Director Milos Forman (
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière (
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie) join forces for
Goya's Ghosts, a reckless historical-fiction melodrama with political overtones. During the Inquisition, Spanish painter Francisco Goya (Stellan Skarsgård) becomes embroiled in the struggle of young model Inés (Natalie Portman, driven to her acting limits, if not beyond them). Overzealous monk Lorenzo (Javier Bardem) has put her to "The Question," a brutal torture that elicits confessions irregardless of truth. If you're looking for a Goya biopic, you're in the wrong theatre; the painter's roles here are witness to history and glorified tour guide for the audience. The story—including what occurs after a 15-year time lapse—keeps busy covering rape, anti-Semitism, Randy Quaid as King Carlos IV, and the occupational fallout of the French Revolution. That's a lot to chew off in one film, and a spicy lot at that, but crackpot energy keeps
Goya's Ghosts aboil.
|
|
Aspect ratios:
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
|
Number of discs:
1
|
|
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
|
Street date:
2/26/2008
|
|
Distributor:
|
|
Review gear:
- Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT30 55" Plasma 1080p 3D HDTV
- Oppo BDP-93 Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
- Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver
- Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Speaker (2)
- Pioneer SP-C21 Center Speaker
- Pioneer SW-8 Subwoofer
