'Piece by Piece' Review: A One-of-a-Kind Cinematic Journey Through Color and Sound
I'll admit, I was apprehensive about watching Morgan Neville's Pharrell Williams biopic Piece by Piece. I've been a fan of Morgan's work since he blew me away with 20 Feet From Stardom, so I did not doubt his capability to construct an emotionally charged music doc. My hesitation came from questioning how Pharrell wanted his story told; doing so exclusively through GCI Legos seemed nuts. Was this going to be a piece of branded entertainment disguised as a music biopic? My thoughts continued to swirl as the lights dimmed and the movie started. Within two minutes, any shred of uncertainty was transformed into full-blown captivation. I was officially hooked.
Stunning images feel like they're tangibly leaping off the screen, despite the film not being in 3D. Combined with nonstop musical numbers, Piece by Piece is a contagiously joyful cinematic experience. It will have you toe-tapping and head-bopping for the entire runtime.
An Animated Biopic of Pharrell’s Life That Redefines the Bounds of Conventional Storytelling
Pharrell, in Lego form, sits across from Morgan Neville, also in Lego form. They are sitting on a soundstage made entirely of, you guessed it, Legos. For as unconventional as the visual is, Piece by Piece follows familiar documentary pacing and formats. Starting with childhood ambition, Pharrell linearly reminisces through his young adulthood in The Neptunes, his rise to fame and eventual big break, and his subsequent existential crisis. This all culminates in a humble realization and gratitude for his talents and life.
If you're already familiar with the multi-hyphenate artistic wunderkind, Pharrell Williams, or have paid close attention to his career, you'll get a lot out of the intimate stories he shares about his early days in the music industry. On the off chance you've never heard Pharrell's name, I can guarantee you've heard his music. At one point in the film, a musical montage medley breaks out with all of the songs Pharrell has imprinted on. I found myself thinking "Oh yeah, Pharrell made that!". Familiar tunes include Britney Spears' "I'm a Slave 4 U", Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot", No Doubt's "Hella Good", and Kendrick Lamar's "Alright", plus so many more.
From playing a high school talent show with his Neptunes bandmate Chad Hugo to creating the world's biggest earworm "Happy" (from Despicable Me 2), Pharrell's talent is bar none. Music mesmerizes him and, quite literally, embodies a fantastic visual form. Pharrell experiences synesthesia and watching this play out on screen in Piece by Piece is a creative explosion of sound, color, and life.
Anyone From Anywhere Can Build Their Dreams, Brick by Brick
Director Morgan Neville's calm demeanor during their interview helps Pharrell feel at ease. This is important as they touch upon the more uncomfortable themes of imposter syndrome and uncontrollable ego. Pharrell breaks down the barrier of his celebrity as he talks candidly about The Neptunes disbanding, his insecurity masking itself as cockiness, and spreading himself too thin trying to be the best. Toward the film's end, he returns to his hometown in the projects of Virginia Beach to regain perspective. This reflection is an emotional moment that seems to get the better of Pharrell too. Although we can't physically see him begin to tear up, we hear the instability and vulnerability in his voice. That, and his Lego character's eyes begin to water.
Unconventional yet memorable, Piece by Piece acts is a return to form for Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville. This unique Lego approach showcases the life and legacy of one of music's most prolific producers and encapsulates the kookiness that Pharrell himself embodies. The film also includes interviews (and Lego characters) of influential people in Pharrell's life, including his mom, dad, and grandma, high school classmates Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Pusha-T, artists Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, and more.
Takeaway
Piece by Piece is a one-of-a-kind cinematic journey through color and sound that sparks imagination and creativity. "People just wanna feel good," says Pharrell about his music. In typical Pharrell overachiever fashion, watching Piece by Piece will not just make you feel good, it will make you want to perpetuate all the goodness you possibly can.
