Pharrell’s animated Lego biopic, Piece By Piece, made a splash at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado this past weekend.
Directed by Morgan Neville of ’20 Feet From Stardom,’ the film premiered on Friday, August 30. Pharrell shared his excitement with Variety, saying, “I’m so excited to be at a festival that doesn’t show many animated movies, but they chose mine.”
Neville described the film as an “ode to the power of magical thinking,” setting the tone for what audiences could expect.
The reception was a mixed bag. Deadline praised it for its fresh take on the documentary format, while The Hollywood Reporter noted its “typical hagiographic evasiveness” but still called it “inventive.”
One interesting detail is the appearance of Pharrell’s Neptunes partner, Chad Hugo. IndieWire pointed out that Hugo is mostly in the background, playing a comic relief role. This comes amidst some off-screen drama involving Hugo and Pharrell.
Earlier this year, Hugo filed a complaint with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. He accused Pharrell of fraudulently trying to register The Neptunes’ trademark without including his name. The complaint highlighted their 30-year partnership and the division of all assets between them.
Pharrell’s rep responded to Billboard, stating, “Pharrell is surprised by this. We have reached out on multiple occasions to share in the ownership and administration of the trademark…” Hugo’s lawyer, however, called it a “land grab” and claimed Pharrell acted in bad faith.
As of earlier this month, the duo is still negotiating a settlement. Whether their legal troubles will affect their creative partnership remains to be seen.
Pharrell’s ‘Piece By Piece’ has kicked off with a buzz, mixing both praise and critical notes at its Telluride debut. Meanwhile, his off-screen saga with Hugo continues to unfold. Stay tuned for what’s next in this fascinating story.
