Review of Carnal Knowledge

Introduction

Arthur (Art) Garfunkel and Jack Nicholson are friends are college room mates who, over the course of twenty or thirty years, use and abuse a collection of women. Art is the sensitive drip (not unlike his role in Simon and Garfunkel) who at least occasionally tries to do the right thing. However, Jack is an aggressive boor who makes no pretence of wanting a meaningful relationship and sleeps his way through a catalogue of "ballbreakers" (his term) to a well deserved impotence.

Video

The video is Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1 and looks fine. The movie is 31 years old and thus you can`t really expect a pristine print. However, there is no noticeable print damage. The only complaint I had was that the video starts off a bit soft and muted but this clears up after a few minutes. Otherwise, it is fine will good colour reproduction and contrast.

Audio

The sound is mono mixed to DD 2.0 and it is adequate. The movie is primarily a bunch of talking heads sequences and thus there isn`t any cause for complaint. Note that there is occasionally the use of some Big Band standards and these are mixed very loud compared to the dialogue.

Features

Trailer. That`s it.

Conclusion

Made in 1971, this film reflects the changing role of women in society and shows two men being uncomfortable with this new empowerment. Art and Jack (or Sandy and Jonathon) really want women to be objects who exist to satisfy their needs. But, of course, that`s not the case. It`s difficult to tell whether the writer is criticising the two for their attitudes or whether this is a reflection of his own attitudes and Art and Jack`s frustration is echoing his own.

In their own ways, they drift through a series of meaningless relationships and, after thirty or so years, end up loveless and alone - in reality they don`t even have each other. The film does little more than catalogue these misbegotten relationships and it is depressing, soulless viewing.

The script is cold and unfeeling and, while the performances are generally good, the characters are all unsympathetic. The best performance comes from Candice Bergen who is suitably conflicted (she is two-timing Art and Jack). However, she disappears from screen after about 30 minutes.

This movie has little to recommend it.