Ennio Morricone wins Oscar at age 87 for The Hateful Eight

Ennio Morricone won his first Academy Award for best original soundtrack for Quentin Tarintino’s The Hateful Eight. Morricone is perhaps one of the best-known cinematic composers of all time, a veteran of the film industry for nearly 60 years. The 2016 Oscars were like a long-anticipated coronation for this storied Italian composer.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi tweeted the following on February 28, 2016: “Grandissimo Maestro, finalmente! #Morricone #orgoglio #Oscars2016“, celebrating the win for Morricone. 

Quincy Jones and Pharrell Williams presented the award to Morricone, who is now the oldest person ever to win an Oscar. He was given a standing ovation after he arrived on stage as the crowd recognized the lifetime achievements of the Italian legend. Morricone mentioned fellow nominee and friend John Williams before saying about his win, “There isn’t a great soundtrack without a great movie that inspires it,” crediting Tarantino.

Morricone received an honorary Oscar in 2007 for his work in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. He had been previously been nominated five times, for Days of Heaven, The Mission, The Untouchables, Bugsy, and Malena

This marks a clean sweep for Morricone in the year of 2016. He has won the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and now the Oscar for his outstanding work for the The Hateful Eight soundtrack.

– Ben Jacob