'I Don't Care If The World Collapses' Review: Reviving a Failing Film Shoot
A commercial shoot is interrupted when real life interferes with make-believe in director Karim Shaaban's short film, I Don't Care If the World Collapses. Inspired by true events from three years ago, Shaaban crafts a delicate conflict in which morals are tested. Taking aim at the dark side of the film industry, where making money often takes precedence over mental health, I Don't Care If the World Collapses shows the human casualties resulting from cold-hearted, capitalistic thinking.
Trying to Save a Commercial Shoot From Collapsing
Loubina (Salma Abu Deif) arrives at her one-day commercial film shoot ready to jump into action. As the film's line producer, she is responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Loubina sips her coffee as she chats with the lead actor (Emad Rashad), an older man who can hardly contain his excitement. He is a sweet soul and eager to please the director (Amir Salaheldin). All goes according to plan until the actor receives a life-shattering phone call and decides to leave mid-shoot, much to the director and producers' dismay.
The production manager (Emad El Tayeb) is furious, screaming that the tight deadline makes it impossible to reschedule the shoot. Plus, if they don't deliver the commercial on time, they're subject to a 10 million pound penalty. Therefore, the actor leaving the set is not an option. The actor, however, doesn't see it this way. He is going through an unexpected and tragic loss and believes empathy should take precedence over contracts. This leaves Loubina caught in the middle, torn between fulfilling her job responsibilities and convincing the actor to stay on set versus being a compassionate and decent human being and allowing him to leave.
The Grey Area of Responsibility
I Don't Care If the World Collapses is a beautifully constructed thought-provoking film about the burden of responsibility. From a craft perspective, the color grade is rich and dynamic, giving the film a dark cinematic look. The actors are choreographed in unique ways and perceived through intentionally interesting camera movements. The ensemble cast offers a gripping look at each character's perspective through their equally heartfelt performances.
Takeaway
Making its World Premiere at the 2024 Cleveland International Film Festival, I Don't Care If the World Collapses is a standout short film. Filmmaker Karim Shaaban creates a stunning and high-stakes world ripe with tension and empathy. It's an impressive film that will hopefully lead to a feature-length opportunity soon enough.
'The Low End Theory' Review: A Neo-Noir Set in LA's Music Scene
Director Francisco Ordoñez taps into the film noir genre to tell a modern-day story of hardship in The Low End Theory. Set in the Latinx and LGBTQ+ community of Los Angeles, The Low End Theory is a provocative look at the reality of desperation and the fight for survival. Co-writer and lead actor Sofia Yepes inspired the film's narrative after she shared a personal story with Ordoñez. He immediately connected with her experience and knew it had to be a film. Keeping in mind that this film has, to some degree, a true life aspect adds a layer of urgency to The Low End Theory that feels authentic.
In the Name of Love
Since returning from the armed forces and serving in Afghanistan, Raquel (Sofia Yepes) has had difficulty readjusting to society. She still carries the trauma of her experience, causing the flight or fight response in her nervous system to be overactive. Raquel works with drug dealers for some quick cash to make ends meet. However, she ultimately wants to create a sense of normalcy, and therefore, decides to focus on the next chapter of her career. She enters the music industry and finds her passion as a music producer in the low-budget hip-hop world. Her partner, Giselle (Ser Anzoategui), is loving and supportive of Raquel's quest for stability.
This music industry path is also where Raquel meets Veronica (Sidney Flanigan, Never Rarely Sometimes Always), an aspiring musician. The two women have an instant connection and sparks fly to the point where Raquel cannot ignore the sexual tension. Raquel and Veronica embark on an obsessive affair, kept secret from everyone in their circle. Veronica is a troubled woman, and Raquel sees herself reflected in Veronica's struggles. There comes a point when Veronica confesses a secret that could threaten to destroy their love affair. She admits that she owes tens of thousands of dollars to some shady people and fears for her life since she can't pay it back.
Raquel is devastated but comes up with a potential solution. She proposes stealing the money from her drug dealer boss to pay off Veronica's debts. As a plan gets set in motion, Raquel discovers more secrets that Veronica has been hiding, threatening to jeopardize both of their lives.
