Written and Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore / Distributed in the U.K. by Dogwoof / 150 Minutes
Review by Rob Deb.
20th May 2022
The Pitch: Giuseppe Tornatore pays tribute to Ennio Morricone, retracing the life and works of the legendary composer: from his debut with Sergio Leone to the Oscar-winning The Hateful Eight'
At two and a half hours this may be the longest film I’ve seen in the cinema that didn’t involve an exploding spaceship or an infinity stone in some time. This film is a celebration of Ennio Morricone’s work, in many ways a mythic figure to an era of films we celebrate while often failing to recognise. A charming film that follows a fairly linear path through Ennio’s career, there is little here for anyone looking for Hollywood tattle or darker demons of a driven talent. It is a celebratory piece, as well as one of the most comprehensive films made about an artist.
ennio looks for validation from both the classical establishment and hollywood
From the outset we see Ennio’s formative career as an experimental musician, an aspect I’m more familiar with frankly through parody than the confrontational nature of its time. We are given a great deal of insight as we watch both the rise in his own success and in Ennio’s almost religious fervour within composing. It often feels like there is another film crying out within this one as the Mercurial Ennio seems to be looking for validation from both the classical establishment and the cinema industry, while at the same time suffering being chided as a huckster on one end and the peddler of ‘Chamber music’ on the other. We of course see Ennio gain recognition and validation and while the struggles are deemed relatively minor there is a sense of overcoming petit bourgeois sensibilities over sheer persistence that's admirable and captivating.
ennio’s warmth, geniality and charisma shine through
While the sheer breadth of his work is covered with intricate detail, the film is not merely stock footage over a recognisable pan flute. It drifts towards the thematic whenever possible through a smart choice of scenes and music that reflects the spirit and passion of the work. At an early stage, Ennio is referred to as some sort of Charlie Brown peanuts character, and in his interviews, his warmth, geniality and sheer charisma shine through. There is a real sense of the philosophy of artistry, from all who contribute. The commentators all have their own quality and gravitas. This is no channel 5 talking heads doc, spaffing-off about frozen peas.
If there is one misgiving about the film, I would say it is the length. But that is the price you pay for having 2 and a half hours of Ennio’s music through a cinema system. Also on the most logistical level, there is a problem with the subtitles as they are often white letters on a white backdrop, rendering them difficult to read. But then, if you came to a film about Ennio to quibble about fonts, stay at home.
Elegant and Elegiac, Ennio is a film that shows the strength of Morricone with a strength of composition you normally only hear from the screen with him.