KT 093: Piece by Piece (Morgan Neville, 2024)
Our Hollywood Reporter is so back!
Morgan Neville, 2024
DCP Courtesy: Universal
Classification: PG
Screenings at both big and small cinemas
Words by Bruno R. Slonek
Before the 2010s, the music ‘producer’ was always a background figure. Rappers always took centre-stage. Madlib, J Dilla, and Eric B & Rakim were exceptions to the rule, and even the former two rose to prominence in the 2000s as the tectonic shift in the rapper-producer relationship had begun. With hits like Drop it Like It’s Hot, Hot in Here, and Señorita, Pharell Williams also had a role to play in this history. And this is the central story of Piece by Piece, animated beautifully in Lego and soundtracked by none other than Williams himself. Given Williams’ own experience with synaesthesia (he can see sound) the gimmicky animation actually works in its favour, and the soundtrack is populated with so many bangers you’ll walk away with a renewed appreciation for Pharell’s influence on the music industry. But despite the ‘how’ being impressive, the question remains: why? Whether Williams knows it or not, no amount of visual or sonic ingenuity can overcome the fact that Piece by Piece is a film that literally no-one asked for.
This sense of aimless storytelling is brutally reinforced by William’s herculean obliviousness and dearth of self-awareness. When presenting the stroke of genius that inspired what might possibly be the most loathed ‘uptown funk’ derivative ever made, he declares it became a hit because so many people deal with “messed up shit.” There’s little sense Pharell understands (or even has) his own values or beliefs, nor does he recognise the agony that ‘Happy’ has inflicted upon an infinite number of casual labourers and the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Though it’s unknown if former al-Qaeda internees Mohammed al-Qahtani, Khaled Qasim, and Mohamedou Ould Slahi have heard Pharell’s music, neither has Williams revealed his stance on aural torture – a revealing omission that is (unfortunately for him) easily explained. For if Williams evaluated the ethics of sonic punishment, he’d not only be forced to acknowledge the repercussions of scoring every film in the diabolical series Despicable Me but apologise for his entire solo career.
We might contrast it with one of the more innovative and earnest musicals of the year (and incidentally also my favourite) - Bill Mousoulis’ My Darling in Stirling. Whereas Mousoulis seeks beauty in the quotidian on a shoestring budget, Pharell revels in his own grandiose self-delusion. He cashes in numerous celebrity favours (Snoop, Gwen Stefani, etc.) while taking credit for the success of Kendrick Lamar’s last good album and the entire Black Lives’ Matter movement.
The point isn’t that Pharell should become more politically engaged. Nor do we at Kinotopia have any right (or even intend) to define what being a person of colour means for Williams in today’s America. But Piece needed to offer something more than sporadic nods to BLM and MLK, or stick to its feel-good narrative about how one kid from coastal Virginia (see: Atlantis) was simply too excited, different, and talented to fail.
The truth is, even with cutting-edge (if gimmicky) animation and a soundtrack for the ages, Williams just isn’t particularly complex, charismatic, or interesting. Acknowledging any of his controversies would forfeit both the film’s PG-rating and the vision Williams’ wanted to project of himself. For example, he didn’t publicly recognise that his song with “sexist of the year” Robin Thicke may have contained misogynistic elements until at least six years after the fact, and even then clarified his intentions (and therefore his actions) weren’t misogynistic, but that doesn’t matter given how women might “feel”. The movie doesn’t discuss the time he lied under oath about being able to read sheet music, which might’ve added some hilarity, humility, and depth to William’s story by showing that he’s grown beyond his past mistakes. Moreover, given the lawsuit in question was over some chords borrowed from Marvin Gaye, it could have launched a potentially interesting discussion about the ethics of sampling, the music industry, and the nature of originality. And no, they don’t recreate the interview where he simulates receiving fellatio to Stereolab – which would almost definitely be unwatchable once animated in Lego.
I realise now I’ve mostly discussed what Piece by Piece isn’t – but this is only 50% my own fault. Is it so surprising that the life story of Pharell (of all people), made for Netflix, and animated in Lego might augur speculation about something else? The film hints that Pharell exists in a far more complex and interesting world than his solipsistic narration belies. Who were the other voices that didn’t get signed after the Princess Anne High School Talent Show? How did Pharell actually feel after the monumental life events that were apparently so important to him? Piece by Piece doesn’t seem to know, and it might simply be that Pharell doesn’t either.
