I don't know if I picked up on too much new (but definitely noticed a fair number of details that hit me more this time, like when they show Cass' body the film specifically shows her throat ripped out--and already I could hear the "heeelp me" in my head) because I had already been thinking about the movie so much and the discussions I've had here and elsewhere with people, but it was nice to actually soak in the movie knowing where it was going, and so getting to appreciate things that I didn't necessarily get into as much on the first viewing. the movie still lands a hell of a visceral wallop with the guts, bear, and ANNIHILATION scenes, but what really stood out to me this time around were the performative/character details. Portman actually is great in this. The film isn't always putting her performance front and center, but she's always contributing some sort of emotional context to the scenes she's in. All the other performances, too, felt better to me this time through, and I liked them the first time. goddamn do I love Ventress' final monologue. so Cronenbergian! and comes with a chillingly beautiful light show after!
as someone who really liked the score, there are a couple great interviews out in regards to it. one focuses in on the four-note alien motif but I can't seem to find that link at the moment. but here's a really good one about the score overall from Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/featu...re-w517838
I had read in the previous interview (that I can't find now) that they didn't use synths until the end, and I was like "wait a minute, I could've sworn there were some synths..." come to find out in the Rolling Stone interview that that was actually a waterphone. love the part where Geoff is describing it. and really it's just a great interview overall for people who love film music, because Salisbury and Barrow clearly do.
there's a part of the interview, too, where I think Barrow is talking about a film he recently watched that had a synth-heavy score and he felt like the score kind of blew its wad ten minutes into the movie. I really wondered which film he was talking about. from the description, I almost thought maybe Blade Runner 2049? because let's face it, as much as that movie has going for it, Zimmer kind of banged that music out. like, I literally picture Zimmer just banging away at his keyboard.
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