Caligula Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: Caligula
Year: 1979
Director(s): Tinto Brass, Bob Guccione
Country: Italy
Language: Italian

Born Gaius Julius Caesar, Caligula (AD 12- AD 41) was an emperor known for his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversity. Although he was well-liked during the first six months of his reign, most sources present his character as an insane tyrant. During his reign Caligula sought to increase his own power beyond rational means, directing attention to luxurious dwellings for his own personal use. In an attempt to restore the Roman Republic he was assassinated as a result of conspiracy by officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators, and courtiers

Caligula depicts the rise and fall of the notorious Roman Emperor, showing the violent methods that he employs to gain the throne, and the subsequent insanity of his reign.  There are various versions of the film, ranging from the heavily truncated 90-minute version to the legendary 160-minute hardcore version.

The film was originally set to be a low-budget historical drama film by Gore Vidal and his friend's nephew Franco Rossellini, but they found the budget too low to finish the picture. Desperate to complete the film, they turned to Bob Guccione, publisher of Penthouse magazine, for help. He inserted many scenes of hardcore sex & nudity to the film and as a result most of the cast & crew disowned the picture. Critics were also cold to it; Roger Ebert famously walked out of the picture in disgust, giving it a 0 star review and claiming that it was "sickening, utterly worthless, shameful trash."

Though controversial for it's time, Caligula may seem far more tame when compared to modern monstrosities like The Human Centipede. The film is quite graphic, but how does one make a picture about mad power without defying the grasp of censorship? It's depiction of corruption in ancient Rome, which dramatizes the political theme that "absolute power corrupts absolutely", is quite on point and quite effective despite very little plot, subtlety or meaning. Mainstream culture has accepted this notion of a barbaric Rome, and has depicted it in such a light time & time again. Caligula is noteworthy because it goes above and beyond where most films would dare go. It is ALL id. Praise it! 4/5