• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Ennio Morricone vs John Williams

Status
Not open for further replies.
So GAF, what say you?

Ennio Morricone
220px-Ennio_Morricone_Cannes_2012.jpg

Achievements

Academy Awards

1979 Terrence Malick Days of Heaven Best Original Score Nominated
1986 Roland Joffé The Mission Best Original Score Nominated
1987 Brian De Palma The Untouchables Best Original Score Nominated
1991 Barry Levinson Bugsy Best Original Score Nominated
2000 Giuseppe Tornatore Malèna Best Original Score Nominated
2007 NA Career achievements Honorary Academy Award Won

AFI

Year Director Project Category Result
1968 Sergio Leone Once Upon a Time in the West Top 25 Best American Film Scores of All Time Nominated
1984 Sergio Leone Once Upon a Time in America Top 25 Best American Film Scores of All Time Nominated
1986 Roland Joffé The Mission Top 25 Best American Film Scores of All Time Won
1987 Brian De Palma The Untouchables Top 25 Best American Film Scores of All Time Nominated

Golden Globes

Year Director Project Category Result
1982 Matt Cimber Butterfly Best Original Song for It's Wrong For Me To Love You (with Carol Connors) Nominated
1985 Sergio Leone Once Upon a Time in America Best Original Score Nominated
1987 Roland Joffé The Mission Best Original Score Won
1988 Brian De Palma The Untouchables Best Original Score Nominated
1990 Brian De Palma Casualties of War Best Original Score Nominated
1992 Barry Levinson Bugsy Best Original Score Nominated
2000 Giuseppe Tornatore Legend of 1900 Best Original Score Won
2001 Giuseppe Tornatore Malèna Best Original Score Nominated

Italian Golden Globes

1993 Roberto Faenza Jona Che Visse Nella Balena Best Original Score Nominated
1993 Margarethe von Trotta Il Lungo Silenzio Best Original Score Won
1994 Giuseppe Tornatore A Pure Formality Best Original Score Nominated
2000 Ricky Tognazzi Canone Inverso Best Original Score Nominated
2013 Giuseppe Tornatore The Best Offer Best Original Score Nominated

Grammy Awards

Year Director Project Category Result
1988 Brian De Palma The Untouchables Best Original Score Won
1995 Mike Nichols Wolf Best Original Score Nominated
1997 Giuseppe Tornatore The Star Maker Best Original Score Nominated
1999 Warren Beatty Bulworth Best Original Score Nominated
2007 Sergio Leone Once Upon a Time in the West Best Instrumental Performance Won
2009 Sergio Leone The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Grammy Hall of Fame Award Won
2014[145] NA Career achievements Grammy Trustees Award Won

Nastro d'Argento (Silver Ribbon)

Year Director Project Category Result
1964 Sergio Leone A Fistful of Dollars Best Original Score Won
1970 Giuseppe Patroni Griffi Metti una sera a cena Best Original Score Won
1972 Giuliano Montaldo Sacco e Vanzetti Best Original Score Won
1985 Sergio Leone Once Upon a Time in America' Best Original Score Won
1988 Brian De Palma The Untouchables Best Original Score Won
1999 Giuseppe Tornatore Legend of 1900 Best Original Score Won
2000 Ricky Tognazzi Canone Inverso Best Original Score Won
2001 Giuseppe Tornatore Malèna Best Original Score Nominated
2004 Giovanni Morricone Al Cuore Si Comanda Best Original Score Nominated
2007 Giuseppe Tornatore La Sconosciuta Best Original Score Won
2008 Giuliano Montaldo I Demoni di San Pietroburgo Best Original Score Won
2010 Giuseppe Tornatore Baaria Best Original Score Won
2013 Giuseppe Tornatore The Best Offer Best Original Score Won

ASCAP Awards

Year Director Project Category Result
1988 Brian De Palma The Untouchables Best Original Score Won
1994 Wolfgang Petersen In the Line of Fire Best Original Score Won
1994 NA Career Life Achievement Award Won
1995 Mike Nichols Wolf Best Original Score Won

BAFTA Awards

Year Director Project Category Result
1980 Terrence Malick Days of Heaven Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music Won
1985 Sergio Leone Once Upon a Time in America Best Original Score Won
1987 Roland Joffé The Mission Best Original Score Won
1988 Brian De Palma The Untouchables Best Original Score Won
1991 Giuseppe Tornatore Cinema Paradiso Best Original Score Won

César Awards

Year Director Project Category Result
1980 Henri Verneuil I... comme Icare Best Original Score Nominated
1980 Georges Lautner Le Professionnel Best Original Score Nominated

