Goya's Ghosts (2006) User Reviews (124)

Goya in the background

[dromasca · 7/10 · 17 August 2007]

A film by Milos Forman is always an event. This will probably not remain as one of the best in his career, and was surrounded by a level of controversy, not the least among critics who received it very differently. Yet, it is certainly a film to watch.

The story actually does not have Goya (Stellan Skarsgård) in the center. It is rather the story of a corrupt morality policeman of the 18th century (Javier Bardem) imprisoning a young girl (Natalie Portman) on the unjust suspicion of practicing Judaism in secret. It is the story of a police state built on social injustice relying on pretended moral puritanism in order to save the system. This happens at the price of huge human suffering like the drama in the center of the story, and here is the painter as a witness, living the dilemma of becoming involved as a human or remaining a witness as an artist. We know what path Goya chose.

I was not unhappy neither with the acting, nor with the story line, although it is a little bit too melo-dramatic and too much prone to coincidences. Forman is not so much focused on the drama or better say melo-drama, or even in the historical detail, although he seems to be on familiar ground getting back to the period in 'Amadeus'. What he is busy with seems to be more re-creating some of Goya's paintings and prints and tracing back the origin of inspiration of these masterpieces. In a way the film can be read as justification of the choice Goya made in life.

Really great

[aiculik · 8/10 · 29 March 2007]

I saw it yesterday on film festival. And it was great.

When I was reading the description of the movie, I had some doubts. It seemed it would be yet another film about bad, intolerant catholics and good and democratic atheists. I'm just fed up with that kind of films. But it was not so. In a short - it's a great film with bad description.

What it really is about, is that it doesn't matter what principles one believes in if their life is doesn't match these principles. Both inquisitors and French democrats were capable of same brutality - always, of course, in name of some noble idea - love, freedom, equality... It's not sentimental or pathetic and it doesn't try to tell you what is "the only truth". It simply says that its not principles and ideas that are bad - its people. Characters are very human, with many errors - but, at the same time, each of the characters, even "villains" have moments when you will like them. It is also because the film changes perspective several times, and those who were despots become victims.

Maybe its not the best Forman's film, but it is very good.

Goya's Ghost

[rajdoctor · 8/10 · 29 April 2007]

I had hesitated so much to go to see this movie – because I thought it is a period drama and I won't like the aristocracy, and I had assumed that this was a French or Spanish movie. To my surprise it is an English movie.

The story is around a painter Francisco Goya (played by Stellan Skarsgard) during the turbulent times (1790-1810) when Napoleon invaded Madrid. But do not be mistaken – this is not the story of Goya. The Director (Milos Forman) uses painter Goya just to provide a canvas for two main characters to emerge–the corrupt Brother Lorenzo (played brilliantly by Javier Bardem) and the innocent Ines (played outstandingly by Natalie Portman).

Ines after being wrongly detained by Christian church to prison is impregnated by Lorenzo, who runs away and later joins hands with Napoleon to come back (after 15 years) as a high official to find that Ines is the mother of his child – who is now the young street prostitute. With British invading Spain, Lorenzo is publicly prosecuted and the last scene shows Ines holding the hand of the dead body of Lorenzo taken out of the town in a horse cart.

Hats off to Director Milos Forman (remember One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus) – who after 7 years of making movies took a sabbatical from his teaching career to make this movie. And what a marvelous movie he has made – worth the wait.

The main plot is about the human race and its bigotry. The times are historic, yet significantly apply to today's world. Javier Bardem and Natalie Portman have given their award winning performances – especially Natalie Portman plays the role of the young Ines, old Ines and young prostitute daughter with such different range of get-over and acting that she astonishes us with her versatility and ease.

But the movie belongs – all in all to Milos Forman. As is the class of all great directors the musical score is magnificent. The nuances of undertones of each character's thoughts are presented aptly with perfect casting. Milos always entertains us with his subtle comedy – but I would call it as a black humor (I published last week that I do not understand black humor of "Hot Fuzz"). Now after seeing this movie I can say that I now know and understand what is black humor perfectly well. If you like the movie do not miss the ecstatic painting displayed during the unveiling of last titles. They are masterly selected by the master crafts person Milos.

If you are movie fan – and are philosophical doubter (tribute to my Guru Andreas Hensel – who is one) of everything – please go and see this wonderful movie.

(Stars 8 out of 10)

Period piece, unrelentingly bleak

[irvingwarner · 7/10 · 18 August 2016]

The acting and production values are of the highest order in "Goya's Ghost". Because I don't get around much anymore, I had not seen Ms Portman in a movie until "Ghost", and was very impressed, for like all the roles in this movie, her's was challenging. Javier Bardem is tough to equal in any movie, and as the 'heavy', (another heavy?!) he is outstanding; Stellan Skarsgård has come a long, long ways since "The Ox", and he has had a mixture of roles, some of them pretty thankless. As Goya, he does very well--a great actor. Natalie Portman--as I was a first timer regards seeing her work, I was bowled over--her role requires a terrible transformation, and makeup only goes so far, acting must be the key ingredient. So, along with the outstanding set designs and production values, Forman created another outstanding period piece. By the way, the actress Blanca Portillo who does the Spanish queen has a key small part--and you'll know her best scene when you see it! The story? It is about a wretched time and wretched people in a position of trust who violate that and prey on whomever they can. I think "Ghost" might not be for those who are not really into period pieces, but I am!

great first half

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 1 October 2017]

It's 1792 Madrid. The Inquisition is interested in painter Francisco Goya (Stellan Skarsgård)'s provocative art. Luckily for him, brother Lorenzo Casamares (Javier Bardem) is his supportive patron. Inés Bilbatúa (Natalie Portman) is brought into the Inquisition for not eating pork. She is accused of being a Judaiser and put into a stress position called The Question. Her rich merchant father asks Goya to invite Lorenzo for dinner. He in turn puts Lorenzo into The Question to coerce an outlandish confession. He blackmails Lorenzo to help get Inés released.

The first hour is terrific. It has dark and tense turns. The characters are great. It builds up a compelling drama. The first problem starts with the family letting Goya leave as they torture Lorenzo. He could easily have gone to the authorities. It's a small logic break but then the story expands in scope and out of shape. This could have been a great movie if it stayed small. Milos Forman goes crazy and then the French invades. The second half is more convoluted and there are too many convenient turns. By way of explaining, I almost half-believed in this as a real Goya story. Granted, I don't know anything about the artist but these characters seem real enough. By the second half, there is no chance that this is anywhere near reality. This is half of a great movie.

Good picture full of biographic moments and sensitive drama along with the Inquisition and French invasion

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 27 June 2007]

The film is set in 1792 ,it deals with eclectic people during a convulsed era from Spain history . It starts with the Inquisition and some years later with the encroachment by Napoleon Army and finishes with the French defeat and restoration of the Spanish monarchy with Fernando VII , after the victory by general Wellington (Cayetano M. Irujo) . The painter (1746, born Fuentedetodos and deceased 1828,Burdeos) Francisco de Goya (Stellan Skarsgard) , quintessential Spanish artist , becomes involved with the Spanish Inquisition , when his muse named Ines (director cast Natalie Portman after noticing her likeness to the girl in Goya's painting "Milkmaid of Bordeaux") who painted her like an Angel in the church of Saint Antonio of Florida and he's now portraying , she then is framed as a heretic . His daddy named Thomas Bilbatua (Jose Luis Gomez) ask him help , hoping what his relationship with the monk Lorenzo (Javier Bardem) can achieve the freedom for his daughter . Meanwhile , Goya is dedicated the painting of the portrait the royal family : Carlos IV (Forman cast Randy Quaid as the King of Spain after seeing his work in ¨Elvis¨ by phoning him and saying, "You are a great actor , you must be my King or I must repaint Goya") , Mª Luisa (Blanca Portillo) and children .

The film is a touching drama added with historic elements and formidable performances . The movie creates a canvas upon a turbulent epoch concerning specially with Inquisition . It was created by Pope Sixto IV in 1478 , its creation is supposedly caused for threat by Jewish and Moors becoming Christianism but practically disappeared with the Borbons Kings (Felipe V,Fernando VI and Carlos III) and was definitively abolished by the Court of Cadiz though spontaneously restored by Fernando VII in 1814 . The sentences were executed by means of a public event called ¨auto of faith¨(thus happens on the final) . Near the end, when the king appears in the balcony at the execution scene, some people yell "Vivan Las Cadenas!" (Long live the chains!). This salute was coined in 1814 by Spanish monarchists when Fernando VII was restored to the throne with absolute powers, thus abolishing the Constitution of Cadiz, which was established by Napoleonic authorities.

The flick displays an interesting showing the means are manufactured the famous Goya's engravings : ¨The war disasters¨ , ¨bullfighting¨ and ¨Caprichos¨ . Besides , recreating historical happenings such as ¨Charge of Mamelucos¨ and ¨Execution on mountain of Principe Pio¨. The movie contains a top-notch star-studded cast , as Skarsgard , Portman , Bardem give a sensational interpretations . Scenarios are luxurious and impressive , being designed by the prestigious Patrizia Von Brandenstein , the sets including palaces , rooms , interiors and outdoors are mesmerizing . Lush and brilliant costume design by Ivonne Blake (Oscar for Doctor Zhivago and Nicholas and Alexandra). Colorful cinematography by expert Spanish cameraman , Javier Aguirresarobe , (The others) . The film was lavishly produced by the brothers Saul and Paul Saentz , Forman's usual producers .The motion picture was well directed by the classic Milos Forman , an expert about biographies of notorious characters such as ¨Amadeus¨ , ¨Larry Flynt¨ , ¨Andy Kauffman¨ (Man on the moon) ; besides filming a lot of successes like are ¨Ragtime¨ ,¨Hair¨, ¨Valmont¨ , and of course , his greatest hit ¨Someone flow the Cucko nest¨.

A Bleak Masterpiece on the Nightmare of History

[latinese · 9/10 · 30 August 2007]

I think Goya is after all just a pretext. What Forman wanted to talk about is how people are overwhelmed by history. It's a difficult idea to be grasped for people who live in wealthy societies where nothing much happens and the biggest problems are having more money than you already have and what to do on Saturday night. But Forman manages to show you how you can be powerless and doomed when history moves fast--too fast. The real protagonist of the story is not the painter, but the former Dominican priest, whose life is totally changed--and ultimately destroyed--by the big historical events (the French Revolution, the French invasion of Spain, the English invasion of Spain, the Restoration). The same may be said for the other characters in the story. Goya is there as a witness, and as the symbolic figure of the artist who manages to create something even out of utter destruction. One could say that Goya's Ghosts are exactly those people and events Goya witnessed and can't get rid of, so that he has to turn them into drawings and paintings; but the term "ghost" also refers to what individuals are like in those moments when everything is changing and moving towards God knows what goal. The priest and the young girl and all the other people in the story are just pawns of history, who strut and fret on the stage and then disappear. Ghosts, because they can be annihilated in any moment. It's a sad truth, but it's truth, notwithstanding Hollywood's mythologies of super-heroes that can win against all odds. Joyce said that history is a nightmare one tries to wake up from; Forman showed us the nightmare, and the last nightmarish scene of this movie is one of those you can't forget.

Just average

[haasxaar · 6/10 · 21 December 2006]

Being a big fan of Forman I was obviously hoping that this film would keep me entertained and interested for its entire duration. It did, to a fair extent. Yet, what it lacked was any punch. No real statement or continuity came forth by the time the credits rolled up.

The film's premise of an exploration of Spain before its invasion and subsequent religious reversals and recantions is just lacking completely in continuity. No character is really explored deeply, Forman changes focus far too often. Take the sudden jump of 15 years midway through the film. Most characters are done away with completely and all others are beyond recognition except the main protagonist, the painter Goya. Even he is not really that interesting. He paints paintings. For different people. Natalie Portman's character serves as obvious pathos at the beginning, then her character turns into a demented and ruined savage. Forman never allows any identification, or any centre of interest establish itself. One moment the film seems to be dealing with religious fanaticism, other times with hypocrisy and social upheaval, other times with war.

The film is simply too disjointed, the characters mostly dull and the plot far too linear for this to be ranked amongst Forman's masterpieces. It spends too much time weaving around aimlessly with any apparent focus or goal. It seems Forman wanted to portray a period different any specific purpose or moral lesson - which is what he has achieved although really the cultural observations are equally diluted. Overall, a boring and plain film lacking intent or artistic endeavour, it is like Goya himself - nondescript and a little on the plain side.

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

[Hughmn · 9/10 · 26 July 2007]

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!

Interesting but ultimately meandering period drama

[alainenglish · 6/10 · 31 August 2007]

Boasting some colourful, sumptuous set and costume work and amazing cinematography, "Goya's Ghosts" is unfortunately something of a missed opportunity.

It sees the famous Spanish painter Francesco Goya (Stellan Skarsgard) involved in the machinations of the Spanish Inquisition, when they wrongly imprison and torture Inez (Natalie Portman), a muse of his, for being a heretic. At the forefront of this is a duplicitous monk, Lorenzo (Javier Bardem), who complicates matters considerably when he becomes attracted to Inez...

The film covers a period of fifteen years, but the first half of the movie is more interesting as it tackles the issues raised by the reality of the Spanish Inquisition in a far more interesting way. The second half of the movie, after the fifteen-year interval, is a mish-mash of lousy ageing makeup, coincidence, and an ending that says and means absolutely nothing.

The key scene in the movie is a dinner scene with Goya and Lorenzo hosted by Inez's father Tomas (Jose Luiz Gomez), and Lorenzo is, quite literally, 'put to the question' himself. As Goya, Skarsgard doesn't really have much to do but gives a very interesting and eccentric performance nevertheless. Portman isn't too bad in the first half of the movie, but loses it when she's required to don make-up and play two roles later on.

Worth looking at for it's visuals and brief commentary on the nature of torture, but given it could have gone into more depth on the latter it stands as a missed opportunity.

Brilliant Portrait of Goya and Spain in the 18th/19th Century

[martys-7 · 9/10 · 22 August 2007]

Imagine the paintings and drawings of Goya in all their darkness and beauty coming to life - this is Milos Forman's masterful film. Goya (and us)witness the folly of the Spanish royal court, the murderous sadistic perversion of the Catholic Church, the cruel inhumane madness of the Napoleonic War, along with the sensuality and beauty of life passing. This is the film's main focus: to let us experience the time and place as if seen through Francisco de Goya's eyes. As expected of a Milos Forman's film, the locales, the customs, and the overall production replicates the Spain of the late 18th century and early 19th century with the exactitude of a court painting. The cast is also excellent. As an Inquisitor turned a Napoleon's officer, Javier Bardem deserves another Oscar nomination. Stellan Skargsdar as usual does a chameleon-like transformation this time into Goya. Natalie Portman elevates herself into a higher realm of acting as the doomed, beautiful Ines. And Randy Quaid steals the screen for a few seconds as the King. Milos Forman again has given us an emotionally- and intellectually-challenging portrait of a dark era and the role of art and artist. Although some of the dramatization is slightly contrived, the film is compelling and moving and its vision lingers as Goya's art.

Haunting, but flawed

[shhimundercoverdamnit · 6/10 · 27 February 2008]

Goya's Ghosts, directed by Academy Award winner Miloš Forman. (Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) A lot of the critics panned this film, but I actually quite enjoyed it. It wasn't quite as engaging as Amadeus, but Forman really captured the aura of the period.

Natalie Portman's acting was also attacked by certain critics, ( she plays two characters here) and yet... I actually found her to be quite moving, especially as the imprisoned Inés who is accused of heresy against the Church. That scene of her after she is released from the inquisition prison, wow.

Stellan Skarsgård portrays the famous painter Francisco Goya & Javier Bardem plays Brother Lorenzo, an at the very least duplicitous monk.

Bardem chews up so much of the scenery here and I had no other feelings towards his character than of hatred. I see him as nothing more than a psychopathic, masochist, opportunist. This is a man who in the course of the film changes allegiances with the wind. In one of the movies most pivotal scenes, Brother Lorenzo visits Inés, tells her that he is about to help her, asks for her to pray with him and then proceeds to rape her.

Later on, Lorenzo reports to Inés family and defends "The Question"( torture) arguing that if the accused is really innocent, God will give them the strength to deny any guilt, so a person who confesses must be guilty. But, Inés family disagrees, arguing that a person will confess to anything under physical torture. To prove this, they draw up a statement which says that Brother Lorenzo confesses to being a monkey. In the end, Lorenzo is tortured and signs. So much for God's strength.

Forman against History

[horacio0206 · 5/10 · 2 March 2008]

Like in Mozart, Forman repeats him self. The central character of the movie is not Goya but an obscure character the monk Lorenzo, which I am not sure if this guy really existed. Goya's followers only will see too little of Goya's outstanding life. In addition Goya's most important works of art, his real life as a womanizer, his relation with politics and with other painters as Velasquez, all of them are completely omitted in this farse. Not to mention the poor pronunciation of Spanish names made by English & Sweedish actors. People who want to know more about real Goya's life please address to "Goya in Burdeos" (a Spanish film made by Carlos Saura), which also brings an idea of the importance of Goya in the history of art. The same as in Mozart, which the most important character is Salieri and not Mozart himself, here you'll get a lot about Lorenzo and a quite little bit about Goya. Forman, please film about things you really know!!!!

Never mind Goya, this is a mishmash of plot lines and sensationalist drama

[secondtake · 6/10 · 4 August 2011]

Goya's Ghosts (2006)

I'm not sure why they felt they had to pivot this fictional story around a real painter, the great tormented Francisco Goya. Because the main story is completely fictional, about a young woman (Portman) and a priest (Bardem) and their interactions. And about the torture and imprisonment so common in Spain at the time. The conflict between the secular and the sacred, and between clergy and royalty, is part of the social and political intrigue the tries to light up the film.

But Goya really has nothing to do with all this, and even his character is a kind of guide or unifying thread through a lot of disturbing and meandering up and down events. What Goya does provide, I think, is a kind of realistic gruesomeness behind it all. That's a key part of his work, and perhaps it inspired the filmmakers. The time (late 1700s to early 1800s) was physically rough, and life was cheap, to be sure. The effects of torture and war are everywhere in Goya's work, and thus in this disappointing movie.

The plot, as such, is really a series of conflicts between these spheres of power and it doesn't suck you in for the long haul. What it does do well is create individual moments, with both terrific set design and with horrid grotesqueness. This might not be your cup of tea when it has no protagonist to quite get in with. Certainly among the three main characters, the young woman arouses purely pity (she is used, tortured, raped, and left to rot) and the priest arouses curiosity (at his changing politics and beliefs, his contradictory impulses). These kinds of stereotypes are not awful clichés, the movie doesn't sink to parody, but themes like this have been woven together better elsewhere. You get a sense the director, Milos Forman, was aiming for another "Amadeus," his masterpiece set around the same time, with its humanizing of famous figures and with the intrigues of power. But the writing here, partly by Forman, is daily bread stuff, nothing as inventive and ingenious as Peter Shaffer's play used for Mozart's story.

It should be said that Portman also plays another part, that of the illegitimate daughter of her first character, and of course she looks rather like her mom. Which of course makes the priest have a restrained frenzy--how lucky, he grows twenty years older and the woman of his dreams is reborn. It's a movie-making conceit, a fun one out of place here, though nice of Portman to show off her malleability.

The third character? Yes, our tour guide, Goya himself? The actor, Swedish star Stellan Starsgard, plays a bit of the everyman, not quite as focused and intense as you might suppose the real Goya to be. But who knows? What we do see of him has nothing to do with his actual life or work. Even the paintings he paints are just Goyaesque portraits of the other two characters. Great for some Hollywood memorabilia auction some day!

In the end this lands somewhere between thrilling, sensationalist, and awkward. But beautifully awkward.

What if they made a film about Goya, and made "The Crucible" instead?

[fablesofthereconstru-1 · 6/10 · 12 March 2008]

"When they said, "Repent!"/I wonder what they meant," so goes singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen in "The Future"; so goes Father Lorenzo(Javier Bardem), too, in "Goya's Ghosts" when church officials try to save his life, before they deem to take it away, corporeally, in the same breath, with just one crank, at the gallows. To the disappointment of art buffs, this former man of the cloth figures more prominently than Aragonese Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Director Milos Forman uses the same strategy to better effect in "Amadeus", the Academy Award-winner for Best Film in 1984, in which Antonio Sallieri's mediocrity("I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint.") took some of the film's locus away from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's genius. But "Amadeus" didn't stray far from the realm of art. "Goya's Ghosts", however, treats art like a footnote to the Spanish Inquisition. "Goya's Ghosts" is more about the relationship between art and religion, and between religion and government, than it is about art. Like "Zodiac", the main character becomes pro-active in the latter half of the film. In the David Fincher film, the editorial cartoonist turns into an investigative journalist. Here, the painter/printmaker becomes a whore wrangler. In other words, he's in the world, when most artists, especially somebody of Goya's stature, live in their own minds. Although Goya doesn't quite belong in the same pantheon of Pablo Picasso, or Edouard Manet; the Spainard, best known for "La maja desnuda" and "La maja vestida", he is considered a master, and should not be subjected to the degradation of having his likeness tied to a melodramatic plot point. He should be painting. But "Goya's Ghosts" has him seeking out a prostitute in a brothel, with the message that her mother is still alive. Goya deserves better than this.

Natalie Portman, plays both roles(Ines and Alicia), and in the case of the mother, she does her best "Monster" imitation. Portman lady-hams it up; you're always aware that she spent a lot of time in the makeup chair. Ultimately, it's distracting. Not only does Portman play ugly, she gets to weep a lot, too. What actress wouldn't take this role? But the film belongs to Bardem, now in possession of a recently-minted shiny, golden naked man. In the final scene, some moviegoers may think of Daniel Day Lewis' fate in Nicholas Hynter's adaptation of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible". If John Proctor repents, he'll stave off execution. In "Goya's Ghosts", Lorenzo's fate is sealed, regardless of his confession. When Lorenzo was a padre, Ines' father demonstrated the considerable flaw in "The Question". Under torture, the subject will likely confess to anything. Lorenzo signs his name to a document that states he descended from monkeys. Now, with his life in the balance, would his steadfast refusal to rejoin God's fold be any different if a concession meant a stay on his very mortality.

Good deliverance

[iso-kincses · 7/10 · 14 May 2007]

This is a period drama as they have to be.

Not a biographical drama, as the title might suggest.

This isn't about Goya, neither about his muse, nor the Spanish Court, nor the 'Holy Office' (ie: The Inquisition). This is just a big canvas about an era. Ojectively painted, well lighted and well balanced between the chief characters and the bystanders. The features of the selected actors deliver a touch of Goya's characters, and that is true from the vogon-like archbishop to the very last extra. The world is dark, intriguing and deceitful, yet it doesn't lack a sense of humour.

The plot is not as cohesive as you can get, but that's forgivable.

Goya is just an artist with no intention to be a champion of justice, but you forgive him as artists often go that way. He's just a chronicler, but he was damned good at it, wasn't he?

Ines is just a girl, and 'God bless her soul' she remains one forever,and you like her for it. I never thought about Natalie Portman as a capable actress, but as a worn off, tortured half-wit released from the dungeons I have to give her some kudos.

And 'father' Lorenzo is just a man, after all...and you can forgive him if you insist. I thought he's the ultimate opportunist turn-coat, but he managed to show some guts in the end, so I forgave him.

There's a bit much ingredient in the blender than most people will like, from religion to revolution to royal art-critics to tavern-ambiance to execution, but I liked the taste of the „turmix"(Hungarian equivalent for (milk)shake, I just love this word) And again; this is a period drama, lapping up almost twenty years of turbulent history so it couldn't avoid to be a bit dense and rich.

Goya's dark side

[sheenajackie · 10/10 · 22 May 2011]

I was not aware of this magnificent film until 2010 and did not see it till now (May 2011), but it not only does not date, but Natalie Portman was a revelation, considering I have just seen her in Black Swan, and in this much earlier film, she was already proving her acting prowess. Javier Bardem proves his worth as much as in his later award winning films (The Sea Inside, No Country For Old Men, etc.) and I wonder how such a craggy-looking man can be so charismatic. Bardem has something unusual, a rare quality of conveying total realism in his acting which becomes him, not just a superficial persona he puts on. The supporting cast, especially Stellan Skarsgaard as Goya, provide a worthy backdrop for the two central, very powerful roles played by Bardem and Portman who convey the darkness of the period in excruciatingly detailed performances, then reflected in Goya's paintings. The film brings to life Goya's dark, realistic portraits of humanity in all its terror, grotesqueness, cruelty, and suffering during a tumultuous period of war and carnage. A brilliant film by Forman and I recommend anyone wanting a challenge in film to see this if they haven't already done so.

