Knowledge Retrieval Movie Reviews

Mike Nichols was on a roll after "The Graduate" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "Carnal Knowledge" is his most intimate film, and one of the most daring of the 1970s. Its frankness in dealing with young men's sexual psychology has not lost its edge after thirty years. On top of it all, it gives us Nicholson's first truly great performance. The early scenes between him and Garfunkel are fresh and sincere. Spanning some three decades of their friendship, we see how their attitudes towards sex, and women in general, shape their lives. Both actors do a fine job of communicating the gravity of those years, and the most devastating scene is the one where Jack delivers a long and furious tirade at Ann-Margret. "I don't want a job, I want you," she says, to which he replies, "I'm taken...by me!" Brutally honest, yes, but because we've seen what comes before, it's perfectly logical. These men are still affected by the innocence of their younger years, but that innocence is violently clashing with their adult understanding (or lack thereof)--the understanding that the personality is in perpetual motion, and that it becomes difficult to keep up. The movie is often bleak in its settings and its subject matter, but the characters are very real--they challenge you to challenge them. Their dysfunctions may enlighten you, and there is nothing bleak about being enlightened. Oh, and Ann-Margret achieves bombshell status with this movie, playing a woman who at first seems to be the answer to all of Nicholson's fantasies. "Bye Bye Birdie" it ain't.

This film tells the truth. Not such an old film, the mature adult situations are still happening today even in this decade. Very controversial film of its time. Almost was not released and could not be shown on Network TV at all. Finally in the mid-1980's it was finally allowed to be shown on the then-independent KTLA Channel 5 Los Angeles tv station. Hard-hitting drama about two male roomates. One man (played by Art Gurfunkel as "Sandy") is more sensitive to woman while the other man played by Jack Nicholson feels so macho he must have more than tweleve women a year. When Art falls in love with Candice Bergen (she plays a virgin) it starts as a good friendship until Jack Nicholson buds in. He secretly makes a phone call to her without Art knowing. Jack dates Candice and she loses her virginity by the macho man who can get any woman he wants anywhere, anyway. (So why, Candice?) When Jack talks about his "girlfriend", Art dos not know it's the same woman he loves. When Candice decides to break it off with Jack, Jack becomes a cad and thinks he can break it off first. Well, Jack now has to keep his mouth shut whenever Art and Candice are in the same room together with him. Jack finally comes to the realization that he is getting older and can't get as many woman as he used to. He feels bad when he sees Candice and Art together (metal break-through finally!) Then, the sizzling Ann-Margret enters the picture. Who becomes the more mature man? Who is given LOVE, not just LUST & LEAVE. Some men will find this film a bit hard to swallow. Some women who see this film will say "AMEN!" by the end of it. There is a lesson to be learned here. Get the message of the film. Carol Kane and Rita Moreno are also in the cast. No special features on this DVD. Wide-Screen and Full-Screen available on either side of DVD.

Carnal Knowledge is one of the finest American films dealing with sexual attitudes and relationships. I have seen this film three times oever the past ten years, and I am always amazed at the quality of the film, in all aspects.

Jack Nicholson portrays your typical chauvinistic male who thinks scoring sexually is the ultimate goal in relationships. He typifies the old male guard before the sexual and human rights revolution of the 1960's and onward. Love was secondary compared with the male conquering the female.

Nicholson plays the role so realistically that it is frighterning graphic: the cruelty of his actions towards Candace Bergen and Ann Margaret, not to mention his best friend Art Garfunkle. Having grown up at the end of the chauvinistic period, I saw this type of behavior between the sexes everyday.

Art Garfunkle, Ann Margaret, Candace Bergen excellently play roles that are graphically realistic. Art has a wonderfully naive nature that is easily exploited by his friend, and his nature sets himself up for disappointments in love.

Candace Bergen plays a nice women who willingly falls prey to Nicholson's aggressive, but charming chauvinism.

Ann Margaret plays the ultimate man's sex dream, but is very initeresting because she wants to break out of the stereotyped role and become a normal wife.

Nicholson is the most interesting character because he has the most tragic outlook on sex and relationships, and at the end, he is reduced to an impotent and pathetic excuse for a human being.

Great film. Every adult should watch this film, especially before they consider a relationship with the other sex.

Ricky Wallace