Clint's "White Hunter, Black Heart" - Underrated Score!

Okay, so I just revisited Clint Eastwood's "White Hunter, Black Heart" and, wow, it's a much more compelling film than I remembered. Honestly, I think it gets unfairly lumped in with some of Clint's 'lesser' works, but it's got a lot going for it, ESPECIALLY the score. The film itself is a fascinating character study of John Wilson, the filmmaker (obviously based on John Huston), and his increasingly disturbing obsession with hunting. I almost forgot how unsettling his character is. Jeff Fahey is great as Pete Verrill, the screenwriter slowly realizing the man he idolizes is losing it. But let's be real, I'm here for the music! Lennie Niehaus composed the score, and it's fantastic. It's got this really intriguing blend of almost romantic, sweeping themes coupled with these darker, more primal motifs as Wilson descends deeper into his obsession. The cues during the hunting scenes – especially the one where he finally confronts the elephant – are just CHILLING. No big action chords, but this tense, almost mournful sound that underscores the brutality he's inflicting. I think the score really elevates the film beyond just a 'man goes crazy in Africa' story. It adds a layer of moral complexity and almost a sense of tragedy. I'm surprised Niehaus doesn't get more love for this one. It's not his flashiest work, but I feel like that's exactly what makes it so effective within the movie's context. Anyone else appreciate this score? Or even just the movie in general? I feel like it's flown under the radar for too long! I'd love to hear other's thoughts/interpretations. And maybe I just need to re-listen to the soundtrack for the tenth time...