About the heading: Things are Bad, but this is just the Beginning; we haven't even truly started to get into The Bad Times yet - if you're not Hispanic, Palanstinian, a foreign student or a resident alien, you might find that statement slightly laughable & naive. Being an American, that's slightly permissible, since those who aren't MAGA or MAGA adjacent/sympathetic still believe that there is still a chance to turn things around - despite the fact that we've continually squandered every chance given so far.
While America (and specifically Whyte America - because nothing of note actually happens in this country until Pissed-Off Whyte People get involved) does its Hamlet-bit trying to convince itself it still has a soul), it feels like one is just Freefalling Thru The Fuckery until things coalesce into some definite action.
While that slowly happens - I watch movies. I write. At least until I can't do either one or the other.
Or both.
One of those notorious films where the behind-the-scenes shennanigans were way more interesting to talk about than the actual film was to watch. There's a lot of baggage - it's one of those films that wind up on that 'dare ya' list of films to watch (like SALO, COME AND SEE, A SERBIAN FILM, etc.), plus its history and reputation and numerous attempts to justify its existence as a thwarted masterpiece or unrepentant trash... or both.
I had the "Imperial Edition" set with the theatrical version and alternate pre-release version for a bit, planning to finally see it for myself. After hearing about a possible recontruction in the works, I held off watching it; waiting to see what the reconstruction would be, if it ever came to be. A rare opportunity to see the film for itself, without having anything previously burned into my brain.
That objectivity is pretty much impossible if you've already seen CALIGULA, judging from most of the reaction to the Ultimate Cut, which has also garnered its own share of controversy, and its own lore - reconstructed from footage from the entire shoot using alternate takes and going back to Vidal's original script. Adding some fuel to the fire was an earlier, 'unofficial' attempt at a reconstruction hewing closer to director Tinto Brass' original vision, which got sidelined due to change of ownership of Penthouse assets in favor of this official reconstruction of the film, which has no imput from Brass.
The result is sort of a compromise between Vidal's script and Brass' interpretation using Malcolm McDowell's performance as a baseline. Using the alternate takes does show that there were nuances; the more manic ones were chosen for the theatrical which made it seem that Caligula was nuts from the outset. The Ultimate Cut gives him more of an arc and makes it more clear of power corrupting rather than just a madman from the start. It helps lift the production up. There's much more Mirren and Theresa Ann Savoy, which helps their characters immensely. An opening animated sequence by Dave McKean which really helps in setting the context. There's still a lot of nudity and sex, though the nudity has been slightly dialed back (hard to believe, I know) and all the hardcore is gone, thankfully - it was too distracting. What sex remains is NOT arousing, which is kind of the point in the orgy sequences. There's still a trashy vibe and honestly, there's just no way to completely remove the Guccione Taint.
It also accentuates the theatricality of the whole enterprise, rather than attempting at any sort of 'realism', which I think helps both Vidal's intent on a story of how Power corrupts within a larger institution and Brass' framing it as a political satire. It's hard NOT to make some thematic comparisons towards current events and people in the U.S.A. The Ultimate Cut would make a curious companion to another reviled/ridiculed film, MEGALOPOLIS, which oddly enough attempts to do sort of the same thing, except with way more class, no graphic sexual content and is a fable on how Power can be utilized by not succumbing to corruption.
So I'm glad that this was the version I watched before the others. This version is NOT a trainwreck, so it at least proves that there was a legitimate film to be found amongst the chaos, once the egos and bullshit could be gotten past. The Ultimate Cut is probably the best representation we'll ever get of CALIGULA being a 'legitimate film'
This was released on blu-ray by Drafthouse Films and Unobstructed View; a 2 disc set with The Ultimate Cut on Disc 1 and the 1980 theatrical cut on Disc 2. There's also a 4 disc UHD release that includes a soundtrack CD of the new score by Troy Sterling Niles and an extra featurette with an archival interview with Tinto Brass. There are two commentaries, both with reconstruction producer Thomas NegovanL one in tandem with editor Aaron Shaps and the second in tandem with writer Grant Morrison. Both are very worthwhile to listen to. The featurette, "The Guccione Scandal" is a breakdown analysis of the additions that Guccione made to the film - yes, that infamous hardcore footage.
