The film examines the romantic experiences of two men across a period of twenty-five years, beginning in the late 1940s. At Amherst College, roommates Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkel share details about their relationships with various women as time moves into the early 1970s. The female performers include Candice Bergen, Ann-Margret, Cynthia O'Neal, Carol Kane, and Rita Moreno. “Carnal Knowledge” (1971) isn’t a typical depiction of college life like “Small Circle of Friends” or “The ’70s.” Instead, it presents a sometimes disheartening, occasionally humorous account of how the sexual lives of two college friends change over time; one is portrayed as a charming narcissist (Nicholson), and the other as a kind, sensitive person (Garfunkel). Their conversations and bond are similar to those between Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza in the 1990s, but with a more provocative edge and less humor. When it was first released, the late 1960s counterculture movement still felt recent, and nudity was considered fashionable, which helps explain the nude scene in "Woodstock" and, one year later, the nudity in this film and “The Last Picture Show,” as well as the upcoming “Stigma” and “The Harrad Experiment.” Of course, nudity wasn’t new to mainstream movies considering films from before the Hays Code era like "Tarzan and His Mate" from 1934. With the code lifted after almost three decades, movies such as this seemed to celebrate a newly found sense of freedom. While it was daring and innovative at the time, now it comes across as just an odd adult drama. Nicholson displays his familiar smirk, but as the narrative unfolds, his character becomes increasingly unpleasant and sad. Consider where he ultimately arrives; that’s a significant point. Garfunkel's character isn’t nearly as flawed, though he too becomes somewhat unfortunate. “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Despite moments of boredom and some uncomfortable scenes, the acting is strong and the psychological observations are intriguing. The film has a running time of 1 hour and 39 minutes and was filmed in New York City and at Panorama Film Studios in Vancouver. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB