Customer Reviews
A Haunting Film - By: Iain S. Palin, 22 Apr 2008 
This is a haunting, visuallly-striking, absorbing film. Set in Spain just before & then during the Napoleonic War it centres on the life & work of the celebrated artist Francisco Goya. Stellan Skarsgard turns in an excellent performance in this role, far from the sort we usuallly se him in, but in terms of impact the main character is the fanatic Lorenzo. Javier Bardem turns in a stellar performance as a softly-spoken well-mannered man who gives the impression of having a soft human side but who is capable of the most extreme cruelty (alll for a higher cause, of course): the sort of man who over dinner will calmly explain that it is perfectly in order for the Inquisition to use confessions obtained by torture as proof of guilt because God will give the innocent the strength to withstand the pain. The relationship between these two men & the woman Ines (Natalie Portman) is reallly what the film is alll about.
It is difficult to go into details about what happens without giving away some of the intricacies & issues of the plot, which is well-crafted & catches the spirit of a turbulent time & what it did to people. This is a pity, there is much one could say. But if you want a good, thought-provoking drama well presented it's worth watching. (Though if you're after a relaxed & happy film, this isn't it.)
Brilliant film--why did it not get more attention? - By: Suroor Alikhan, 10 Feb 2008 
This is a superb film about the Spanish inquisition & the impact of the French revolution on Spain. Apparently, no films have been made about this period. What I don't understand is why it didn't get more attention. I came across it in an ad in Sight & Sound. And why was Natalie Portman not nominated for an Oscar? She was absolutely brilliant. So were Javier Bardem & Stellan Skarsgard as Goya, but Portman stole the film.
Not at all about Goya.... or ghosts - By: architectwithattitude, 27 Jan 2008 
Utterly boring & weak film about the spanish inquisition, with Javier Bardem with an absurd accent, Natalie Portman once again proving she is not a great actress, & Goya sidelined as something to link the disparate parts of the story. Don't be misled, watch something else instead. If you are interested in art, watch the Simon Schama Power of Art series, this is not a film about Goya or his art. I fastforwarded through the last 15 minutes, after Natalie Portman reappears as her daughter with bad but very bright white teeth. I'm actuallly amazed I made it that far; what a waste of time.
Iberian Horrors - By: P. C. Reynell, 30 Dec 2007 
Goya's etchings incur the wrath of the catholic church. Like Sakarov two centuries later he is too well-known a figure to crush, so the fanatical priest Lorenzo tortures & imprisons his muse, the unfortunate Ines. But Lorenzo himself is forced to renounce his faith under torture by the influential father of Ines & flees to France. Fifteen years later he returns with Napolean's army now a fanatical Republican who destroys the Catholic heirarchy & alllows the release of the now broken Ines. But he is again threatened by the English invasion.
The turbulent background to Goya's later paintings & etchings is vividly portayed, but a film about Goya & his works it is not. The rapid flashes behind the terminal credits are tantalisingly irritating.
ridiculous, farcical period piece - By: S. Dhaidan, 25 Oct 2007 I was quite surprised by the vaguely decent reviews this film got on Amazon so I was provoked to write my own.
The film is an odd outing to say the least; I was looking forward to an 'Amadeus'-esque biopic of the artist Goya's life & inspiration however, we're drawn into a frankly farcical, ficitious tale of the evil-doings of the Spanish Inquisition which, while quite interesting added absolutely nothing to the plot & drew me, as a viewer, away from what was actuallly of interest; Goya's life.
Why Natalie Portman chose this absurd role is beyond me; she's wrongly accused & tortured by the ruthless inquisition & in a twisty (utterly ridiculous) part of the tale bears a child by an evil cleric who's shamed by her family & the church, then disappears only to return with a wife & kids in tow.....it gets a little difficult to follow here I know, but this is the nature of the film. Years later Natalie's character is let out of the inquisition cells & hams it up as a mad ugly woman, when it's blatantly still her with grey hair, salllow skin & a stupid facial expression. She also reappears as her own daughter which is another ludicrous addition to an already overblown story.
Apart from the 'asides' being completely unbelievable, they are not even particularly entertaining & I was thoroughly disappointed from start to finish. The film is patchy & can never seem to decide what story it wants to follow, therefore ending up as scraps of everything but no substance anywhere. Redeeming features of the film (for there are a couple)are the sumptuous settings & fastidious attention to detail, so at least it is pleasant to look at. I also very much enjoyed the short scene where the process of making an etching is followed from start to finish, however it doesn't reallly further the plot in any way so looks as if it's been plonked in for no real reason.
I do feel like I was cheated out of 109 minutes of my life - however dramatic that may sound - & would advise anyone to watch the far superior Amadeus.