Leaning into the 90s aesthetic
An indie neo-noir thriller set in LA, The Low End Theory has the swagger of a 90s-era music video. At times the color composition is too dark and hard to make out. However, the film truly shines when we enter into the vibrant color palette. Artistic jump cuts add to the nostalgic aesthetic, as does the instrumental hip-hop score. The lead performances by Sofia Yepes and Sidney Flanigan are complementary of each other, with just enough edge to be truly believable. The ensemble cast pulls their weight as well, making for emotional and strong performances.
Takeaway
As an Angelino myself, it is always a trip to see the familiar L.A. landscape on screen. While this subject matter isn't the most uplifting of stories, the takeaway is a positive one. Raquel is reminded throughout the film that life has "no replays" and "no rewinds". She embraces this sentiment, as do audiences. No matter one's past, life is about moving forward. Our time is limited, and it's our responsibility to make the most of it.
'The Outrun' Review: An Arresting Journey Toward Inner Peace in a Chaotic World
Director Nora Fingscheidt transforms Amy Liptrot's best-selling memoir into a shattering slice-of-life drama in her film adaptation of The Outrun. The story features Saoirse Ronan, who makes a transformative turn as a recovering alcoholic attempting to find her footing in a new lifestyle. Ronan commands the screen with an overwhelming display of vulnerability and grit. Making its World Premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, The Outrun is a tender story about one young woman's struggle to reach stability and find inner peace in a chaotic world.
Rock Bottom Allows For a Fresh Start
The film opens with a stunning underwater shot of seaweed flowing gracefully among the coral reef. There is a sense of tranquility below the surface, off the shores of Scotland's Orkney Islands. The remote island is a place that 29-year-old Rona (Ronan) knows well, but the sense of peace is a feeling she struggles to accept. For the past ten years, Rona has lived in London, where she fell into an unsustainable and dysfunctional lifestyle of partying and drinking. Despite having a Masters degree in Biology, Rona has been unemployed and directionless. Her life takes a dramatic downward spiral after a night out when she becomes blackout drunk and accepts a ride from a stranger. The next day, she wakes with no recollection of the previous night's events. She then discovers that she has been assaulted, and her boyfriend–fed up with her unpredictability and recklessness–has finally left.
Attempting to get her life back on track, Rona returns home to her family farm on the Orkney Islands and checks into rehab. Rona knows she's doing the right thing, but she still misses parts of her former alcohol-fueled life back in London. She flashes back to these moments often, both the good (falling in love with her boyfriend) and the bad (hiding bottles of booze around the bathroom for sneaky drinking). As much as she tries to suppress these memories, especially the details of the horrifying event that led her here, the intrusive thoughts continue to leak into Rona's present life.
It Never Gets Easy, It Just Gets Less Hard
A lot of these triggers also come from her father, who struggles with addiction himself. His toxic behavior encourages Rona to relive the worst of her childhood traumas. But through perseverance and the trust of her newfound and tight-knit sober community, Rona eventually feels confident enough to embark on her journey of recovery. Returning to Orkney is returning to true identity, and though sobriety never gets easy, it eventually gets less hard.
Stunning Visuals Offer Insight Into Rona's Inner World
At its core, The Outrun is a spiritual awakening in film format. Through stunning cinematography, DP Yunus Roy Imer immerses audiences in Rona's mystical world. The poetic visuals offer insight into her complex inner narrative. At the height of Rona's addiction, her story is lensed through handheld camerawork. These moments are shot intentionally out of focus and with a blurriness around the edge of the screen, alluding to Rona's drunken double vision. Once she reaches her family's farm, the colors that leap from the screen are jaw-droppingly stunning. The arresting visuals, including lush hills and chilling Arctic waters, ring similar to the beauty of The Banshees of Inisherin.
