Word: awkward
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Little Women gently but firmly asks us to penetrate its 19th century disguises and discover something of ourselves hiding in the dim past. There has always been a kind of awkward exuberance in the way this story looks life straight in the eye and sweetly, soberly embraces its basic experiences and emotions. It is this unspoken moral strength, which is not to be confused with the vulgar, politicized moralism of our time, that permits it to transcend its gentilities of expression and its lack of structural grace. And grants this lovely cast, these intelligent and passionate filmmakers an unlikely triumph...
Occasionally the low-budget film achieves moments which capture the antsy, interior world of close male friends in the tradition of "American Graffiti" or "Dinner." Too often, however, static camera work, awkward acting and the deliberate plod of the plot hinder potentially sharp interactions...
...excellent cameos by two Federal Hill residents--one a tailor who admonishes one of the boys for a "funny money" deal, the other a pawn shop owner who, after sizing up a stolen ring, tells Ralph to take the ring, get out and not come back--relax the occasionally awkward machinations of the plot and makes the Hill feel real...
...drama in "Federal Hill" is un-American, unaided by satisfying camera movement and impeded by occasionally awkward performances from inexperienced movie actors. Though commendable for his obvious dedication to realism and down-to-earth movie-making, Corrente overestimates the attention span of movie-goers and underestimates their sophistication...
Matt proposes in typically adorably awkward fashion, "I was thinking maybe you'd want to get married." He offers her his mother's napkin ring, explaining that he knew she wouldn't go for the "big diamond" thing. This scene is absurd enough to be reminiscent of your own life, while still lacking that tiresome Nora Ephron-y-this-dialogue-is-so-real-you-would-have-s aid-it-yourself-if-only-Meg-Ryan-hadn't-come-out-w ith-it-first flavor...