by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Morgan Neville has crafted quite a few documentaries about larger-than-life figures in pop culture over the last 10 years. Whether it’s Fred Rogers (a man who helped shape American youth for decades), Anthony Bourdain (a cross-sectional pop culture icon who transcended being a chef), or Steve Martin (one of the greatest comedic minds in stand-up/television/film history), Neville has been able to leverage his storytelling to find the impressive weight and impact of their presence. But Neville has some dynamic skills up his sleeve, and they are on display with his latest work, Piece by Piece.
This documentary is unprecedented in that it’s animated. You won’t find many docs that are animated in general. You will find even fewer that are animated in LEGO style. But this is a fresh approach to aid Neville’s storytelling regarding the life, career, and art of Pharrell Williams. He is not quite the generational figure of Mr. Rogers, but he has made a large pop culture impact with his music. Some of his songs like “Get Lucky” and “Happy” have become massive hits. But it is the approach from Neville, and the film’s animators, which make this documentary different. The use of animation allows for some great creative choices in the dramatizations of these interactions. You do not need to have actual footage for every bit of the story (which most other documentaries don’t have either). We see Williams’ singular perspective on music brought to life in beautiful animation in a poignant way, including moments of magic realism, with characters turning into animals (looking at you, Snoop) and moving through spaces that you would not usually see. There is a fluidity to the film that is only possible through animation, creating its distinctive pacing and feel. This might seem like an odd choice to present a film in this way, but it benefits from the uncommon presentation.
Despite the LEGO of it all, how does Neville still connect you with Williams on a human level? The story being told is not groundbreaking, but there is a human drive to the journey that Williams has been on. We are treated to all aspects of his life, from being a child and hearing music in a new way for the first time to him becoming a father. As with many docs about living people, there are plenty of moments where we hear directly from the musician, but there is that added layer of charm seeing Williams and Neville engaging in LEGO form. For a film that is PG, Williams is still able to get a bit heavier with things, and to show some extra passion to his feelings. One moment moment in particular has Williams sharing these thoughts on the impact of “Happy,” as it resonates deeply to all of us and what we go through. This is not the most unique story, but the presentation and passion make it notable.
Williams’ music is the most significant element of both the film and his career, and the way it’s into the doc breathes life and exudes lots of energy. Some of the best moments are the ones where we see Williams perform. The joy and energy of his music hits so well with the backdrop of animated figures performing. You can get more creative in this medium and Neville certainly does with “Get Lucky” being a fun standout. The inclusion of so many high-profile music personalities, like of Daft Punk, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and is also a nice aspect of the film. Seeing how influential Williams was on so many figures due to his collaborations is one of the film’s most interesting aspects.
Piece by Piece‘s animation is vibrant, the energy is high, and the passion is palpable. The synthesis of Neville, Williams, and the animators’ talents create a fun, enjoyable, and musically rich experience. Joy… that would be the most appropriate word to express the emotions that this film brings out the most. A straightforward documentary about William’s life would not be as dynamic as this one, and that is probably the biggest selling point of the whole endeavor.
Rating: Liked It
Piece by Piece is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd