web counter
 

The Gin in My Vermouth: The Best Indoor Fireworks Between An Onscreen Movie Couple

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Comment Diversions | Comments (59)

basingcherry.jpg

What’s happening between movie couples these days? Where is that steamy passion we saw in movies like Body Heat and The Postman Always Rings Twice—I feel like I haven’t seen a movie with that kind of onscreen chemistry in ages. Adrian Lyne is a director who has been exploring onscreen chemistry his whole career and he caught a little of the magic again with Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez in Unfaithful. But his tour de force, in my book, was 9 1/2 Weeks. And though there have been many reports that Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke had a difficult time making the film, onscreen, they are magic together (Look how hot you used to be, Mickey!):



I’m not talking just sex here, rather that unspoken chemistry that can’t be planned; it magically happens and it takes a film to another level. You can feel the steam coming off the screen and maybe even imagine yourself as one half of the couple, it’s that good. So on this, the weekend of a kazillionty fireworks, high temperatures, hot dogs, sweaty bodies and alcohol, what could be more appropriate than declaring the movie couple with the best onscreen chemistry? Name your pick.









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← Oooooohhhhh, Canada: The Eleven Sexiest Canadians of Film And Television | Oooooohhhhh, Canada: The Eleven Sexiest Canadians of Film And Television →









Comments

Alessandro Nivola and whathername in June Bug.
Rufus Sewell and Shirley Somethingorother in Shakespeare ReTold's Taming of the Shrew (hot as hell and hilarious too)
Richard Armitage and Daniella Denby Ashe in North and South (suh. woon.)
Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore in The Kids are All Right
Madeline Stowe and Daniel Day Lewis in Last of the Mohicans


Posted by: klingonfree at July 1, 2011 5:07 PM

God there are so many. I'm so distracted by what's goin on in my head!

Sookeh and Bheel in that hot as hell first season of True Blood...any scene they are in absolutely crackles. Not so much the rest of the seasons.

Jeremy Irons and that lady from "And now ladies and gentlemen" Lame movie but they had it goin on. The kiss in the alley scene is worth the whole movie.

Gael Garcia Bernal and Natalia Verbeke in Dot the I.

Posted by: klingonfree at July 1, 2011 5:14 PM

Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney in Out of Sight.

James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary.

Posted by: Meander at July 1, 2011 5:16 PM

Matt Damon and Franka Potente in The Bourne Identity. That hair-cutting scene is still the sexiest completely nonsexual thing I've ever seen.

Posted by: Todd at July 1, 2011 5:23 PM

Oh Meander, FINALLY watched Secretary last night. I agree entirely. It started quite the convo with the hubs...

Posted by: Patty O'Green at July 1, 2011 5:32 PM

Todd's comment made me wonder what scenes guys would consider the sexiest vs the girls'.

Only because I've had this discussion with the Mr. and it fascinates me what he finds sexy (in the best possible sense).

Posted by: Stella at July 1, 2011 5:33 PM


Oh Meander, FINALLY watched Secretary last night. I agree entirely. It started quite the convo with the hubs...

Posted by: Patty O'Green at July 1, 2011 5:32 PM

And their chemistry started from the moment they were in the same room together.

Funny thing about Maggie G. Some people (here) despise her, but she is the queen of chemistry - she made Will Farrell look sexy.

