Word: grating
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...movie contains much that appeals, but its foolishness of technique and mistiness of sentiment grate on the nerves. The plot, concerning two British runners whose dogged loyalty to principle makes them heroes of the 1924 Olympics, lends itself to pathetic romanticization. To make matters worse, the cinematography and direction seem intent on emphasizing rather than minimizing this cornball emotionalism...
...there is an attraction to homosexuality--most who share in it would call it perverse, while admitting to it nonetheless--the thought of what the other way must feel like, the curious reviling of the opposite sex and almost narcissistic indulgence in the flesh of your own: it can grate on libidos and unhinge nagging emotions of doubt and longing. Straight is cool, of course, but the other path has yet to be explored...
...court for an unusual claim of negligence. The air vent in the ceiling of the woman's apartment had been falling off regularly; and the landlord then fixed it, to his credit. However, when a small skunk found its way through the roof and into the air vent, the grate didn't hold out and the surprised skunk came tumbling onto the floor of the apartment, spraying the entire room in fright. The apartment and all the woman's possessions were ruined beyond repair, and the furry little varmint got away unscathed; but the luckless landlord was fined the maximum...
Simon's study of Mel's boredom bogs down by the second act, and Mel and Edna's quarreling begins to grate. Likewise, Simon is out of his league when he attempts to portray a nervous breakdown; as a result Achtman is forced to rely on a farcical style when Mel snaps. But if, in the end, he and McPhee don't possess the passion to enflame the big emotional speeches in some scenes, they make us care about Mel's and Edna's ups and downs, triumphs and hardships. And that's no small feat...
...place was exclusive; when we knocked on the door, a man opened a little window and spoke through an iron grate, asking us in German for the password. My brother quickly stuffed a nylon panty through the grate and the door opened...