On C List of Movie Reviews
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Carnal Knowledge (1971)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
2/14, 3/23
2/14:
Mike Nichols directed Carnal Knowledge.
I've long considered him to be one of the best in business and liked his films because they're fresh that's
full of witty dialogue, even after many years have passed. In short, his pictures stand the test of time.
Although I find the introduction funny, I've been disturbed in the long run by the increasingly objectionable
content when it comes to the reduction of women to nothing more than trophies via sex conquests. The moral is
perfectly summarized during the picture show when Jonathan, who's played wonderfully well by Jack Nicholson,
gave his final review of each women based on her sexual proficiency.
Basically, Carnal Knowledge is about the abyss of emptiness as the two men sink deeper in their
destructive womanizing ways. Hence, it's a daring, polemical picture that focuses on the objectification of
women, wife swapping, brazen womanizing, and colloquial myopic view of women. It reminds me of
Alfie with Michael Caine. By the way, the answer to the
Seinfeld question in reference to Candice Bergen is: "No, she did not."
All in all, Carnal Knowledge is among Mike Nichols' best pictures.
3/23:
The quality is there in Carnal Knowledge, but the script makes no sense.
Mike Nichols was capable of getting best acting out of the cast for many films. Just think of
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,
Silkwood, Wolf, and
Primary Colors. Carnal Knowledge is no exception. Jack Nicholson
is, of course, the man, and he steals the show, no matter how distasteful the subject matter is.
However, the dialogue is poor. Yes, it sounds quality, but the words don't come together fluidly to describe
what's going on. Take Bobbie who's filling Jack Nicholson's character with angst. He's sick of her, but how
exactly? Whenever he tries to explain, I still don't get it. The situation was more clear in
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? despite everybody being
drunk.
The other issue is I can't help by compare Carnal Knowledge to
Alfie. Both are the same type of film. Yet Bill Naughton's writing was so
brilliant that it literally made Michael Caine an international superstar. The point has been made, and the
topic, which is sexual degradation of females, isn't funny.
All in all, Carnal Knowledge's chief downfall is weak screenplay.