Review of Caligula (1979) by Adam R — 09 Apr 2010

Tinto Brass' controversial biopic of the deranged Roman emperor still manages to shock with its extreme content and sequences of pornography interspliced with "legitimate" filmmaking.

Caligula (Malcolm McDowell) seizes the throne from his mad uncle Tiberius (Peter O'Toole) and launches one of the most infamous dictatorships in history. Initially, he is a polarizing figure, gaining the love of the people - thanks largely to his open mockery of the entitled Roman senate - while, not surprisingly, currying the disfavors of the legislature. Over time, though, Caligula becomes more and more deranged, setting up a royal brothel where the senators' wives are required to serve, attempting to make his horse a consular, and leading an army of centurions in a campaign to capture the papyrus fronds off the coast of Britannia.

There is something peculiarly Shakespearean about Caligula which Brass and screenwriter Gore Vidal nail. The way the film is presented, though, is what makes the film both noteworthy and controversial. Get past the commentary, though, and you'll find "Caligula" is a fairly standard drama, often well-made and troubled simultaneously.