David Award

Year Director Project Category Result
1988 Giuliano Montaldo Gli Occhiali d'Oro Best Original Score Won
1989 Giuseppe Tornatore Cinema Paradiso Best Original Score Won
1990 Roberto Faenza Mio Caro Dottor Gräsler Best Original Song Nominated
1990 Giuseppe Tornatore Stanno Tutti Bene Best Original Score Won
1993 Roberto Faenza Jona Che Visse Nella Balena Best Original Score Won
1993 Ricky Tognazzi La Scorta Best Original Score Nominated
1996 Giuseppe Tornatore The Star Maker Best Original Score Nominated
1999 Giuseppe Tornatore Legend of 1900 Best Original Score Won
2000 Ricky Tognazzi Canone Inverso Best Original Score Won
2001 Giuseppe Tornatore Malèna Best Original Score Nominated
2006 NA Career 50th Anniversary David Won
2007 Giuseppe Tornatore La Sconosciuta Best Original Score Won
2010 Giuseppe Tornatore Baarìa Best Original Score Won
2013 Giuseppe Tornatore The Best Offer Best Original Score Won

European Film Awards

Year Director Project Category Result
1999 NA Career Lifetime Achievement Award Won
2006 Lajos Koltai Fateless Best Composer Nominated
2013 Giuseppe Tornatore The Best Offer Best Original Score Won

LAFCA

Year Director Project Category Result
1984 Sergio Leone Once Upon a Time in America Best Original Score Won
1986 Roland Joffé The Mission Best Original Score 2nd place
2001 NA Career Career Achievement Award Won

VS

John Williams

Achievments

Academy Awards

Year Project Category Result
1967 Valley of the Dolls Best Score Adaptation Nominated
1969 Goodbye, Mr Chips Best Score Adaptation Nominated
The Reivers Best Original Score Nominated
1971 Fiddler on the Roof Best Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score Won
1972 Images Best Original Dramatic Score Nominated
The Poseidon Adventure Best Original Dramatic Score Nominated
1973 Cinderella Liberty Best Original Dramatic Score Nominated
"Nice to Be Around" (from Cinderella Liberty) Best Original Song Nominated
Tom Sawyer Best Score Adaptation Nominated
1974 The Towering Inferno Best Original Score Nominated
1975 Jaws Best Original Dramatic Score Won
1977 Star Wars Best Original Score Won
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Best Original Score Nominated
1978 Superman Best Original Score Nominated
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Best Original Score Nominated
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark Best Original Score Nominated
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Best Original Score Won
"If We Were in Love" (from Yes, Giorgio) Best Original Song Nominated
1983 Return of the Jedi Best Original Score Nominated
1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Best Original Score Nominated
The River Best Original Score Nominated
1987 Empire of the Sun Best Original Score Nominated
The Witches of Eastwick Best Original Score Nominated
1988 The Accidental Tourist Best Original Score Nominated
1989 Born on the Fourth of July Best Original Score Nominated
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Best Original Score Nominated
1990 Home Alone Best Original Score Nominated
"Somewhere in My Memory" (from Home Alone) Best Original Song Nominated
1991 JFK Best Original Score Nominated
"When You're Alone" (from Hook) Best Original Song Nominated
1993 Schindler's List Best Original Score Won
1995 Nixon Best Original Dramatic Score Nominated
Sabrina Best Original Musical or Comedy Score Nominated
"Moonlight" (from Sabrina) Best Original Song Nominated
1996 Sleepers Best Original Dramatic Score Nominated
1997 Amistad Best Original Dramatic Score Nominated
1998 Saving Private Ryan Best Original Dramatic Score Nominated
1999 Angela's Ashes Best Original Score Nominated
2000 The Patriot Best Original Score Nominated
2001 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Best Original Score Nominated
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Best Original Score Nominated
2002 Catch Me If You Can Best Original Score Nominated
2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Best Original Score Nominated
2005 Memoirs of a Geisha Best Original Score Nominated
Munich Best Original Score Nominated
2011 The Adventures of Tintin Best Original Score Nominated
War Horse Best Original Score Nominated
2012 Lincoln Best Original Score Nominated
2013 The Book Thief Best Original Score Nominated

BAFTA Awards

Year Project Category Result
1975 Jaws Best Film Music Won
1978 Star Wars Best Film Music Won
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Best Film Music Nominated
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Best Film Music Won
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark Best Film Music Nominated
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Best Film Music Won
1988 Empire of the Sun Best Film Music Won
1993 Schindler's List Best Film Music Won
1998 Saving Private Ryan Best Film Music Nominated
2002 Catch Me If You Can Best Film Music Nominated
2005 Memoirs of a Geisha Best Film Music Won
2011 War Horse Best Film Music Nominated
2012 Lincoln Best Film Music Nominated
2013 The Book Thief Best Film Music Nominated

