ENNIO : a new documentary by Giuseppe Tornatore !

 

This is what we were waiting for all along. Director Giuseppe Tornatore has finally made his documentary ENNIO available in the cinemas and on streaming services. And what a treat it is! Not just for film music lovers, this documentary deals also with a good deal of film history, from 1961, when Morricone did his first work for film, until 2 to 3 years ago. 

Giuseppe Tornatore, who has worked with Ennio Morricone on films like CINEMA PARADISO, STANNO TUTTI BENE, THE LEGEND OF 1900, MALENA and THE BEST OFFER, takes us on a musical history lesson here by talking to Ennio himself about his earlier work. He also talks to other people who have been meaningful in the life of the Maestro: one of his teachers, Goffredo Petrassi is seen talking how proud he was to see his star pupil become so succesful in his lifetime. 

I have had the good fortune of seeing Maestro Morricone conduct his music in several concerts. Every time, it was a great treat of hearing his music performed live by a renowned orchestra. Quite something else than just playing your cd's. And even if Morricone may not come across as a very sympathetic character, he does tell of his work with great passion in this documentary. And why not? His music was his passion !!!!

In speaking with directors like Sergio Leone, Giuliano Montaldo and Quentin Tarantino, this documentary also delves a bit into the side of the making of a film and shows then how Morricone's music helps the film make a big statement. After all, how often do you not find out that the music is the last step in the film's production? 

Normally, the music also is not allotted a proper budget but with Ennio Morricone as the composer one would have a big name there. And in many cases, Morricone also composed the music on the basis of the screenplay and the music would be recorded and then played for the actors while performing. This would often influence the acting itself as well.

A good number of films that are mentioned I was fortunate enough to have seen. (Not a lot of Italian films end up in this part of European cinemas.) A good number of albums and cd's I have myself as well. This means that many points of recognition can be found in this documentary and Morricone's career is highlighted on every side. (Also his experimental music in the Nuovo Consonanza group, that I don't much care for, is talked about.) Also Morricone's fondness for chess is a nice moment, as we see him play with similar passion as he works on his music. 

The Mission, a historical drama by Roland Joffe, is definitely one of Morricone's best scores and when this film was nominated for Best Original Score, it was heartbreaking to see Herbie Hancock win that year for AROUND MIDNIGHT, a film about jazz music. 

Not that AROUND MIDNIGHT was not good in terms of music, but it was jazz music, not an Original Score and it should not have gotten the Oscar in the Best Original Score category. We (including Ennio, who left the ceremony early) were heartbroken to see this Morricone gem overlooked. 

The Academy later saw fit to give Ennio an Oscar for his whole body of work and in 2018, they awarded him the Best Score Oscar for Quentin Tarantino's film THE HATEFUL EIGHT. 

It was a great shock, 2 years ago, when we heard that Ennio Morricone had passed away. But in his long and wonderful life, he has left us so much wonderful music that I can only say: GRAZIE, MAESTRO, GRAZIE !!!

ENNIO is now in cinemas and can be seen on streaming services. Look for it, it is definitely worth it.