Review of Carnal Knowledge (1971) by Jeremy P — 25 Feb 2008

Modern films that deal with sex and attitudes about sexual politics owe much to "Carnal Knowledge". Trouble is, I can't think of too many such films - the only one that comes (no pun intended) immediately to mind is "Closer", the 2004 film also directed by Mike Nichols. The comparisons between the two are obvious, so much so that one could easily argue that "Closer" is kind of an updating or even a sequel to "Carnal Knowledge". I think both films stand admirably well on their own, and although I liked "Closer" a lot and how it deal with not just the politics but the language of sex, I do prefer "Carnal Knowledge".

Films with this sort of subject matter are very difficult to do. A lot of the taboos surrounding sex sadly still exist, and judging by the lack of work, many filmmakers are leery of approaching these subjects. Mike Nichols is not one of those filmmakers. It's my belief that this film is vastly underrated, and easily one of the best films of the 1970s. Jack Nicholson had already starred in "Easy Rider" and "Five Easy Pieces", but his performance in this film outshines those. There is nothing likable about his character in the slightest - his mission is to get laid, and he uses up as many women as he can in the process. The film covers the time from college age to middle age, and although Nicholson's character gets older, he doesn't change or develop. No marriage or kids for this guy - he's nasty and he's cruel. Art Garfunkel plays his friend, and in many ways is the opposite of Jack, but his character wants the same things. It's interesting how their relationship plays out - Nicholson's character (Jonathan) wants something that he can never have, while Garfunkel's character (Sandy) has something that he doesn't really want. Jonathan goes through more women than Sandy, but Sandy has had more meaningful relationships than Jonathan, including a marriage. It's a very twisted relationship between the two, and although it's depressing and not always easy to watch, the interplay between the two friends is done brilliantly here.

The best feature of "Carnal Knowledge" is Ann-Margret. I haven't really seen her before in a lot of movies but as Bobbie, the only girl in the film who Jonathan has a lengthy relationship with, Ann-Margret is simply phenomenal. This film is certainly dominated by its male characters (rightly or wrongly), but she nearly steals the show. By the film's end, she has become a tragic figure but she does not serve as a means for Jonathan to change his attitudes. Instead the film's final shots reveal that Jonathan is still the same depraved character - not only wanting to sleep with as many women as possible, but to be glorified and worshipped by them. One can easily see how Sandy (Garfunkel) is like a counterpoint to this - he seems to be as sexually willing as Jonathan is, but his character/conscience won't allow him to step over the edge into pure depravity. He wants to be like Jonathan - the body appears willing, but the spirit is not able (so to speak).

"Carnal Knowledge" was no doubt a film ahead of its time - it is certainly very relevant even today. An argument could be made that the female characters get short-shrifted in this film - they seem to wander in and out of the story, and we are never very clear as to what happens to any of them in the end. Then again, we don't know what happens to anyone in the end. The film ends on a seemingly odd final shot, but in the context of the film it's virtually perfect. The last shot is symbolic of Jonathan's desires and how he will never be able to fulfill them. In the end, this film may not be for everybody, but viewers into "groundbreaking" films will find a lot to like here. "Carnal Knowledge" challenges you, and makes you think. And that's about the highest compliment I can give. Very highly recommended.