how he sees music.
Neville doesn’t break down the neuroscience of music but taught me how William’s mind works when hearing a tune. This scene in Piece by Piece showcases a visually stunning array of Legos, colors, and fantastic camera movement to convey just how life-changing music can be. It was incredibly gorgeous, and the film continues that look in smaller bite sizes throughout the story. Furthermore, the movie continues to display the influence of William’s and Hugo’s partnership as The Neptunes and how they shaped music for years.
As with any documentary, Piece by Piece features several testimonies from collaborators, friends, and family. The film features many of the participants’ stories in entertaining ways that range from comedic to dramatic to insightful. What makes the film stand out is how creative the stories are. One example is when Williams shares his first meeting with Snoop Dog.
Williams details how he saw the rap artist as an incredibly tall individual who can be compared to a big city building. It’s done cleverly and becomes humorous when Neville substitutes or displays the act of smoking weed in a much more P.G. version. It earned from me a genuine laugh-out-loud moment, and I still chuckle whenever I think about it. What I think should be noted is how Piece by Piece goes into Williams’s work that helped our culture.
If you were a parent during the early years of Illumination’s Despicable Me, then you’re more than aware of the song “Happy.” The music featured in Despicable Me 2 was a world phenomenon and almost the bane of any parent’s existence. Kids loved it and went further by being featured almost everywhere. The movie covers how the hit song started a positive movement worldwide. Honestly, the movie brought me back to when things seemed right in the world and was a delightful stroll down memory lane. Yet it doesn’t stop there.
Williams had a significant influence on Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright,” which expressed ideas of hope amid personal struggles. Piece by Piece goes into detail—though not a whole lot—on how the song was created and how it became an anthem for the B.L.M. movement. It gives the movie a sidestep on how music can be used in many powerful ways. Though the inclusion of Williams’s and The Neptune’s music is sprawled all over the movie, it can sometimes be too much.
There are parts of the Piece by Piece where the soundtrack jumps. It was like someone hit the random button without letting the song reach its final note. It’s almost disorienting because of its frenetic nature, so I nearly wanted to pause the movie. It’s not much of a significant ding because I understood that Neville wanted to show the eclectic creations of The Neptunes. I just needed a break from time to time.
Piece by Piece isn’t going to be the Behind the Music hard-hitting deep dive into Pharrell Williams, but it’s still entertaining. It’s a good look at some of the biggest hits in recent memory and how The Neptunes had a hand in those songs. There are several interesting perspectives on life and how defining moments can shape a person’s views of them. It’s an excellent film to watch with your kid and enjoy while remembering where you were when “Hot in Herre,” “Rump Shaker,” “Hollaback Girl,” or “Get Lucky” hit the radio.
Grade: B