Throughout The Outrun, sound also plays a major role in aiding Rona's recovery journey. The final scene concludes with a mesmerizing operatic score that reveals Rona as finally in control of her life. The score, as well as natural elements like birds and wind, make for an enhanced audio-visual experience.
Takeaway
Based on the bestselling memoir by Amy Liptrot, The Outrun is a poetic and transfixing film about returning to oneself. Fans of Banshees and Aftersun will recognize a fiery spirit in Saoirse Ronan's character. Rona's story shows that sometimes, surrendering to chaos is the necessary first step. What follows is acceptance, which gives way to autonomy, and can finally result in a positive change.
'A Little Family Drama' Review: Family Tradition Hits the Refresh Button
Family tension boils over in writer/director Nadia Zoe's character-driven dramedy, A Little Family Drama. The film tells the story of a multi-generational Mexican American family as they work through complicated dynamics with the ones they love the most. Set against an impending family reunion dinner held for the first time in the absence of the family patriarch, themes of trust, tradition, and patience are woven throughout this quick-witted indie film. A Little Family Drama is backed by heartfelt performances, making it a sweet and soulful watch for generations.
Family Tradition Hits the Refresh Button
The Sepulvedas are a proud Mexican American family whose dedication to their restaurant business dates back generations. The family patriarch aka Abuelo recently passed away, and in his absence, there has been increasing tension within the family. Things get heated as the Sepulvedas prepare for their annual family reunion dinner, an event they take very seriously given their passion for food and love of family. Matriarch Anselma (Alma Martinez) aka Abuela, clashes with her older daughter Victoria (Romi Davis) about which dish should be the final course. Victoria also engages in conflict with her adult daughter Cecelia (Diana Torres), who wants to shake up tradition and go against her mother's effort to maintain the status quo.
Another key player in this equation is Victoria's son, Matias (Ramon O. Torres), who harbors a secret that threatens to financially destroy everything. Matias is an aspiring entrepreneur who recently convinced his grandmother Anselma to take out a giant loan against the family restaurant so he could open a state-of-the-art, technologically advanced taco truck. The result was a disaster and Matias continues to default on his reimbursement plan. Anxiety-ridden, Matias knows that a foreclosure on the restaurant is imminent if he doesn't come clean to his family. Once the whole family finally sits down for dinner, the dysfunction reaches a boiling point. Uncomfortable truths are being served left and right, forcing each to reassess their role within the family dynamic.
Dinnertime Dysfunction Leads to Great Comedic Moments
A Little Family Drama is an honest portrayal of a family working through hard times. It's not always easy to disagree with a loved one, especially when their stubbornness seems impossible to rationalize. The dramatic moments are anchored by strong performances from the entire main cast. Their expression of empathy and unconditional love really grounds this film. For as intense as some scenes can be, filmmaker Nadia Zoe makes sure to punch up the humorous moments too. Poking fun at hyper-specific Mexican dishes, like pink conchas laced with weed and magic mushrooms in the vegan posole, the menu is a riot. These characters are easy to laugh along with and root for at the same time.
Takeaway
Making her feature-length directorial debut, Nadia Zoe continues to take the film through the festival circuit. Once A Little Family Drama is available to a wider audience, it's worth seeking out. The film's universal appeal and timeless themes make it a perfect watch to share with a loved one.
'The Dancing Monkey' Review: The Working Class Takes on the Industrial World
With the Presidential election just over 30 days away comes the relentless campaigning and heated debates between the left and right, each steadfast in the opinion that their view is the right one. However, most people would argue that the answers to these many issues are rarely black or white. When real lives are at stake, finding common ground can feel like a myriad of greyness that, at times, is hard to make sense of. This all-too-common political murkiness is dramatically displayed in writer/director Chandler Wild's The Dancing Monkey. Adapted from Eugene O'Neill's groundbreaking play 'The Hairy Ape', The Dancing Monkey is a timely feature film that encourages audiences to keep an open mind and try to approach these pending political issues from all sides.