Emmy Awards


Year Project Category Result
1962 Alcoa Premiere Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composed for Television Nominated
1963 Alcoa Premiere Outstanding Achievement in Composing Original Music Nominated
1968 Heidi Outstanding Achievement in Musical Composition Won
1971 Jane Eyre Outstanding Achievement in Musical Composition Won
2002 The 74th Academy Awards Outstanding Music Direction Nominated
2009 Great Performances Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Won

Golden Globe Awards


Year Project Category Result
1972 The Poseidon Adventure Best Original Score Nominated
1973 Cinderella Liberty Best Original Score Nominated
Tom Sawyer (with Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman) Best Original Score Nominated
1974 Earthquake Best Original Score Nominated
1975 Jaws Best Original Score Won
1977 Star Wars Best Original Score Won
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Best Original Score Nominated
1978 Superman Best Original Score Nominated
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Best Original Score Nominated
1982 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Best Original Score Won
"If We Were In Love" (with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman) from Yes, Giorgio Best Original Song Nominated
1984 The River Best Original Score Nominated
1987 Empire of the Sun Best Original Score Nominated
1988 The Accidental Tourist Best Original Score Nominated
1989 Born on the Fourth of July Best Original Score Nominated
1993 Schindler's List Best Original Score Nominated
1995 "Moonlight" (with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman) from Sabrina Best Original Song Nominated
1997 Seven Years in Tibet Best Original Score Nominated
1998 Saving Private Ryan Best Original Score Nominated
1999 Angela's Ashes Best Original Score Nominated
2001 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Best Original Score Nominated
2005 Memoirs of a Geisha Best Original Score Won
2011 War Horse Best Original Score Nominated
2012 Lincoln Best Original Score Nominated
2013 The Book Thief Best Original Score Nominated

Grammy Awards

Year Project Category Result
1962 Checkmate Best Soundtrack Album or Recording or Score from Motion Picture or Television Nominated
1976 Jaws Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture Won
1978 Star Wars Best Pop Instrumental Performance Won
"Main Title" from Star Wars Best Instrumental Composition Won
Star Wars Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture Won
1979 "Theme" from Close Encounters of the Third Kind Best Instrumental Composition Won
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture Won
1980 "Main Title Theme from Superman" Best Instrumental Composition Won
Best Pop Instrumental Performance Nominated
Superman Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture Won
1981 "Yoda's Theme" Best Pop Instrumental Performance Nominated
Best Instrumental Composition Nominated
"The Empire Strikes Back" Won
"Imperial March" (Darth Vader's Theme) Nominated
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture Won
1982 Raiders of the Lost Ark Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture Won
1983 "Adventures on Earth" Best Instrumental Composition Nominated
"Flying" (Theme from E.T.) Won
Best Arrangement on an Instrumental Recording Won
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Best Pop Instrument Performance Nominated
Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture Won
1984 Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1985 Olympic Fanfare and Theme Best Instrumental Composition Won
1986 Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf Best Instrumental Composition Nominated
1988 The Witches of Eastwick Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1989 "Olympic Spirit" Best Instrumental Composition Nominated
Empire of the Sun Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1990 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1991 Born on the Fourth of July Best Arrangement on an Instrumental Recording Nominated
1992 The Star Wars Trilogy Best Pop Instrumental Performance Nominated
"Home Alone Main Title" Best Arrangement on an Instrumental Nominated
"Somewhere in My Memory" (with Leslie Bricusse) from Home Alone Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1993 Hook Best Pop Instrumental Performance Nominated
Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1994 Jurassic Park Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1995 Schindler's List Instrumental Composition for a Motion Picture or Television Won
1997 "Moonlight" (with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman) from Sabrina Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1998 Seven Years in Tibet Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
The Lost World: Jurassic Park Nominated
1999 Saving Private Ryan Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Won
Amistad Nominated
Gershwin Fantasy Best Classical Crossover Album Nominated
2000 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Nominated
"Stella by Starlight" (from The Uninvited) from: Cinema Serenade 2: The Golden Age Best Instrumental Arrangement Nominated
2001 "Theme" from Angela's Ashes Best Instrumental Composition Won
2002 Artificial Intelligence: A.I. Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Nominated
2003 "Hedwig's Theme" Best Instrumental Composition Nominated
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Nominated
2004 Catch Me If You Can Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Nominated
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Nominated
2005 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Nominated
2006 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Nominated
2007 Memoirs of a Geisha Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Won
Munich Nominated
"A Prayer For Peace" (Theme from Munich) Best Instrumental Composition Won
"Sayuri's Theme and End Credits" (Theme from Memoirs of a Geisha) Nominated
2009 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Nominated
"The Adventures of Mutt" from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Best Instrumental Composition Won
2012 The Adventures of Tintin Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media Nominated
2013 Lincoln Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media Nominated
2014 "The Book Thief" from The Book Thief Best Instrumental Composition Pending

