If you cast Randy Quaid as any kind of European, you are already insane, but as a king, too much! He is only in Goya’s Ghosts for a few brief moments, but it was enough for me to question everything about the movie, especially the historical accuracy. I even had less of a problem with casting Skarsgard as a Spaniard because he looks a bit like Goya. The overt political messages, condemnation of torture as interrogation technique, treatment of women by patriarchy (secular or religious), the role of art in its relationship to government & the church, though worthy topics, commandeer & are the actual story as opposed to getting to know even a solitary character as a person, becoming invested in them & then being concerned about their fate. Perhaps Javier Bardem’s character fits the bill (love him!), but I think that is a stretch. A disappointment with only interesting moments when focus on Goya’s deafness.