User reviews

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!

From the moment we step into Ennio Moriccone's home we become immersed in the man and his work with over 60 years of magnificent music to sample along the way. Yes, we are obviously treated to a segment on his magnificent soundtrack to Once Upon a Time in the West, my personal favourite, together with all the other best known of his cinema accompaniments, but the viewer is also treated to dozens of other snippets of fine music many of which were unknown to me and which I now need to sample. There's an array of luminaries from the world of music and cinema to sing his praises as well but arguably the most engaging feature of this is the man himself, sat at home taking us through his life's work. It's a very long film but the music is so good it doesn't drag for an instant. An impressive piece of work.

There's a part late in the 2.5-hour Ennio: The Maestro where a clip of Quentin Tarantino calling Morricone the great composer of all time (y'know, over Mozart, Beethoven, etc) is played, which other interviewees criticise as hyperbolic. They say maybe 200 years has to pass before Morricone's music is held to that same standard.

I'm going to similarly risk being hyperbolic by saying that this might be the best music documentary I've ever seen. I've seen a lot of great ones, tons of decent ones, and even a number of really awful ones. But director Giussepe Tornatore's love letter to his favourite composer (and Italy's most famous composer) is astoundingly good.

My expectations were high. I love Ennio Morricone's music. I knew Tornatore being the director would make it extra personal and moving. I was excited to hear it was 156 minutes long. And the list of interviewees here is to die for- Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino, Bruce Springsteen, Wong Kar-Wai, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, just to name a few of the most famous ones. And so many more, some of whom give insight into surprising facts about Morricone's youth.

I learnt a lot about the first few decades of Morricone's life, as my knowledge of him only really starts with the Sergio Leone westerns. There's some amazing facts that I can't believe I didn't know about before, like how Morricone almost composed music for Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.

This film covers all the films you'd want it to, plays so much beautiful Morricone music it's almost emotionally overwhelming, and the Maestro himself as the main interviewee is consistently engaging, insightful, and emotive.

Could've even been longer. He composed hundreds and hundreds of film scores, so I could've happily watched 10 hours of this. It's also extremely moving, especially near the end, but not because it spends a long time on his passing- in fact, it doesn't even mention it. The film argues that Morricone's music is immortal and transcends generations, and that's a powerful and emotional enough takeaway on its own.

(Sidenote- the bit where they broke down how all the different themes from The Mission intersected whilst playing clips from the movie is one of the best sequences from any film I've seen in months; maybe all year).

Moving, exiting, fulfilling. I ended up in tears. Go see this movie. It's a work of art, the worthy tribute for the great artist and humble man. Grazie, Giuseppe Tornatore, we owe you.

A beautiful tribute, this by Tornatore, to an authentic genius whose value will be understood and metabolized more and more over the years, and not only with regard to film music. On the other hand Morricone was not only the author of some of the most famous soundtracks of the second half of the twentieth century, but also of numerous musical pieces brought to success in the 60s and 70s, as well as symphonies and pieces of contemporary music. (the first, true love of his musical career). Tornatore, who had the privilege of working with him and interviewed him here shortly before he left us, thus manages to show a portrait that for an enthusiast represents a sort of immersion in the history of cinema itself, and becomes gradually more intense. In investigating, thanks also to interviews with directors, actors and producers that Morricone met in his long career, the maniacal perfection of an author born trumpeter in the foretaste, who grew up later at the school of Goffredo Petrassi and literally exploded in the 60s. A career as a true workaholic of the note, but without affecting the production of a long series of masterpieces that have rightfully entered musical history. Two and a half hours of pure enjoyment that every film lover should indulge in.

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.

This film is perfect: there are all the Morricone's genius and all his love for Music. This film is great in taking the spectator inside his composition and his works with the presence of several sequences of the films with Morricone's soundtracks.

Some moments and some sequences are heartbreaking for whom loves cinema.

What else? You have to watch it. And all it could be possibile thanks to the huge work made by Tornatore. Thanks for this.

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.

Wonderful documentary. Not only about Ennio's music, but also about films. Italian, French and US films of 1970s, 80s and later. I found myself wanting to rewatch or watch films mentioned in this doc, some of which I didn't even know existed. It makes me appreciate and respect more the Italian cinema of the 20th century, including the so called "spaghetti westerns" of Leone and Corbucci. The doc is masterfully edited and directed, and sound quality is also excellent. It is a bit long but absolutely worth your time, if you appreciate good music and films. I think it's important to watch it in a good cinema, because of quality of music and the images. And finally: was Morricone a genius? Yes, I think he was.

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.

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.

Fascinating documentary charting the life and works of one of the World's greatest composers, particularly, but not exclusively of film music. Atypically, much screen time is devoted to the great man himself talking to camera where he covers his choices and how he composes. He also hilariously recounts the times that numerous times directors ask him for the usual anthem stuff that he can't stand. The list of those paying tribute is impressive and the section where he is denied an Oscar win for his brilliant score for 'The Mission', losing out to American jazz legend Herbie Hancock is very telling.

One niggle, one of my favourite, highly innovative compositions for 'A Fistful of Dynamite' - which I saw Morricone conduct at the 02 arena in London - doesn't get a look in.

Sadly, it is narrated like a wikipedia page. Chaotic interview montages for 2.30 hours. And the ending is literally shown 30 min before in the movie. What makes it bearable is the maestro's work.

Gone is the era when movie musicians were composing melodies that could last and impress your minds and souls: Max Steiner, Dimitri Tiomkin, Alex North, Miklos Rozsa, Leigh Harline, Alfred Newman, Henry Mancini, ......

Ennio Morricone stands out in styles and in volume of excellent works he has created throughout long periods of his life.

The subject movie is doing a right job paying homage to this outstanding composer. It penetrates into our subconscious and make us understand that film music is not a deafening/repulsive noises added to other noises on the images on the screen. Rather, film music /soundtracks such as those of Morricone could nestle in our minds and souls forever ; to make us nostalgic and to remind us of critical/ memorable moments in life.

Tornatore has done a great job at the right time when ugly noises abound on the screens, worsening ugly images.

The beauty of Ennio's work is eternal, rare and unforgettable. It is worth paying any price to watch while tightening your purse for many terrible movies mostly on screens or Netflix.

Here is Morricone telling you his own story, with countless other well known talents giving insights into how they worked together and how he influenced thier own work, but the broad spectrum here is the story of an immense talent who did far more than it first might seem to change the way that film music played its part in influencing and immersing audiences. So many classics , but so many other rather uninspired disappointing or plain bad films where the best of it was Ennio Morricone's music. This documentary is long and might be a bit too much if you're not a fan of film music, a musician, or of Morricone, but I loved it. I was privileged enough to see him in concert a few years ago , and he did not disappoint.

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.

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.

A great story of a great master of music, an emotional story that tells the growth and formation of the great Ennio Morricone. A truly emotional and moving story accompanied by the testimony of musicians, actors, directors and friends (from Quentin Tarantino to Gianni Morandi). I've never been crazy about documentary style films but this one kept me glued to the screen the whole time. I recommend viewing to everyone, a truly wonderful documentary.

My major complaint with the film is how it essentially glosses over Morricone's most famous film composition: his theme for Leone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." How was that even possible in a movie that runs more than two-and-a-half hours?

I also found it befuddling that Martin Scorsese wasn't among the talking head interview subjects. Surely Tornatore asked him to participate.

I'd love to know his reasons for passing since Scorsese has never been shy about celebrating cinema greats.

Also thought there was too much time accorded to relatively unknown (in the U. S.) Italian directors Morricone worked with throughout his career.

Bertolucci, Argento, Caviani, sure, but even a dedicated cinephile like me had no idea who many of the most frequent interview subjects were.

Tornatore made one very good (if somewhat overrated) film: "Cinema Paradiso." This falls into the same category on the basis of its euphoric reviews which seem to be confusing Morricone's genius with this flawed doc's mere adequacy.

Giuseppe has made a memorable tribute to the Maestro And the story behind his eternal journey through his vision its quite intriguing and touching. You'll always be living in our hearts through music il Grande Maestro.

Why do these makers think I can handle all this information in one second? Was there too much information and no time? Are these makers from the tiktok generation? Did they use cocaine? Am I to old? It's wonderful to make a documentary about such a great composer, but the makers don't do it any justice. A man of Morricone's caliber does not deserve any affrettando.

"I never thought music would be my destiny. I wanted to be a doctor. My father said: 'No, he will study the trumpet'. " Ennio Morricone

Even though I was really excited to see this, it's even greater than I could have ever imagined & really provides an incredibly in-depth & comprehensive study of his entire career, with relatively modern interviews with the man himself. There's so many highlights in its 2hr 36min runtime but this quote about working with some directors who struggled to know what his soundtrack would sound like has left a particular resonance within me... "You cannot describe music. It needs to be listened to." The easiest 5*/10* documentary score that I can ever recall making.