Maestro Ennio Morricone

Less than 10% of the movies you will see in your lifetime will be as good as this film. I have reviewed over 25000 films, and only 2000 made the cut for my book on Amazon for 2000 of the Best Films of All Time. Less than one in ten films is worth viewing from a critical standpoint. This film is one of the ten percent. It has a great character (Morricone), and the music alone is worth the price of admission. Morricone has written so many masterpieces that it would be virtually impossible to list them all here and give them the credit they deserve, so I will just mention his top ten (in my opinion, which is subjective, of course. 1. Cinema Paradiso - nothing compares 2. Legend of 1920 - Great Jazz and Blues score 3. Once Upon a Time in America - Ballet scene 4. The Mission - Dynamic and Inspirational 5. Once Uopn a Time in the West - Best Spaghetti 6. The Untouchables - Horse raid scene great 7. For a Few Dollars More - Watch scene 8. The Good, Bad and Ugly - Showdown scene 9. Fistful of Dollars - Intro Unforgettable 10. Sacco and Vanzetti - Soulful Passion I am sure many will argue the order of my list, but it is my personal list, and not written in stone. The collaboration of Morricone and Tornatore is legendary, and will never be forgotten. Catch this one for sure.

If the review was to rate Ennio's talent and originality no doubt it would be a 9 or a 10. But this review is about the film and I felt that there was just too much talking. It is interview after interview after interview. People going on about what a genius Ennio is. But we already know that we want to understand how he works we want to hear the incredible music and see how it combines with the films. Though he is a genius Ennio does seem to be have a very big ego. Maybe he is the one who insisted on having so many people complimenting him. I don't know. Another reason might be that they didn't have the rights to show more of the films. Anyway whatever the reason is, if I go to see a film about Ennio Morricone I want to hear music not listen to people nattering.

source: The Glance of Music

Ennio. 2022. This to my eyes and ears is the culmination of 40 years of enjoying and appreciating cinema and in particular film scores. Ennio is a wonderfully put together documentary about the genius of Ennio Morricone. Looking at his musical origins, his early pop career is manic fun and his relationship with numerous directors, Sergio Leanne his old school pal being the principal one and best of all loads of clips from movies he has composed for. I consider myself a fan of the maestro but there was so many films that I didn't know existed that have been scored by Morricone. There's a lot out there still to be discovered. The film works well because the subject is so interesting and he is so immensely likeable. I never knew he scored a symphony to 9/11. Most of my favourite scores get a mention, Battle of Algiers, Sacco and Venzetti, Once upon a time ..., etc . There's lots Edda Del Orso and Dulce Ponte which is nice. Happy viewing for even the most casual of Ennio fans but essential for movie buffs. 9/10.

Paraphrasing the words of director Quentin Tarantino, Ennio Morricone was never a film composer, but a true musician whose merit and contribution amount to those of Mozart and Beethoven. His oeuvre of 500 movies undoubtedly reflects the legend's extensive juvenile training, godlike spring of creativity, and sophisticated, musing thoughts. Though the world owes Morricone more recognition than what's already awarded, his influence infiltrates the artery of contemporary music, constantly rewriting our industry with mesmerizing melodies. The documentary itself is spotless: punctilious editing, ravishing score, recollection of various sources, figurines, and Ennio himself, topped by director Tornatore's personalized affection. However, I have to admit, the work is heavily fan-based, and you wouldn't likely enjoy watching without knowing the myth of Morricone, or having an interest in early film production.

Sometimes 2.5 hours is just not enough. Its a story over 60 years with a great artist that formed so much. Its the 60's Its the 70's and Its dedication to life to music and when He finally get his well derserved Oscar you will understand.

I would have been happier with less random talking heads like Pat Metheny and Bruce Springsteen and with more insight into Morricone's work process instead. My biggest issue is the complete write-off of Bruno Nicolai who was Morricone's long term conductor and according to many, also co-wrote or even wrote himself some of the scores attributed to Morricone. For me ignoring Nicolai takes away from the movie's integrity big time. His name isn't even mentioned. I'm guessing their professional breakup along with Morricone's involvement in the movie contributed to this. On the plus side, I liked that the movie goes over his career linearly in a balanced way and doesn't focus on the American movie score, which to me are much less interesting and creative. In addition I liked the focus on his work and leaving out personal life stuff.

