Caligula: The Ultimate Cut 2024 Movie Review
I discovered Caligula back in 1995 and very quickly became hooked. Not on the movie itself but on the fascinating story behind its very troubled production. In the decades since, I’ve followed every small development in the hope that someday we would finally see the fine movie that Bob Guccione denied us.
Luckily, I had the chance to attend a screening of the Ultimate Cut at the Sitges Festival and I found it quite astonishing. I know the original version shot by shot, and I can safely say that the UC is not only almost an entirely different movie, it’s also a much improved one.
Actually, I’m still kind of shocked that someone has devoted so much work and dedication to such a reviled film that, let’s be honest, will only play to a fairly niche audience. Be that as it may, for me and other fans of Caligula worldwide, I’m sure the UC will be nothing short of a revelation.
Of course, there are things I would have done differently. The new music, for instance. It was good in itself but it kept building and building, and it got a little tiresome after a while (getting rid of the original’s russian ballet was a good decision, though). Some sound FX seemed to be missing or sounded too modern (the stabbing of Caligula by Chaerea at the end was way overdone). The pace was a bit slow and some shots seemed to linger for too long. Conversely, the ending was rather abrupt.
All of the above contribute to create an ominous tone that is clearly at odds with the political satire that director Tinto Brass had in mind before the project was taken away from him. But taking into consideration that the UC was never touted as a director’s cut per se and that I’m not a big fan of Tinto Brass’ crazy style, that’s not really a problem for me.
Ultimately, I think Thomas Negovan and his team just wanted to make the best possible film from all the footage they had. I guess that explains the omission of certain scenes (Caligula’s trip to Capri, Proculus’ death, Mnester’s pyramide, the priest’s sacrifice…). They didn’t go for the longer or more faithful version they could get. They just went for the one they considered the best.
In that respect, I think the UC is a resounding success. Look no further than the scenes at Tiberius’ Grotto (the cutting back and forth to the guard’s torture was genius), the ménage à trois between Caligula, Caesonia and Drusilla (now a sweet and poignant moment) or the much extended proclamation of Caligula as God and the game of Cesar says (with an incredible Malcolm McDowell in both of them).
Maybe in the future someone will have a go at it and offer us a further version. Doesn’t really matter: as far as I’m concerned, this concludes my Caligula journey. The UC has been put together with such care and dedication that I’m more than satisfied. The fact that the film itself remains deeply flawed is a moot point. For all of us that for decades wondered about what could have been, the question has been finally answered and for that I’m deeply grateful.
