Review of The Naked Maja

"The Naked Maja" is a fictionalized account of the life of the Spanish painter, Francisco Goya (Anthony Franciosa). It mostly centers on his relationship with the Contessa de Alba (Ava Gardner)...a relationship whose depth is really unknown today. Yes, we know that they were on good terms...but whether she was ever his lover or posed for the famous painting "The Naked Maja" (in the Prado museum in Spain), is really unknown. I really don't mind that the writers took liberties about their relationship...but there is a HUGE problem with the script. In real life, before he met the Contessa, Goya became DEAF! This is never mentioned nor alluded to in any way...and making a deaf man non-deaf is ridiculous. I don't mind some creative changes...but making him hearing just doesn't make sense. Add to this that the film is incredibly dull and listless, then you have a movie I really didn't like. I think my being an ex-history teacher accounts for a lot of this...as well as my having deaf family members. Overall, the writer forgot to do ANY homework and the film is sluggish.