From the director of Cinema Paradiso comes an earnest, endearing & heartfelt tribute to one of the most popular, prolific & greatest film composers to have ever lived and whose contribution to film scores has been so immense, influential & groundbreaking that cinema will forever be indebted to him. An illuminating & well-rounded documentary, Ennio chronicles & celebrates the life & legacy of Ennio "The Maestro" Morricone. Written & directed by Giuseppe Tornatore (The Legend of 1900 & Malèna), the film narrates the Italian composer's life story from his quiet & humble beginnings to garnering international fame & fan following with his distinguished film scores. Tornatore utilises interviews, recordings & film clips to paint a fascinating portrait of the legend whose body of work encompassed almost all styles and left an indelible mark on film, music & pop culture. While the early years accounts are interesting, this documentary comes alive once his work on Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars comes forth. But with an oeuvre as extensive as Morricone's, even 156 mins runtime isn't enough to cover everything however it provides an insight into how his genius mind worked. And though Morricone never rated his scores for westerns as highly as the rest of the world did, he does acknowledge that he often isn't the best judge of his own music. Overall, Ennio: The Maestro charts the unparalleled career of the legendary film composer with gripping flair but still feels rushed & uneven in its pacing as many events we would've liked seeing explored in detail are skimmed through. Nevertheless, the interest in the picture is never lost and what's included in this 2½ hour documentary is crafted with love & honesty. Serving as a strong testimony to the Maestro's profound impact which can still be felt in more art forms than one, Ennio is a definite recommend.

First of all I love Ennio's works and maybe I can have a little bias regarding this movie but it was fantastic, a very well made documentary about one of the most influential figures in the music world over the last 70 years. It was well crafted by director Giuseppe Tornatore, who had worked several times with Ennio and there are a lot of guests talking about what Ennio means to them. Clearly it's a documentary and not everybody likes it as a genre but if you are into cinema and scores this is a must watch. Great job!

S a kid I grew up in the 50s watching the Academy Awards and was baffled by it. Not by the glitz or the movie stars but by why the average Joe would watch an awards ceremony that would honor film cinematographers, editors, animators, foreign films, costume designers composers and a lot more. But I cared because I loved film and watched adoringly. Especially film music where there was no recognition elsewhere at all. ENNIO: THE MAESTRO is about a film music composer so I don't expect a lot of people to share what I thought of the film. Given that, I need to express what a monumental achievement Giuseppe Tornatore has created. Having followed all kinds of film composers over the years I have always had a passion for a small group that transcended that title and made their careers literally a musical journey through every musical byway that they were challenged with. As Morricone says in this piece film composers are asked to do anything. I have seen dozens of film composer biographies over the years like "In The Tracks of" series, BBC epics and Fred Carlin's Jerry Goldsmith piece. But Tornatore has used his ample filmic skills to pay tribute to one of the greatest, most prolific, wide ranging film composers who ever lived by relating his journey, while he was still alive, and getting him to express the passion that usually comes out only in his music. He does this by every means possible with documentary footage, home movies, old TV shows, interviews, concert footage, snapshots and mostly through Ennio's own words. It is two and a half hours long and all who I talked to (including Marshall Harvey a film editor!) wished it was longer. Morricone himself relates everything from his childhood to the days his dad, and then he, played trumpet on a number of Italian film scores. It is astounding to watch Ennio describe in detail what he brought to his early arrangements and then compositions to make them different, to make them stand out. The interviews, old and new, are far ranging including his teachers, musicians, singers, film directors, artists he influenced, a number of fellow Italian film composers and a few American ones like Hans Zimmer and John Williams. The film is totally dense with detail to the point I HAVE to see it again. The film ends on the ultimate film music conundrum, is it as purely expressive as absolute music? Is that snobbishness that resulted justified? Morricone answers that decisively. Tornatore has created the ideal tribute/biography that I will not see the likes of again. Lastly I saw it with a more than half full audience masked and vaccinated. I know this is not possible for many but If you can see it with an audience do so. There are a lot of laughs, emotional moments and audible reactions that will not be there seeing it at home no matter how large a screen you have. This is a 70 year old's dream film music tribute come true. I was an emotional wreck by the end of it. Thank you Giuseppe.