Review of Carnal Knowledge (1971) by Chance F — 28 Mar 2010

Carnal Knowledge is a really hard film to judge. It's intentions are all in the right place, but it can't escape the fact that its pacing is tedious at best. It sure was pretty groundbreaking for its time. Even now, this movie has a lot of sexual content and nudity. It's one of those movies that wouldn't function without it. The cast is simply superb with Ann-Margret being the standout, especially if you're used to her harmless, fluffy sex kitten roles. The film comes a live when she's on screen. Still, I only wish that the pace was a little tighter to keep me interested. The film has a lot to say, but I sometimes found myself wishing that they would hurry it up a bit.

Goodness, what a bunch of horrible, selfish characters! I doubt there's any hope for them in the future. I still recommend it for those with a lot of patience.