I'll bet that was a great conversation.!
~~~

Posted by: Meander at July 1, 2011 5:39 PM

Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan in The Thomas Crown Affair.

Posted by: Salieri2 at July 1, 2011 6:19 PM

Thirst?

Posted by: googergieger at July 1, 2011 6:38 PM

Clarence and Alabama (True Romance). Wall E and Eve a close second.

Posted by: Vick at July 1, 2011 7:01 PM

gael garcia bernal and diego luna in y tu mama tambien

Posted by: the chaplain at July 1, 2011 7:04 PM

Body Heat tops almost everything; Last of the Mohicans is definitely on my list as is 9 1/2 Weeks and Out of Sight
-Mel Gibson & Sigourney Weaver in The Year of Living Dangerously
-Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin in The Big Easy
-Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayak in Desperado

Posted by: weetiger3 at July 1, 2011 7:17 PM

The slugs mating in the documentary Microcosmos. I'm not joking. With the music and the lush visuals I needed a cigarette of satisfaction when they finished going at it.

Posted by: Neil Morse at July 1, 2011 7:18 PM

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Gigli - pure magic...

Posted by: Bravissimo at July 1, 2011 7:26 PM

i'll second russo/brosnan in 'TC Affair'.

Posted by: kikz at July 1, 2011 8:03 PM

I'll concede that as a movie, it fell on it's face, but I thought the chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt was amazing in The Adjustment Bureau

Also, Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly in Bound. So hot!

Posted by: Skyler Durden at July 1, 2011 8:46 PM

John Cusack and Ione Skye in Say Anything. The scene in the car - it's so awkward and real.

Also, Idgie and Ruth in Fried Green Tomatoes. Every scene. God, I love them.

Posted by: idgiepug at July 1, 2011 9:06 PM

James McAvoy with any of his costars.

Posted by: kelsy at July 1, 2011 9:07 PM

Jackie and Hyde. Never seen such chemistry between tv characters. Lots of touchy feely and frenching. It actually made me think Danny Masterson was hot.

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett ( Firth and Erle)

Costner and Sarandon in Bull Durham

Richard Sharpe and Lucille in the Sharpe series

Russell Crowe and Kim Basinger in LA Confidential

Lee Marvin and the horse in Cat Ballou

Posted by: kirbyjay at July 1, 2011 9:25 PM

Russell Crowe straddling Kim Basinger in L.A. Confidential.

Hear! Hear! on The Big Easy & Out of Sight.


Posted by: Mrs. Julien at July 1, 2011 9:26 PM

Lena Olin in all of The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

Posted by: Mr. Julien's Representative at July 1, 2011 9:28 PM

That Chris Isaac music video with Helena Christensen on the beach.

Adrienne and Rocky's first kiss in Rocky. They slide down the door. It is sexy and unbelievably romantic.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at July 1, 2011 9:30 PM

This one's kind of a cheat, considering that the couple was married at the time, but, whew! Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin in the remake of The Getaway. Smokin' hot!!

Posted by: noodlestein at July 1, 2011 9:57 PM

I totally second the James McAvoy with any of his costars. That man just smoulders.

Jim Carey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine.

Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke in Reality Bites.

Posted by: Eva at July 1, 2011 10:00 PM

Tim Robbins and Gretta Scacchi in The Player.

Posted by: DP at July 1, 2011 10:01 PM

I lament to myself on a regular basis that Hollywood doesn't do romance or sexy chemistry anymore. Or it does it well rarely. What Hollywood now tries to pass of as romantic films are basically schmaltz targeted to middle-aged soccer moms. Why has this particular genre gotten such short shrift in recent years? I want a Pajiba article on this stat!

In any case, there's definitely some crackling chemistry in the Secretary.

I'd also argue that Brokeback Mountain had some pretty damn good chemistry.

Posted by: Raindrops on Toast at July 1, 2011 10:26 PM

Raindrops- I'd second you on the man/man aspect of Brokeback Mountain, but I'd ALSO like to mention how hot Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyellenahalah's sex scene in the backseat of the car after the rodeo. She didn't want to make love, she wanted to fuck. But it was palpable; even if Jake's character was conflicted/confused about his sexuality, at that moment the only thing that existed for either was each other.

You can also feel the heat between Brad Pitt and Ole Angelina in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Lots of the eyefucking.

Posted by: adam at July 1, 2011 11:12 PM

ANYWAY, what I attempting to meander to at the beginning of my last response was that when I heard that Hathaway had been cast as Selina, that scene was what helped me understand Mr. Nolan's reasoning for choosing her. . . That, and her appearances on SNL.

Posted by: adam at July 1, 2011 11:15 PM

I don't know why, but the first one to pop in my head was Heath Ledger and Shannyn Sossamon in A Knight's Tale.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at July 1, 2011 11:40 PM

I completely agree with those who said The Secretary. That movie just kills me. Same with Quills, except with Quills, I spent half of the movie disgusted and the other half turned on.

James McAvoy could star in a movie with a turnip and I'd still need a cold shower after watching it. Have you seen the kiss at the end of Penelope? The way he grabs her waist and pulls her in? Or the library scene in Becoming Jane? Jesus. Fairly innocent movies, but watching either sends me straight to my bunk.

Kind of off topic, but I also found Sydney and Vaughn in Alias really hot (first 2 seasons only). The scene where he decides to just go for it and walks down the hall after her only to find the hall empty. It wasn't just a "hey maybe I'll ask her out for coffee" kind of determination, it was take you home and a bang you on the kitchen counter kind of determination.

Posted by: Tits McGee at July 2, 2011 12:27 AM

Renee Zellwegger and Colin Firth in Bridget Jones' Diary always seemed to have a ton of chemistry to me. Those looks he gives her at the dinner table? ooof!