One Man and One Vote Can Change the Future
The film takes place in middle America where most residents are proud blue-collar workers. Wayne Hughes (Paige Smith) is a man in his late 40s who has been employed at a cardboard construction factory for many years. He becomes entangled in a life-changing political crisis when his fellow linemen vote to unionize ahead of leadership's decision to cut 90% of jobs. The introduction of automated machines at the cardboard factory will deem most workers expendable, as well as having the increased efficiency to now compete with overseas companies. As luck, or misfortune, would have it, Wayne's sole vote is the deciding factor in whether or not a union will be formed.
The film plays out over one day, where Wayne is inundated with pleas from both sides of the aisle. He hears the pros and cons of unionizing from capitalists, democratic liberals, and socialists. They share compelling yet conflicting information that causes Wayne to grow even more confused as to how he will cast his vote. Throughout Wayne's overwhelming discourse, he continues to flash back to an image of a young man passed out on the floor. Who this man is remains a mystery until the film's end, when we discover that it is his recently deceased son who fell victim to another rampant American issue: a drug overdose.
The Working Class Takes on the Industrial World in This Timely Feature
The Dancing Monkey confronts uncomfortable but necessary topics that wade into the moral and ethical implications of voting for or against certain issues. Wayne is a proud American who believes his contribution as a lineman is worth far more than substituting him for a machine. "These boxes are what makes this country great," and "We built this country" are just a couple of the lines he enthusiastically repeats throughout the film. Filmmaker Chandler Wild does a terrific job taking nebulous and often hard-to-understand concepts and turning them into easily digestible scenes. As for the performances, Paige Smith is a commanding presence who serves as a sympathetic symbol for the working class.
The film's title comes from an insult by one of the women in leadership toward Wayne and his co-workers. When discussing the future of factory workers compared to the imminent industrial evolution, she claims that workers are akin to dancing monkeys, doing what they're told repeatedly without thought or agency. Although this line of thinking feels archaic and belittling, it may not be–as we see in the film–not very different from people's way of thinking.
Takeaway
The Dancing Monkey is a powerful character study of the present. It confronts the realities of being a working-class person in America and will most likely appeal to the old guard who are frustrated with the status quo. It's a timely, thought-provoking watch that is available to stream on VOD now.
'Things Will Be Different' Review: On The Run Through Space and Time
Sidney (Riley Dandy) and Joseph (Adam David Thompson) are siblings on the run from both their past and current reality in writer/director Michael Felker's upcoming sci-fi film, Things Will Be Different. Playfully pitting dark forces against each other in a game of metaphysical cat and mouse, the film is an engaging and suspenseful watch from start to finish. Achieving a tonal semblance of The Last of Us meets Back to the Future, Things Will Be Different offers a unique blend of heist drama and surreal sci-fi thriller.
A "Robbers on the Run" Drama Turns into a Time-Traveling Thriller
In order to escape the police after a robbery gone wrong, two estranged siblings concoct a plan to lay low in a farmhouse outside of town. What seems like a random location to Sidney is exactly what Joseph is looking for. Upon arriving at the location, Joseph details what makes the house so special: its ability to transport them into another dimension in time. Amused, Sidney agrees to follow Joseph's plan, which seems simple enough. They follow a series of routines before entering a dark room through a special locked door. This is where the process takes place. After re-emerging, they will find themselves in a different year. The siblings will stay for two weeks and wait for time to pass in their present until it is safe to return home without fear of persecution from the cops.
In the beginning, the plan works as it should. Joseph and Sidney spend the days drinking whiskey and exploring the farmland without a worry in the world. But it isn't long until they realize that they may not be alone in this new dimension. Just what–or who–this metaphysical farmhouse harbors is far darker than they ever expected. Trapped in this alternate reality, Joseph and Sidney are forced to face a mysterious entity that pushes their already fragile bond to its breaking point.