I vote for Mr Morricone, I really wanted to do a neat looking awards board instead of a wiki dump, but fuck me I'm shocked at both of their careers, I simply can't be fucked making their list of awards look nicer, I'm sorry...blame them for being good.
Or me lazy :)
 

Screaming Meat

Unconfirmed Member
Morricone hands down. He's a musical chameleon with a flair for originality whereas Williams comes across more like a musical magpie to me.
 

xandaca

Member
Both are phenomenal, but Morricone is leagues above anyone else. Nobody's better than Williams at creating themes for blockbusters, but Morricone's scores have so much more depth and are all completely distinct while being unmistakeably his own. The only downside is that his work is so good, it can overtake a movie if the direction isn't up to scratch. His scores for Once Upon A Time In The West and Once Upon A Time In America, both on their own and how they complement and add further layers to the movie, are utterly breathtaking.
 

Currygan

at last, for christ's sake
Morricone for me. His variety is astounding, he did hundreds of OSTs, heck I've seen some z-rated Italian movies with him doing the music
 

jett

D-Member
Ennio makes beautiful music.

John Williams mostly makes catchy movie soundtracks. Seems like a weird thing to say but I rarely feel the need to listen to a Williams score on its own.
 
Why does it have to be versus? They are both great composers with different styles.

Williams is king though for me though, and not just because of the popular iconic themes from Star Wars and Indy. It's stuff like this and this and this that makes Williams a genius.
 

Screaming Meat

Unconfirmed Member
Yeah, absolutely agree with you.

What the hell is a musical magpie? :)

Haha! He has a tendency to *ahem* "reference" a lot of classic composers in his work. That's not necessarily a bad thing in-and-of-itself (I'm a big fan of Carl Stalling), but it can come off a little cheap in comparison to a composer as fiercely original and inventive as Morricone.
 

BitStyle

Unconfirmed Member
Ennio makes beautiful music.

John Williams mostly makes catchy movie soundtracks. Seems like a weird thing to say but I rarely feel the need to listen to a Williams score on its own.

Now that I think about, it's pretty much this way for me as well.
 

Fersis

It is illegal to Tag Fish in Tag Fishing Sanctuaries by law 38.36 of the GAF Wildlife Act
Ennio Morricone for sure.

He experimented with a bunch of different sounds and music styles. Mad respect.
ALSO MOTHER EFFIN' DOLLAR TRILOGY

Edit: Williams is legit good too. Both are Music Gods but i have a soft spot for Ennio's work.
 

dmshaposv

Member
ah wasnt there a hans zimmer vs john williams thing a couple days ago?


Well just as Williams is a composer of a much higher calibre than zimmer, Morricone is a composer of much higher calibre compared to williams.
 

terrible

Banned
What the fuck does this even mean? Since when is Morricone hipster music?

It seems like a lazy way to try to discredit Morricone when they could have simply said why they prefer one or the other instead.

I'm not really sure how he's the hipster choice myself. Both him and Williams are extremely well known.

Or maybe I'm missing the joke I guess.
 
I love both. I'm in no camp.

I'd say Williams is far more of a complete architect in music. He is a true master of classic filmscore. Epic. But... also sometimes a bit safe imo.

Ennio Morricone just has some of the most epic music scores ever made. Scores that Williams would never ever come up with.
Ennio Morricone also has some of the worst music scores in history. On the verge of tasteless and disgusting to listen to :p.

My fav. song ever (asside from Beethoven's 9th symphony) is a Morricone tune though:
"My Name is nobody". Always cheers me up.

Maybe Morricone is able to touch some deeper emotions with me.
But it's hard to competet with a score like that of Williams. I mean.. god damn.

Ennio is the more hipstery choice, thus most on gaf will pick him.
Fair enough, since it's such a great insight in the hyvemind that is GAF. But what it your opinion on the two composers?
 

Talas

Member
I was fortunate enough to see Ennio Morricone live in concert a few years ago. I can safely say that it was the best concert I have ever attended in my three decades of life.

At one point, Morricone ignored the rest of his orchestra and just directed the drummer, the guy was on fucking fire. It was amazing.
 

EGM1966

Member
whynotboth.gif for me. I like 'em both equally. Shout out for Jerry Goldsmith too: always loved how quirky he could be approaching music for films.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom