romantic chemistry

[thepaulo]

I know this seems like a pussy thing to care about but I like seeing real chemistry up on the screen...I don't see it much anymore....say what you will about that stupid Titanic movie but Leo and Kate had real chemistry and is probably the reason that movie was so successful....so who has it lately? Most movies now have none.....certainly movie comedies have none....
Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway....Zero.....Adam Sandler has zero with the girl in The Zohan...(though you could definitely say he has chemistry with Drew Barrymore when they're in a movie together).....of course Mike Myers has zero with Jessica Alba....not much between Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz....
I'd go so far as to say Sarah Jessica Parker doesn't really have any chemistry with Chis Noth in Sex in the City.....
Is Romance Dead?
(I know....I'm a big pussy.)

[thepaulo]

to the good old days when Meg Ryan had chemistry with everyone.....
and I see some freaking a-hole changed my mod quote....well...I guess I asked for that one.///
still I don't think I want to be remembered as big pussy

[Thebazile78]

Romance isn't dead, but screen-tests certainly seem to be!

There are some pairings that are completely unbelievable. (Carell/Hathaway. Works for comedy, but I don't see the possible chemistry. Didn't really happen for the original Smart/99, IMO, though, so maybe it's not such a big deal. It was more awkward than romantic.)

Agreed. The following couples WORK:

- Drew Barrymore/Adam Sandler
- Leonardo DiCaprio/Kate Winslet
- Meg Ryan/almost anybody (for much of the late '80s and early '90s)

I happen to think that Julia Roberts/John Cusack worked well in America's Sweethearts.
I also love Minnie Driver/John Cusack in Grosse Point Blank.
I thought that there's a small bit of tension between Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey, Jr. in Iron Man ... subtle, cute and really done well. (Plus, she's starting to look a lot more like her mother as she ages ... this is not a bad thing. I happen to think that Blythe Danner is adorable. And she's aged so well!)

Christopher Reeve/Margot Kidder worked very well in Superman, but since that's a 30-year-old movie, maybe it doesn't count. (Their screen test was so sweet! Have you seen it? It's on all these specials about superheroes and stuff. It's truly illuminating to see how the film's producers sifted through the actresses before they got to Margot...she had just the right combination of vulnerability and toughness to complement Chris Reeve.)

I've always loved the pairing of Karen Allen with Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones films ... again, they really do complement each other.

I mean, nobody's going to be like the classics ... Doris Day/Rock Hudson (although that was played for laughs) ... Humphrey Bogart/Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca ... Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn ... Clark Gable/Claudette Colbert ... Errol Flynn/Olivia deHavilland ... John Wayne/Margaret O'Hara ...

These are couples who prove the worth of something as simple as a screen test.

Plus, they could act (for the most part ... John Wayne is kind of a stretch for "acting")

Most of today's pairings seem to be made less on the merits of chemistry than on the merits of ticket sales and box office draw ... more simple maths than chemistry.

[drusilla]

you can't not mention brad pitt & angelina jolie in mr & mrs smith. the chemistry between them was just oozing off of the screen. & this was supposedly before they ever got together. & even though they are together now, i don't think another movie starring the two of them will ever work as well.

Adam Sandler has zero with the girl in The Zohan...(though you could definitely say he has chemistry with Drew Barrymore when they're in a movie together)

i think he had better chemistry with charlotte rae

you can tell he has a lot of fun with drew barrymore when they do a movie together. they just seem really comfortable with each other & really enjoy being goofy together. i haven't really seen that from him with anyone else.

[Thebazile78]

you can't not mention brad pitt & angelina jolie in mr & mrs smith. the chemistry between them was just oozing off of the screen. & this was supposedly before they ever got together. & even though they are together now, i don't think another movie starring the two of them will ever work as well.
...

If I hadn't been too busy rotting my brain on TCM, maybe I'd have caught that one.

(I did see a very short clip from it the other night, though, and maybe it's one to consider.)

[drusilla]

If I hadn't been too busy rotting my brain on TCM, maybe I'd have caught that one.

(I did see a very short clip from it the other night, though, and maybe it's one to consider.)

oh man you've never seen it? it's a great great movie. a lot of fun. but i am always biased towards anything angelina & i did see it before we knew they were a couple. so i'm not really how that knowledge will affect anything. but i still say give it a shot. you may like it.

[Thebazile78]

oh man you've never seen it? it's a great great movie. a lot of fun. but i am always biased towards anything angelina & i did see it before we knew they were a couple. so i'm not really how that knowledge will affect anything. but i still say give it a shot. you may like it.

It has some awesome explosions.(That was the scene that we managed to watch...the little bomb-robot that dropped the little bomblet into the basement ... and blew up the fuel tank.)

[thepaulo]

Casablanca is the movie of the week....




(p.s. reference from today's show)

[Thebazile78]

Casablanca is the movie of the week....




(p.s. reference from today's show)

Sorry Paul, if I have to pay for it, I don't bother. If it helps, I loved Casablanca. Bogart, Bergman and, everyone's favorite, Raines.


(Plus, listening at work might risk one of Ron's lines of the day getting into a legal treatise. That would make it read better, but could probably get me fired.)

[grlNIN]

I will be the only one to say that i pretty much love Kate Hudson and Mathew McConughghahahahy together. Can't go wrong with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, they're solid gold.

This may be a shot in the dark but i liked Sandra Bullock with Viggo Mortensen in 28 Days, maybe it's Viggo though because i think he was great with Liv Tyler too.

Oh well, i don't watch enough of these types of movies to really know.

[Thebazile78]

I will be the only one to say that i pretty much love Kate Hudson and Mathew McConughghahahahy together. Can't go wrong with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, they're solid gold.

This may be a shot in the dark but i liked Sandra Bullock with Viggo Mortensen in 28 Days, maybe it's Viggo though because i think he was great with Liv Tyler too.

Oh well, i don't watch enough of these types of movies to really know.

I like the Hudson/McConaughey pairing myself, too. (Yes, I have seen How to Lose a Guy In Seven Days ... I think that movie had a wonderful supporting cast!)

I think I liked them almost as much as I liked the Hudson/Corbett pairing in Raising Helen. (I've had a thing for John Corbett since he was "Chris in the Morning" on Northern Exposure.)

I haven't seen 28 Days.

I think the only movie I've watched (over and over and over again) with Sandra Bullock in it is ... While You Were Sleeping. I think she's adorable with Bill Pullman. (I have a soft spot for Bill Pullman, too.)

Romantic comedies nowadays are hit or miss. Mostly miss. Mostly miss so badly they make you want to gouge your eyes out and projectile vomit all over the screen.

Kate Hudson does best in really frothy ones.
Sandra Bullock could handle something a little heavier, maybe of the Doris Day variety.

There aren't many actresses nowadays who can handle a good Doris Day or Katharine Hepburn or Myrna Loy part ... those three were the queens of the romantic comedy. Doris Day/Rock Hudson or Doris Day/Cary Grant; Katharine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy; Myrna Loy/William Powell ... we don't necessarily have that anymore.

Sad, though. I think Katherine Heigl might be able to do a Myrna Loy or Katharine Hepburn part.

[grlNIN]

I hate Katherine Heigl. She was a bitch on Roswell and so she will forever be!

Gerard Butler is making his way as a good romantic leading man.

PS- It was HTLAG in 10 Days.

[cougarjake13]

hmmmmmmmmmm

[mdr55]

I never paid attention to Kate Hudson (aside that her mom is Goldie) but after watching HTLAG in 10 days, I just love her. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey have good chemistry together, they do that love/hate relationship very well (Fool's Gold, HTLAG in 10 days).

[thepaulo]

I think Matthew McConaughey and Renne Zellweger had some chemistry in
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre....
and Viggo Mortensen had chemistry with forgettable female victim in
Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III

[fezident]

There is no doubt that romantic chemistry is a very real element.

When I saw WICKED a few years ago, it was with the original broadway cast. Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, and Kristen Chenewidth.

My brother told me that Taye and Idina were married in real life and that their chemistry was amazing. I didn't know which actress was Kristen and which was Idina. For some reason, I had them reversed. I thought Idina was the blonde one and Kristen was the "green" one. (ha).

When it was over, I said to my brother, "I dunno man, I felt much more chemistry between Taye and the actress who played Elphaba... not Glinda". And he said "Right..... the Elphaba character is the one he's really married to, dummy!"

In other words.... I was LOOKING for chemistry between Taye and the OTHER woman, and I just didn't feel it (even though I was actively wanting to see it between them!)
I truly felt it between and the other woman.


When I read about the possibility of WICKED becoming a movie, a producer said... the strength of the story hinges on finding actors with the same romantic chemistry that Idina and Taye had in the original broadway run.... so far... we haven't found that."

It was palpable.
And, it seems, extremely rare.

[Friday]

There is no doubt that romantic chemistry is a very real element.

When I saw WICKED a few years ago, it was with the original broadway cast. Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, and Kristen Chenewidth.

My brother told me that Taye and Idina were married in real life and that their chemistry was amazing. I didn't know which actress was Kristen and which was Idina. For some reason, I had them reversed. I thought Idina was the blonde one and Kristen was the "green" one. (ha).

When it was over, I said to my brother, "I dunno man, I felt much more chemistry between Taye and the actress who played Elphaba... not Glinda". And he said "Right..... the Elphaba character is the one he's really married to, dummy!"

In other words.... I was LOOKING for chemistry between Taye and the OTHER woman, and I just didn't feel it (even though I was actively wanting to see it between them!)
I truly felt it between and the other woman.


When I read about the possibility of WICKED becoming a movie, a producer said... the strength of the story hinges on finding actors with the same romantic chemistry that Idina and Taye had in the original broadway run.... so far... we haven't found that."

It was palpable.
And, it seems, extremely rare.

ACTUALLY.... Taye only took over the role of Fiyero for about a month or so from Dec '03- Jan '04 while the original actor, Norbert Leo Butz, was out on medical leave for a back injury. While I can imagine Taye and Idina had great chemistry.... Norbert is a phenomenal performer and he was pretty steamy with Idina in the original cast.