Not As Much About Goya, As About His Times

[denis888 · 7/10 · 22 April 2007]

This is not an autobiographical movie. It doesn't tell about Francisco Goya and his growth as a great painter, nor does it tell us about his private life. This is more about the tragic epoch, a highly volatile era during which he had to live. In fact, Goya himself occupies hardly half of the film's time. But then, the title explains it all – Goya's Ghosts – it is about his characters, the people of Spain that he depicted in his works. Monks, soldiers, laypeople, generals, French, Spanish, and British – they all are before our eyes, with their lives, tragedies and joys. In fact, Lorenzo, an apostate Catholic monk, is a real hero of the film by Milos Forman. His ruthless inquisition methods, his love affairs, his apostasy and turn to Napoleon's regime, his tragic death on the scaffold show us a real life story of a man in the tragic times of the early 19 Century. Then, there is a beautiful girl, performed by ever impeccable Natalie Portman, whose life and mind are ruined by merciless tortures in the inquisition chambers. She comes back to life as a wretched, ruined, lost soul and searches constantly for her daughter who in fact became a prostitute. She is only happy when she finds lost baby and takes it for her own. The whole long film leaves a heavy heart but a lasting impression. This is a very decent and full-scale work of art.

A dark page in Spain's history

[preina · 10/10 · 26 August 2007]

This movie had a great storyline and kept one's attention from beginning to end, a well directed movie, I believe one of the best I've ever seen. While some period movies are overwhelmed by the attention to period detail, in this movie the background enhances and makes the movie more believable. The acting was very well performed and all the actors deserve equal mention. I would see this movie again and recommend to all. I have no doubt that this movie will garner many awards in many categories! The costumes, the backdrops and scenery were bar none and worthy of many accolades. The historical context is well worth mentioning. A terrific period in Spain's history that left a long and hideous scar on its glorious and eventful history. Enjoy and share this movie with a friend and then enjoy comparing notes of what each of you saw and felt especially attracted to!

Overall I would recommend a viewing...

[dignityandillusions · 7/10 · 7 May 2007]

The first hour of this film I enjoyed very much , the story was very engaging and the ensemble of actors blended in well together despite their varied geographical origins. The second half although still good, unfortunately lost me in places, due to some very obvious 'acting' by Natalie Portman, who was out of her depth and an increasingly preposterous storyline, in her 'characters' case particularly, I'm not sure if any young actress could have convinced entirely. Pity, because overall I wanted to like it and did, as the production design, costumes and use of locations in Spain were excellent, giving it a real quality feel. It certainly personally gave me a lot to reflect on, having been to the Prado and seen a lot of Goya's works painted during this very troubled period of history.

Hollywood will have to wait for long time to see again films of such quality

[dirtyharrry · 10/10 · 26 April 2007]

Hollywood will have to wait for long time to see again films of such quality,films that are condemned not to have a big commercial success but films that will remain in the history of art of cinema.The "ghosts of Goya" is taking us back to a past time showing with incredible reality the conditions of this time,and helped by a great performance of the actors,Milos Forman gives us another sample of his rare directing talent.In the question which film i like most "Amadeus" or "the ghosts of Goya" i can't decide which is more great,Mozart-a genius of music composing,Goya-a genius of painting,aspects of their lives under the unique look of Milos Forman.When i went to see this movie,here in a small town of Greece,there were only 25 people in the cinema,while films like "300" were played here for 2 months with the halls full of people.What can i say?History will judge us all...

the fools of god (rental)

[leplatypus · 7/10 · 27 February 2015]

Well, if i wasn't a fan of Nathalie, i would have never picked this movie and it would have been a pity as it's a good one. Forman seems to walk in the path of Gavras as he attacks the hypocrisy of institutions. First, it's the Spanish church and its crazy Inquisition. While Christian doctrine is love, compassion, mercy, it's terrifying to see that its head could ever imagine to torture people, to live in opulence ! And as usual, as the message is universal, those people aren't disturbed to be among males only ! The so-called enlightened rebels aren't better as bringing liberty, democracy means also to kill opponents ! So, everybody kills everybody and always found the pretext to do so ! This was 2 centuries ago and things haven't changed very much ! That's why such historical movies like this one are essential as they help us to understand our present and make us realize that problems just keep repeating and that we are as dumb as our ancestors! In my opinion, the film is also all the more clear and punchy than its cast is excellent : Nathalie as a honest young woman who gets broken (a bit like in « V » ) and Pénelope husband's as a real cunning opportunist !

Very bad....

[alexgs1 · 3/10 · 30 March 2008]

I had this DVD to watch, thinking that I would see a type of biography o painter Goya, but the movie was about everything but Goya. This movie is about a young woman taken away from her family by the Holy Inquisition, allegedly because she practiced Jewish rituals (only because the poor girl did not like eating pork!). The rest of the movie is about torture, humiliation, driven by a poor script (can't believe it is by JC Carrière as I could not believe this cr** is directed by Mr Milos Forman) centered on a religious man and that young woman and that is all.

Ah, and there is Goya, I forgot, playing a completely peripheral role - that could be the role of John, Paul, Peter, Manuel, Joaquim, Jose or anyone. Very disappointing - one one these movies that will be forgotten for ever (if it has not had happened yet). Rent "The Name of the Rose" if you want a movie about the Holy Inquisition. And I don't know what you should rent, if you want to watch a movie about Spanish painter Goya. Maybe a director of a good caliber, not Forman, still needs to make it. PS: the Spanish painter, Goya - the title role who is lost in the plot - is portrayed by a Scandinavian actor, something that makes this film even more difficult to be taken seriously. Maybe next time we should send Javier Barden to play the biopic of Norwegian painter, Edvard Munch!

A veering and sardonic film

[RonellSowes · 27 October 2020]

The story of the Spanish Inquisition,Napoleanic Wars, a monk and a merchant's daughter and how they affected Francisco Goya.

The movie's plot is complicated,perhaps too complicated, filled with turns and changes its trajectory just when you think it's going one way. You could say that though the story is told from Goya's(Sarsgard) perspective and is primarily advanced by what happens to Ines(Portman) the main character is Lorenzo(Bardem). Its how Lorenzo deals with these situations and how he affects the others that is key. The movie was released a year before No Country For Old Men but Bardem still brings much of the evil and menace he did to Anton Chigurh to this role. However, his role in this film,Lorenzo, is very different and not a deranged killer but more of a scoundrel who carefully picks his tune according to who's in power. Natalie Portman gives a strong performance or performances I should say as she plays two characters. I found this to be distracting as nobody is so identical to their parents but the film is a fictional story.

The film is filled with irony and sardonic moments such as how the Inquistor General sentences Lorenzo to death, then Lorenzo comes to power and orders him to the same fate and ultimately the Inquistor General is restored to power and orders Lorenzo's execution which is carried out successfully this time. Or the ending shot of Lorenzo's dead body being carted off with an insane Ines walking beside carrying an orphaned baby and holding his hand.

The film was written and directed by Milos Forman and not though it isn't of the quality One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest or Amadeus it is certainly entertaining and powerful.

Good Movie -- Bad Title

[vitaleralphlouis · 7/10 · 28 March 2008]

The producer and director of AMADEUS teamed up again to create a box office failure (but nonetheless good movie), with the odd title GOYA'S GHOSTS.

The film focuses on the Spanish Inquisition, one of Hollywood Liberals favorite targets (along with Joseph McCarthy) and it seems that anything goes in attacking either; so considering that Sen. McCarthy was 100% correct about a massive Communist infiltration of the film industry 50 years ago, who knows about their take on the Inquisition.

Jarvire Bardam stars as Father Vincent, a rat who may or may not stay a rat by film's end, but I might have left the DVD on the shelf in resentment of this man's role in 2007's most dreadful movie, the pseudo-intellectual empty-head mess, No Country For Old Men.

Natalie Portman shines as the young girl who Goya paints and who becomes a focal point to Goya trying to rescue her when she innocently trips into the Inquisttion trap, falling under suspicion for not eating pork. This foolish charge will alter her life forever.

It's easy these days to point a finger at the Spanish Inquisition, which I have no doubt was pretty bad. But think twice and don't be smug. Just as the Inquisition used Jesus Christ to evil purpose, so today a "Christian" leader like Obama's Reverend Wright will misuse his pulpit to curse America and scream racial hatred --- while lining his pockets to the brim. And Rev. Wright is just one of many.

Obviously the film is thought provoking. This movie is well worth your $1.35 rental as well as 2 hours of your time.