Seeing Ghosts

There's really not much I have to say about Goya's Ghosts to sell it, frankly. Javier Bardem. Natalie Portman. Milos Forman. Two of today's most beautiful and talented actors paired with the man who directed One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest—it rarely gets more quality than that. We're going to forgive the fact that this film about a Spanish artist set in Spain was made entirely in English (Forman explains that away by telling us that he doesn't speak Spanish). And maybe we'll overlook the torture and brutality that figures greatly into the plot. Oh, and Goya is sort of a side player in the film, with actor Stellan Skarsgard taking a back seat to Portman and Bardem's hotness. Regardless of the film's flaws, it promises to be a fascinating glimpse into Spanish history and into the art of the man who directly inspired Picasso and Manet. This isn't a good one to bring the kids to (see aforementioned brutality and add in some major sexual content), but everyone else should take the opportunity to brush up on their art history and head to The Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth (3200 Darnell Street) as they continue their sublime Magnolia at the Modern series with this visually stimulating piece. Showings will be at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8.50. Visit themodern.org/magnolia.html.
Oct. 26-28, 2007