[thepaulo]

Idina has dark hair and was in the movie Rent(in which she had chemistry with everyone male and female)......
Kristin is the short blonde firecracker who was in the movie RV......

[Thebazile78]

Idina has dark hair and was in the movie Rent(in which she had chemistry with everyone male and female)......
Kristin is the short blonde firecracker who was in the movie RV......

Idina was originally Maureen in Renton B'way with most of the folks in the film version, so it's no surprise that she worked well there.

Don't you know theatre???? (HA HA HA)

[thepaulo]

I love Broadway....does that make me gay?

[fezident]

Idina has dark hair and was in the movie Rent(in which she had chemistry with everyone male and female)......
Kristin is the short blonde firecracker who was in the movie RV......

I know that NOW, Sillyass!
That was kinda the point of my story.


And no... you're not gay for enjoying the occasional Broadway show. You're only gay if you listen to showtunes while cleaning the house in your daisy-dukes.

[fezident]

ACTUALLY.... Taye only took over the role of Fiyero for about a month or so from Dec '03- Jan '04 while the original actor, Norbert Leo Butz, was out on medical leave for a back injury. While I can imagine Taye and Idina had great chemistry.... Norbert is a phenomenal performer and he was pretty steamy with Idina in the original cast.

You're right.
I was paraphrasing what that producer said. I guess I added the word "original" to what he was tryin' to say. I guess my brain filled in a blank or two.

[jonyrotn]

I love Broadway....does that make me gay?Well, that and putting another man's penis in your mouth..



One of my favorite movies of all time is "When Harry Met Sally"..I thought Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan who's usually real good in these type of movies, had some great chemistry..

I still listen to the sound track by Harry Connick Jr. all the time...Maybe I'm gay too paul..

[Thebazile78]

I love Broadway....does that make me gay?

If you were gay, that'd be okay, (http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/avenueq/ifyouweregay.htm)
I mean, 'cause hey,
[we'd] like you anyway...
If you were queer,
[we'd] still be here,
year after year...

(Maybe countering Broadway with Broadway isn't always the best idea, but this was too perfect.)

[Freitag]

I always liked the chemistry between Salma and Banderas in "Desperado".

I kind of wish that Salma didn't die in "Once Upon a Time In Mexico"

[tileslinger]

Christina Ricci and Johnny Depp have done a few movies together Sleepy Hollow (1999), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), and The Man Who Cried (2000) I don't know if it's what I would call sexual chemistry but it is chemistry.

[antifaith]

real chemistry

Steve & Fiona (James McAvoy & Anne-Marie Duff) on Shameless (season 1). As far as I know, they are still together/married.

http://www.antifaith.us/fionastv.jpg

[antifaith]

I've really been struggling with this one tho it would seem to be my area of expertise. I know for a fact that I've described couples in movies as hot or perhaps even "smoking" but I can't seem to recall who they might've been.

The only thing I came up with (& I don't mean to make it sound like it's number 10 of a top ten list cuz it would be way up towards the top) is Kate Winslet & Christopher Eccleston in Jude. As painful as that film is, I can't help but watch it over & over & over again. It was -almost- understandable that Jude should fall so hard for Sue when you consider the first time they spent the day together riding bikes, walking, flirting n such. Sue was so breathtakingingly beautiful, charming & full of life. And then there was that time they went out drinking & she was smoking with boys(!). And then there was the time she showed up at his place all soaking wet from a downpour. Her body language..man, it was so intense. I don't know if I've ever seen such a spot on depiction of a man trying so hard to resist.

Both these actors were so unbelievably raw & lovely in this film.

I'll close by saying that I've been waiting so very long for a follow-up for Eccleston (one truly worthy of his talents) that I think his agent should be shot in the face.

http://www.antifaith.us/judelatinedit.jpg

[thepaulo]

you challenge me sir....now I want to see Jude again since I found it too dour the first time.


so here's my segue.....
Kate Winslet will often remind me of Gillian Anderson in a period piece.....

so another period piece from classic literature.....
The House of Mirth in which there is utterly heartbreaking chemistry between Anderson and Eric Stolz.




P.S. we need not mention Ducovney at this moment.

[Thebazile78]

you challenge me sir....now I want to see Jude again since I found it too dour the first time.


so here's my segue.....
Kate Winslet will often remind me of Gillian Anderson in a period piece.....

so another period piece from classic literature.....
The House of Mirth in which there is utterly heartbreaking chemistry between Anderson and Eric Stolz.




P.S. we need not mention Ducovney at this moment.

I don't think Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny have romantic chemistry. (Haven't seen House of Mirth, so I can't comment directly on it. Boo!)

And that's a shame you feel that way about Kate Winslet ... I love Kate Winslet. I want to grow up and be her. (Which is really funny because I am allegedly grown up.)

[thepaulo]

I love Kate Wnslet.....and I love Gillian Anderson......I'd love them together.

[Thebazile78]

I love Kate Wnslet.....and I love Gillian Anderson......I'd love them together.

I could see that.

Toss in Colin Firth and no matter how crappy the film is, I'll go see it.