There are two reasons to watch this movie: the animation and the soundtrack. Both combine to create an eminently watchable experience for people who enjoy Taco Bell. It gave me a new appreciation for Pharell’s influence on the music industry, and a deeper understanding of why producers should let rappers hold the limelight, as only the latter possesses the personality to breathe life into their technical musical expertise. At the same time, the presence of one of hip-hop’s background personalities coining a biopic with a gimmick is no indicator of a thriving cultural ecosystem. There is good news, however. With the innovation coming out of Australia – which draws (albeit more ambitiously) from Pharell’s hip-hop influences - there are still fresh visions of what a musical can accomplish when it’s made of heart instead of plastic.
05 Nov - 11 Nov
NOTABLE SCREENINGS / NEW FILMS WORTH NOTING
So many good films to see this cinema week! Start with Guan Hu’s BLACK DOG at Nova on Fri, then do a MY FAVOURITE CAKE and RUMOURS double on Sat, then head to either Lido or Classic for THE BRUTALIST on Sun and if you’re up for it, on Monday go to literally any cinema cinema to watch the Palme d’Or winner ANORA and see director Sean Baker’s head be beamed up onto the cinema screen in what will be a clunky if not entertaining virtual Q&A.
Black Dog
Guan Hu, 2024
Previewing at Cinema Nova, Palace Cineams and Lido and Classic Cinemas from Fri to Tues
Anora (Q&A w/ Sean Baker)
Sean Baker, 2024
Screening at all good arthouse cinemas
The Brutalist
Brady Corbett, 2024
Previewing at Classic and Lido on Sun 09 Dec
My Favourite Cake
Maryam Moghadam, Behtash Sanaeeha, 2024
Screening at all arthouse screens
Rumours
Guy Maddin, 2024
Screening at all arthouse screens
Ghost Cat Anzu
Yoko Kuno, Nobuhiro Yamashita
Just screening at Nova
Focus on Björk
Drawing Restraint 9
Matthew Barney, 2005
Screening Tonight
Fungi: Web of Life 3D
Gisela Kaufmann & Joseph Nizeti, 2023
Screening Sat 07 Dec
Dancer in the Dark
Lars von Trier, 1995
Screening Sun 08 Dec
Tank Girl
Rachel Talalay, 1995
Screening Mon 09 Dec
Best of 2024
Thelma
Josh Margolin, 2024
Screening Thursday
Matinees
Ghostlight
Kelly O'Sullivan & Alex Thompson, 2024
Screening Fri, Sat, Sun
No screening this week
No more screenings for the year
ASTOR CINEMA
Interstellar
Christopher Nolan, 2014
Screening Thurs, Fri and Sat
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (British FF)
Screening Sat 07 Dec and Sun 08 Dec
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Richard Fleischer
Screening Sat 07 Dec
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Jacques Demy, 1964
Screening Sat 07 Dec
The Iron Giant
Brad Bird, 2024
Screening Sun 8 Dec
Hard Truths (British FF)
Mike Leigh, 2024
Screening Sun 8 Dec
We Live in Time (British FF)
John Crowley, 2024
Screening Sun 8 Dec
Anora
Sean Baker, 2024
Virtual Q&A screening Mon 9 Dec
North by Northwest
Alfred Hitchcock, 1959
+
Strangers on a Train
Alfred Hitchcock, 1951
Screening Tues 10 Dec
Speed
Jan de Bont, 1994
+
Home Alone
Chris Columbus, 1990
Screen Wed 11 Dec
BBBC CINEMA (GALLERYGALLERY BRUNSWICK)
Closed until 2025
No screening this week
CHINATOWN CINEMA
Her Story
Shao Yihei, 2024
Screening Daily
Venom: The Last Dance (Chinese Subs)
Kelly Marcel, 2024
Screening Daily
To Gather Around
Xunzimo, 2024
Screening Daily
CINÉ-CLUB (Carlton)
Coming back in some variety soon
No screening this week
Events
Check sites for rep titles
Release
Green Border
Agnieszka Holland, 2023
Screening Daily
Wicked
John M. Chu, 2024
Screening Daily
No Other Land
Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, 2024
Screening Daily
Grafted
Sasha Rainbow, 2024
Screening Daily
Here
Robert Zemeckis, 2024
Screening Daily
Saturday Night,
Jason Reitman, 2024
Screening Daily
Lee
Ellen Kuras, 2023
Screening Daily
A Different Man
Aaron Schimberg, 2024
Screening Daily
Memoir of a Snail
Adam Elliot, 2024
Screening Daily
From Hilde, With Love
Andreas Dresen, 2024
Screening Thursday
Memory
Michel Franco, 2023
Screening Daily
Theres Still Tomorrow
Paola Cortellesi, 2024
