Ennio Morricone has now denied ever criticizing Quentin Tarantino and the Oscars
Recently, Playboy Germany published a brief interview with film composer Ennio Morricone in which he dismissed Quentin Tarantino as a “cretin” whose films are “trash.” This was a surprising slam, since Morricone earned his first non-honorary Oscar for his work on Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, but Playboy Germany also indicated that Morricone had no love for the Oscars either. He said the ceremony was “pompous” and “boring,” and he didn’t really care about winning either his Hateful Eight Oscar or his honorary award.
Now, though, Morricone has denied the whole thing, releasing a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter) that says he has “never expressed any negative statements about the Academy, Quentin, or his films.” He also says he has instructed his lawyer “to take civil and penal action” against Playboy Germany for the interview.
You can read Morricone’s full statement—which also specifically notes that he’s happy he won an Oscar and that he considers Tarantino’s films anything but “garbage”—below.
It has come to my attention that Playboy Germany has come out with an article in which I have stated extremely negative comments about Tarantino and his films, and the Academy. I have never expressed any negative statements about the Academy, Quentin, or his films—and certainly do not consider his films garbage. I have given a mandate to my lawyer in Italy to take civil and penal action.
I consider Tarantino a great director. I am very fond of my collaboration with him and the relationship we have developed during the time we have spent together. He is courageous and has an enormous personality. I credit our collaboration responsible for getting me an Oscar, which is for sure one of the greatest acknowledgments of my career, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to compose music for his film.
In London, during a press conference in front of Tarantino, I clearly stated that I consider Quentin one of the greatest directors of this time, and I would never speak poorly of the Academy—an important institution that has given to me two of the most important acknowledgments of my career.