87-year old Ennio Morricone is a composing and cinematic legend with an honorary Oscar as a testament to his decades of film scores. With more than 500 composing credits to his name, and while his now six Oscar nominations include his work in films like “Bugsy”, “The Untouchables” and “Days of Heaven”, he became synonymous and most well known for his scoring of Sergio Leone “spaghetti westerns”. It thus seems only fitting that this morning Morricone picked up that sixth Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score for his work in Quentin Tarantino’s western, THE HATEFUL EIGHT.
On learning of his Oscar nomination this morning, through his publicists, Morricone released the following statement:
“When Quentin first asked me to write the score for his new western, I said no. But Mr. Tarantino is an astute man, and he left the screenplay for my wife Maria to read. He had spotted who is the boss in our house. Maria realized instantly what a brilliant screenplay Quentin had written for The Hateful Eight, and she told me in no uncertain terms that I had to do it. I am so happy that I did. To work with such a brilliant young director at my age gives me great pleasure. He was just one year old when I wrote my first score for Sergio Leone for A Fistful of Dollars. It is also a deep honour and very humbling to receive this prestigious award nomination for doing the profession I love. I receive it on behalf of myself, Quentin Tarantino, The Weinstein Company, and the whole cast and crew of this remarkable film. And of course I receive it on behalf of my clever wife Maria.”
-Ennio Morricone
We’ll find out who takes home Oscar gold on Sunday, February 28th 2016 on ABC.