Screening Daily
Cat Video Fest
Will Braden, 2024
Screening Daily
The Apprentice
Ali Abbasi, 2024
Screening Daily
Megalopolis
Francis Ford Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat, 2024
Screening Daily
Bonnard, Pierre and Marthe
Maurice Pialat, 2023
Screening Friday
Kneecap
Rich Peppiatt, 2023
Screening We, Thu, Fri
I Saw the TV Glow
Jane Schoenbrun, 2023
Screening Daily
Sasquatch Sunset
Nathan and David Zellner
Screening Monday
Strange Darling
Jacqueline Lentzou, 2024
Screening Friday
Longlegs
Graham Verchere, 2024
Screening Friday
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
Liu Jia, 2024
Screening Wed, Fri
DOGMILK DEGUSTATIONS: @ Miscellania
Coming back soon
EXPERIMENTAL FILM CLUB
Listings coming soon
Done for now, will return soon
GAY24 (Bar Flippy’s)
No screening this week
HITLIST (9 Gertrude St, Fitzroy)
Shut for now
LIDO / CLASSIC / CAMEO
Events
Program here
General Release
Green Border
Agnieszka Holland, 2023
Screening Daily
Gladiator II
Ridley Scott, 2024
Screening Daily
Wicked
John M. Chu, 2024
Screening Daily
No Other Land
Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, 2024
Screening Daily
The Pool
Ian Darling, 2024
Screening Daily
Here
Robert Zemeckis, 2024
Screening Daily
Paris, Texas
Win Wenders, 1984
Screening Daily
Saturday Night,
Jason Reitman, 2024
Screening Daily
Lee
Ellen Kuras, 2023
Screening almost everywhere
Memoir of a Snail
Adam Elliot, 2024
Screening Daily
Like My Brother
Sal Balharrie, Danielle MacLean, 2024
Screening Daily
The Apprentice
Ali Abbasi, 2024
Screening Daily
A Different Man
Aaron Schimberg, 2024
Screening Daily
Joker: Folie à Duex
Todd Phillips, 2024
Screening Daily
The Critic
Craig Armstrong, 2024
Screening Daily
Megalopolis
Francis Ford Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat, 2024
Screening Daily
OVA CLUB
No screening this week
THE MELBOURNE CINÉMATHÈQUE (ACMI)
Friends and Enemies
Tom Zubrycki, 1987
Screening Wed 11 December @ 7 pm
+
Molly and Mobarak
Tom Zubrycki, 2003
Screening Wed 11 December @ 8.45 pm
TOP OF THE HEAP (Tramway Hotel)
No screening this week
No screening this week
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY: SCREENING IDEAS
No screening this week
PALACE BALWYN / BRIGHTON / COMO / KINO / PENTRIDGE / MOONEE PONDS / WESTGARTH
Events
British Film Festival – Until Dec 6
Program here
General Release
Green Border
Agnieszka Holland, 2023
Screening Daily
Gladiator II
Ridley Scott, 2024
Screening Daily
Wicked
John M. Chu, 2024
Screening Daily
No Other Land
Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, 2024
Screening Daily
Memory
Michel Franco, 2023
Screening Daily
Here
Robert Zemeckis, 2024
Screening Daily
Saturday Night,
Jason Reitman, 2024
Screening Daily
Lee
Ellen Kuras, 2023
Screening Daily
Theres Still Tomorrow
Paola Cortellesi, 2024
Screening Daily
Memoir of a Snail
Adam Elliot, 2024
Screening Daily
Goodrich
Hallie Meyers-Shyer, 2024
Screening Daily
The Apprentice
Ali Abbasi, 2024
Screening Daily
Joker: Folie à Duex
Todd Phillips, 2024
Screening Daily
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat, 2024
Screening Daily
A Difficult Year
Olivier Nakache & Éric Toledano
Screening Daily
Megalopolis
Francis Ford Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
My Old Ass
Megan Park, 2024
Screening Daily
No screening this week
No listings this week / click link above to see what’s on (their site too hard to list)
Moana 2
Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, David Derrick Jr.
Screening Daily
Takayna the Heart of Lutruwita
Screening Fri 08 Dec
To Thank the Room (Q&A)
Beline Lloyd & Maggie Fooke
Screening Sat 07 Dec
Conclave (Preview)
Edward Berger, 2024
Screening Sat 07 Dec
Strange Creatures (Q&A)
Henry Boffin, 2024
Screening Sun 08 Dec
No Other Land
Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, 2024
Screening Sun and Wed
Your Monster
Caroline Lindy, 2024
Screening Sun and Wed
Left Write Hook
Shannon Owen, 2024
Screening Mon 09 Dec
Let the Right one In
Thomas Alfredson, 2008
Screening Tues 10 Dec
UNKNOWN PLEASURES @ Thornbury Picture House
No screening this week