Backed by a Chillingly Atmospheric Score
Michael Felker crafts Things Will Be Different to have a larger-than-life story on an indie film budget. Large concept ideas are explored yet, admittedly, not always answered to audience satisfaction. Whether or not this will be a sticking point depends on your tolerance for unanswered questions. Nevertheless, the lead actors do a great job of embodying a restlessness and inquisitive nature within their characters. Adam David Thompson and Riley Dandy create a convincing sibling dynamic with their authentic quips and playful banter. Another standout is the score by Jimmy LaValle (aka The Album Leaf). His meditative and atmospheric soundscape leans into Philip Glass territory at times, which adds an exciting element to every scene.
Takeaway
Things Will Be Different is an ambitious feature debut by filmmaker Michael Felker. Throwing their support behind the film as Executive Producers are directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, whose own films tend to live in the surreal fantasy space. Nominated for Best First Genre Feature Film at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, Things Will Be Different is commendable for its confidence in tackling the time travel genre in a fresh, new way.
'Pink Belt' Review: Changing the World One Self-Defense Class at a Time
In the documentary Pink Belt, director John McCrite shines a light on India's beloved feminist icon: Aparna Rajawat. Aparna is highly regarded as a changemaker in the city of Agra, saving the lives of young women and girls one self-defense class at a time. Having grown up in a dysfunctional household, Aparna knows firsthand just how toxic and dangerous it is to be a woman in India without the resources to protect yourself. Pink Belt follows a very special period in Aparna's life as she attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the most women trained in a self-defense lesson, to bring attention to her organization, Pink Belt Mission.
The Wonder Girl from India
Aparna is a local legend in India's sports scene. As a child, she received world attention by winning India’s national championship in martial arts. Growing up, however, she was not treated with dignity or respect. In candid interviews, she shares that the gender disparity was so apparent that she resorted to cutting her hair to pass as a boy so she could take karate lessons and learn how to defend herself. Her small frame and short haircut allowed her to experience the disparity of privileges that only males were accustomed to. As unbelievable as it sounds, Aprana admits that girls can't even fly a kite without getting in trouble.
Aprana also faced physical and sexual abuse at the hands of a cousin that went undetected for years. The inequality of the power dynamic between genders disgusted her and catalyzed her life's mission: To create a training program that would educate future generations of young girls about self-defense.
Before diving into Aparna's incredible success story of founding Pink Belt Mission, let's set the scene for what it's like to be a woman in India. Every 30 minutes, a woman is raped. Many suffer equally horrific conditions within their intimate relationships Nonconsensual sex, torture, and abuse, including acid attacks, are normalized. Aparna's mother was married off at 12 years old to her father, who was 21 years old. It was not uncommon for women to be considered property, void of personal rights. These are just some of the reasons why Aparna makes it her life's mission to insert some control into the hands of women, by teaching them self-defense skills. As feelings of empowerment grow, so does the realization that women don't have to rely on their abusers for freedom, be it financial or otherwise.
Changing the World, and Breaking Records, One Self-Defense Class at a Time
Aparna founded Pink Belt Mission to empower young women to feel confident and safe in their home country. The documentary chronicles this life-changing organization in great detail, interviewing survivors of assault and hearing their harrowing stories of violence. Filmmaker John McCrite traces the lead-up to the Pink Belt Mission's big event that could potentially gain the spotlight of worldwide attention. Aparna and over 7,000 women and girls attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest single group self-defense lesson. Not only does this serve as educational for the attendees, but it fulfills the mission of drawing media attention to the mission's cause.
Takeaway
Pink Belt tells a complicated story of both tragedy and inspiration. While it is a heartbreaking account of mistreatment, it is also incredibly aspirational to see women finally fighting back. Aparna Rajawat is a fascinating storyteller, allowing the audience to experience some of the most intimate moments of her life. Aparna's story is one that needed to be told, and John McCrite tells it with dignity and respect. Pink Belt also serves as a universal reminder that, while we can't change the past, we have the power to change the future.