Piece By Piece (PG)
Directed by Morgan Neville 
★★★★ 

 
 THE closing film at this year’s London Film Festival, Morgan Neville’s psychedelic and innovative documentary chronicles the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams through a Lego lens. 

Williams, his wife, his close friends and colleagues including renowned stars such as Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg all appear as Lego figures as they are interviewed although these artists apparently weren’t informed of that little detail at the time. 

The loud and brightly coloured Lego settings are initially very distracting as you are captivated by the colourful figures and backdrops rather than what they are saying. It isn’t until you are halfway through the film that the novelty wears off. 

It seems to have been Williams’s idea to make a Lego film which is an audacious move, but one which captures his creative soul. 

The documentary initially takes you to his childhood home in Virginia Beach as it recounts how and where his love of music first began. Then, piece by piece, it charts his rise from teenage musician to eventual superstar.  

One of the surprising revelations, to me at least, was that he composed the McDonald’s jingle “I’m Loving It.” 

It also mentions how he suffers from synaesthesia, which means he sees sounds as colours in his mind’s eye, and there is a visually explosive scene with a boom box portraying that. 

This is a fascinating introduction into Pharrell Williams which will enrapture both adults and youngsters alike. 

In cinemas November 8. 

Bird (15)
Directed by Andrea Arnold
★★★ 

 
 ACADEMY award-winner Andrea Arnold returns with this depressing but heartfelt coming-of-age tale about marginalised life on the fringes of society. 

It is somewhat lifted by an impressive and captivating performance by newcomer Nykiya Adams. She plays 12-year-old Bailey who lives with her brother Hunter (Jason Buda) and her manic wannabe drug dealer father Bug (a phenomenal Barry Keoghan) in a squat in Gravesend in north Kent. Her mum lives elsewhere with her violent boyfriend and Bailey’s three younger siblings. 

As she approaches puberty, Bailey needs help and attention as she feels trapped by her life when she meets a stranger called Bird (Franz Rogowski) who is looking for his own family. He seems to be the answer to her prayers although there is more to him than meets the eye. 

With a mystical supernatural edge to it this proves a surreal drama which may not be to everybody’s taste. I couldn’t help wondering where social services were in this as the kids all led feral existences. 

This is worth seeing just for Adams alone who shows exciting potential.   

In cinemas November 8.

Paddington in Peru (PG)
Directed by Dougal Wilson
★★★
 

PADDINGTON 2 featuring Hugh Grant’s unforgettable villainous turn is a hard act to follow, but this new adventure which takes our marmalade-eating bear back to Peru is both joyous and fun. 

Paddington (Ben Whishaw) and the Brown family head to South America to search for his beloved Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) who has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears run by nuns. 

Hugh Bonneville returns as Henry Brown while Emily Mortimer replaces Sally Hawkins as his wife Mary. It is Olivia Colman as Mother Superior who steals the film as a hilarious singing nun, while Antonio Banderas plays a dashing riverboat captain who helps the Browns. 

Directed by Dougal Wilson, Paddington hasn’t lost any of his magical wonderment, naivety or kindness. While not as good as his last outing, it will still bring you joy and take your mind off the news. 

There is a must-see end of credits scene which steals the whole show. 

In cinemas November 8.

Red One (12A)
Directed by Jake Kasdan
★★★ 

 
 FROM the director of the Jumanji films comes (a tad early) the first Christmas film of the season: a ridiculous but enjoyable action comedy which captures the festive spirit. 

When Santa (JK Simmons) — code name: Red One — is kidnapped on Christmas Eve, the North Pole’s head of security Callum (Dwayne Johnson) is forced to team up with the world’s legendary bounty hunter (Chris Evans, on comic form) who doesn’t believe in Christmas to find and rescue him.

Meanwhile Callum has lost his faith in humanity as people have turned selfish and bad. I feel his pain after convicted felon Donald Trump was just re-elected as US president. 

Director Jake Kasdan delivers a non-stop action adventure driven by a star-studded cast which also includes Lucy Liu and Kiernan Shipka (Twisters). Evans provides the light relief while Johnson is on serious mode and Simmons brings gravitas as the Red One. 

While it is formulaic, you cannot argue with the film’s message — be good and kind. 

In cinemas November 8.