2. Sigourney Weaver Brings Her "A" Game
Sigourney Weaver has earned much well-deserved praise for her performances in the Alien franchise. Its really because of her that Ripley came to life as a well-rounded, well-developed character. We see Ripleys growth, her rise and her eventual fall, throughout these three movies. But its really in Alien 3 where I feel she gives one of her finest performances. Thats made all the more incredible when she wasnt really keen on playing the character a third time. Theres been criticism of the autopsy scene, saying that Ripley appears indifferent during it. I think this was due to the botched editing of the theatrical cut, because in the Assembly Cut, Weaver does an incredible job of showcasing her emotions. She doesnt say much, but her face is clearly wracked with pain and guilt. Even when Andrews appears in the morgue to argue with Clemens about the unauthorised autopsy, Ripley cant turn away from Newts body, and she hates herself the entire time for it. Ripley is clearly a woman on her last legs here, and her interactions with the rest of the population, particularly Clemens and Dillon, do a wonderful job of showing that. When she asks Clemens if hes attracted to her, its partly to deflect his line of questioning, but as she says, Ive been out here a long time, so its also a very human act on her own impulses. Shes just as vulnerable as she was in Alien, but shes also still got the same strength and conviction she had in Aliens. So now Ripley, in many ways just like the alien, is like a cornered animal. She really proves herself to be a survivor in this movie, and to be a woman of conviction, pushing herself to the limit. And at these limits, she breaks. Like when she practically pleads with Dillon to kill her, and hes so disgusted by her break, he tells her to do it herself. Its a very good performance from Weaver, perhaps the best one in the entire Alien series.