Goya's Ghosts

November 10th, 2006







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Goya's Ghosts

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Still of José Luis Gómez in Goya's GhostsJavier Bardem in Goya's GhostsStill of Stellan Skarsgård in Goya's GhostsGoya's GhostsStill of Stellan Skarsgård in Goya's GhostsStill of Javier Bardem in Goya's Ghosts

Plot
Painter Francisco Goya faces a scandal involving his muse, who is labeled a heretic by a monk.

Release Year: 2006

Rating: 6.9/10 (14,469 voted)

Critic's Score: 52/100

Director: Milos Forman

Stars: Javier Bardem, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård

Storyline
The painter Goya becomes involved with the Spanish Inquisition when his muse, Ines, is arrested by the church for heresy. Her father, Thomas, comes to him hoping that his connection with Brother Lorenzo, whom he is painting, can secure the release of his daughter.

Writers: Milos Forman, Jean-Claude Carrière

Cast:
Javier Bardem - Lorenzo
Natalie Portman - Inés / Alicia
Stellan Skarsgård - Francisco Goya
Randy Quaid - King Carlos IV
José Luis Gómez - Tomás Bilbatúa
Michael Lonsdale - Inquisitor General
Blanca Portillo - Queen María Luisa
Mabel Rivera - María Isabel Bilbatúa
Unax Ugalde - Ángel Bilbatúa
Fernando Tielve - Álvaro Bilbatúa
David Calder - Monk 1
Frank Baker - Monk 2
Ramón Langa - Hooded Monk
Manuel de Blas - Pyre Monk
Andrés Lima - Confiscating Monk

Taglines: Tell me what the truth is



Details

Official Website: Official site | Official site [Japan] |

Release Date: 10 November 2006

Filming Locations: Monasterio de Veruela, Veruela, Vera de Moncayo, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain

Opening Weekend: €7,133 (Netherlands) (15 April 2007) (12 Screens)

Gross: $2,064,684 (Spain) (26 November 2006)



Technical Specs

Runtime:



Did You Know?

Trivia:
The tan and brown print satin pelisse worn an extra during the French invasion is the same costume worn by Anna Chancellor (Mrs. Peake) when she comes to the Worrall's house in Princess Caraboo, by Sheila Gish (Mrs. Norris) to Maria's wedding in Mansfield Park, and by an extra in the first church scene in Miss Austen Regrets.

Goofs:
Anachronisms: The film starts in 1792 with the inquisition examining Goya's etchings "Los Caprichos". In fact, the etchings were not created until 1797.

Quotes:
[Goya is trying to see Inés]
Goya: I am painter to the king!
Asylum Director: So what, I have three Napoleon Bonapartes in here, and two of them are Arabs.



User Review

Don't believe the critics - See This Film!!!

Rating: 9/10

There is one great flaw here that almost everyone mentions... and it's true. The accents of the non-Spanish actors clash terribly with the Spanish ones, as well as with each other. That's a real flaw, but if you can get past that, there's a great film waiting to be seen. I found I forgot all about it after the first 10 minutes. The critics just don't get this film. A lot of regular people seem to miss it too. They want a film with a typical "leading" role. They want their morality tales (which this certainly IS) delivered in easy shades of Black and White... no gray. They don't understand films where the title character is primarily an Observer. Sometimes that CAN be dissatisfying, but here the Observer is a genuine genius. Some people want him to be a moral giant, but he's not, he's simply an observer who has actualized the doctor's oath: First, do no harm. This is a brilliant story, and a morally complex one, too. There are some parallels to America in Iraq, though that is not the primary goal. This story illuminates the folly of any regime, liberal or conservative, as each picks its friends and foes, taking 180 degree turns from whoever was last in power. Javier Bardem gives an incredibly canny performance! Natalie Portman is totally unsentimental and totally committed to her multiple roles: just great! Stellan Skarsgard threw me off at first with the sound of his voice, but builds a performance of power and truth, in spite of it. Randy Quaid was a small revelation. And of course the film looks and sounds spectacular, with it's numerous and detailed textures, compositions and sounds. If you want to think; if you like having pat assumptions challenged; if you love people and history and art: see it!





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