Just watched the Milos Forman film Goya's Ghosts. This was an interesting film concerning the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition, the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic conquest of Spain. This is a brutal, brutal film, but is beautifully shot and acted, with a truly original plotline. The film features excellent performances from Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgard, and Natalie Portman (in a chameleon-like performance).
But the real reason to watch the film is another towering performance by Javier Bardem. What an amazing talent he is - Bardem brings an energy on screen that is not like any other actor. Darkness, evil, compassion, tenderness, sometimes all in the same film! I have now seen him in several films - Before Night Falls, No Country For Old Men, Collateral - and is hard to take your eyes off of while he is on screen. Cool as cool can be.
Anyway, check out Goya's Ghosts - it is brutal, but superb filmaking. Striking.
