Ridiculous
Added 10/31/2009
Carnal Knowledge had all the intelligence of sixth-grade boys giggling during a game of Spin the Bottle. I've met a lot of half-wits in life but they were geniuses compared to the pubescent mentality of the characters in this film. These were college students? Were there really people this goofy in college? Yes, in this and that way, certainly including me feeling my blind way through an overwhelming cosmos. But to call this film "intelligent" is like giving a nobel prize in physics to an adolescent boy upon smoking his first cigarette. Carnal Knowledge can be summarized with one word: ridiculous.
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Depressing
Added 9/10/2009
The story opens in the fifties, and cool Jonathan (Jack Nicholson) and timid Sandy (Arthur Garfunkle) are college freshmen with one thing on their minds. Their deed-doing adventures soon begin but as we follow them over the next twenty years, we see they still haven't figured women out at all.
This movie was considered very risqué in 1971, and still retains some shock value from the coarse and passionless way the two men talk about and experience the opposite sex. Though Nicholson was in his thirties, he still pulls off being a giggling college freshman. As his character ages, he becomes the bitter and worldly-wise man he's played so often and so well. Garfunkle (then a wildly successful folk singer) was a good choice as the bumbling young man who needs his roommate's prodding to go all the way with his girl (a lovely, young Candice Bergen). Ann-Margret was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Jonathan's tarty, miserable lover.
I didn't like the movie much because of its unresolved episodic scenes and the callous approach to what women would call "romance." Although I can see its place in movie history as a barrier-breaking, in-your-face film about things people didn't really talk about back then, it still left me feeling sad and empty.
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Caustic and involving
Added 8/2/2009
The Bottom Line:
A "romantic" movie in the vein of Mike Nichols' more recent "Closer," Carnal Knowledge features thoroughly unlikeable yet very relatable characters who evolve from college to adulthood without ever maturing in the matter of love and relationships; with perfect performances by the leads and an inspired finishing scene, it's a very good film.
3.5/4
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Rare classic gem
Added 5/19/2009
This is a classic movie, brilliant acting by principal actors and actresses. Set in the backdrop of the 60s or 70s, the movie leads us to think on the relationship between the two sexes. Very illuminating!
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very intelligent film
Added 4/4/2009
I had to watch this one again to fully appreciate what a deep misogynist this guy is. The script is very complicated but is loaded with plenty of dry humor. All of the cast members are brilliant and who knew Candice Bergen was once so hot.
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Ridiculous
Added 10/31/2009
Carnal Knowledge had all the intelligence of sixth-grade boys giggling during a game of Spin the Bottle. I've met a lot of half-wits in life but they were geniuses compared to the pubescent mentality of the characters in this film. These were college students? Were there really people this goofy in college? Yes, in this and that way, certainly including me feeling my blind way through an overwhelming cosmos. But to call this film "intelligent" is like giving a nobel prize in physics to an adolescent boy upon smoking his first cigarette. Carnal Knowledge can be summarized with one word: ridiculous.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Depressing
Added 9/10/2009
The story opens in the fifties, and cool Jonathan (Jack Nicholson) and timid Sandy (Arthur Garfunkle) are college freshmen with one thing on their minds. Their deed-doing adventures soon begin but as we follow them over the next twenty years, we see they still haven't figured women out at all.
This movie was considered very risqué in 1971, and still retains some shock value from the coarse and passionless way the two men talk about and experience the opposite sex. Though Nicholson was in his thirties, he still pulls off being a giggling college freshman. As his character ages, he becomes the bitter and worldly-wise man he's played so often and so well. Garfunkle (then a wildly successful folk singer) was a good choice as the bumbling young man who needs his roommate's prodding to go all the way with his girl (a lovely, young Candice Bergen). Ann-Margret was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Jonathan's tarty, miserable lover.
I didn't like the movie much because of its unresolved episodic scenes and the callous approach to what women would call "romance." Although I can see its place in movie history as a barrier-breaking, in-your-face film about things people didn't really talk about back then, it still left me feeling sad and empty.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Caustic and involving
Added 8/2/2009
The Bottom Line:
A "romantic" movie in the vein of Mike Nichols' more recent "Closer," Carnal Knowledge features thoroughly unlikeable yet very relatable characters who evolve from college to adulthood without ever maturing in the matter of love and relationships; with perfect performances by the leads and an inspired finishing scene, it's a very good film.
3.5/4
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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