And I know it's a terrible movie, but I loved the stupidly-interrupted sex scene between Rodrigo Santoro and Laura Linney in Love, Actually. You first see Santoro and he's just this nebbish dude and then BAM! ABS EVERYWHERE AND PERFECT SKIN! I also love how she celebrates the kiss. I totally did that once.

I'll think of more soon.

Posted by: Figgy at July 2, 2011 12:33 AM

And oooh yeah, Daniel Day Lewis and Madeleine Stowe smolder in Last of the Mohicans.

Going for the classics, the scene where Rhett gets Scarlett to marry him in Gone With the Wind is unbelievably hot. It's a credit to the brilliance of filmmakers in those days, how they got past the censors by not having the actors kiss for very long, but having scenes that are hotter than it would be to see them having sex. If that makes any sense at all. It's late.

Posted by: Figgy at July 2, 2011 12:41 AM

9 1/2 Weeks was my personal sex manual and the reason I am obsessed with Mickey Rourke to this day.

Posted by: Az at July 2, 2011 1:04 AM

I second Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke in Reality Bites--seriously one of the most romantic sex scenes.

And Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish in Bright Star. The kissing scene? I watch that for kicks!

That boy should be in EVERYTHING

Posted by: grace b at July 2, 2011 1:49 AM

+1 for Last of the Mohicans.
Also to add Kurt Russell and Dana Delaney in Tombstone. There is a lot of talk about dudes smoldering, but Dana is an ember in her own right.

Posted by: Benny at July 2, 2011 5:47 AM

I'll second Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in The Adjustment Bureau, and in another awkward sci-fi-ish, possibly not as good as it could have been but whatever film, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan in Source Code.

Posted by: Toby at July 2, 2011 6:19 AM

Someone mentioned "Out Of Sight" right off the bat and I gave up, but I forgot "Dangerous Liaisons", Malkovich and Pfeiffer. It's a pretty evil scene, given, you know, that it's Valmont putting on the sleazy tease, but I've never seen two actors ratchet up the tension more.

Posted by: Jay at July 2, 2011 9:41 AM

Clarence and Alabama (True Romance)

Bravo, Vic. *golfclap* I'm with that.

I'm gonna add Warren Betty and Madonna in "Dick Tracy". He was stoic, she was vampy, and I'm a little surprised that when Breathless approached Dick in his office with a bottle of champagne, two glasses, and a lot of hip-jutting-desk-laying, that Dick's own "Little Tracy" didn't make an arrest in his pants.

And I'm really NOT a fan of Madonna's but...damn.

Posted by: Green Lantern at July 2, 2011 10:14 AM

Gettin on the MacAvoy train here... I refer to the drunken, desperate makeout scene with Idi Amin's wife (as I write that, it does not sound good at all...)in Last King of Scotland. He is SO TURNED ON it's palpable and it really stayed (stays) with me. The rest of that movie is so tense and heinous I think I forget about that scene a lot...the icky stuff tends to eclipse it.

HUGE chemistry (albeit pretty innocent) between Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You. Those 2 should have made more movies together.

I second the Malkovich/Pfeiffer chemistry in Dangerous Liaisons. Very hot indeed, and firmly cemented Malkovich as a sexy man in my eyes. Shut up! It's my brain and I'll feature whom I please!

Also sort of innocent but Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp had sweet chemistry in Chocolat. Love the sly double entendres ("I'll come by some time and get that squeak out of your door.")

As to man/man friendly chemistry, Paul Rudd and Jason Segal in I Love You Man. They are adorable.

Finally: Carey Grant and Indgid Bergman in Notorious. Gold standard for smokin hot simmering lusciousness. LOTS of eye fucking.

Posted by: klingonfree at July 2, 2011 10:57 AM

Ooh, I can't believe I forgot Brokeback Mountain.

Posted by: Skyler Durden at July 2, 2011 11:19 AM

McAvoy & Fassbender in X-Men First Class. For real.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at July 2, 2011 11:24 AM

The "motorcycle cop" dialogue between Fred McMurray and Barbara Stynwyck on "Double Indemnity."

Posted by: KV at July 2, 2011 12:25 PM

I second/third/fourth Malkovich/Pfeiffer chemistry. And while everybody mentions the Pierce Brosnan/Rene Russo version of the Thomas Crown Affair, the chess-playing sequence between Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway on the original TCA was hot in a cool way as well.

Posted by: KV at July 2, 2011 12:28 PM

Will Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhall in Stranger than Fiction (when he's playing the guitar...love that scene)

Posted by: badkittyuno at July 2, 2011 2:26 PM

Must add Jesse and Céline from Before Sunrise and Before Sunset . . . guhh.

Posted by: Elfrieda at July 2, 2011 3:14 PM

Jeremy Irons & Juliette Binoche in Damage

Someone mentioned Firth & Ehle in the BBC/A&E Pride & Prejudice miniseries, and I think Matthew McFadyen & Keira Knightley also brought the sparks in the feature film version.

Joaquin Phoenix & Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line

Harrison Ford and Karen Allen in Raiders - yeah, I'll say it, both of them

Posted by: aud at July 2, 2011 3:55 PM

Without looking at what others have already posted a couple that come to mind are:

Ralph Fiennes & Kristin Scott Thomas in The English Patient. Also Juliette Binoche & Naveen Andrews.

Ana Lopez Mercado, Diego Luna, & Gael Garcia Bernal in Y Tu Mama Tambien. One of the hottest movies to ever hit the big screen.

And that's all my exhausted mind can come up with at the moment.

Posted by: tamatha at July 2, 2011 3:58 PM

That scene (and whole movie) was a turn off to me. He comes off as an abuser to me, and she's obnoxious in how she eats. Nope.

Posted by: lawnjart at July 2, 2011 5:00 PM

Between Nemo and Anna (teenage versions) in Mr. Nobody. Loved the movie in general, those two brought back a lot of memories tho. Great chemistry.

Posted by: Kaof at July 2, 2011 6:10 PM

I can't say that I've got a particular couple in mind, but my sensitivity to the chemistry of on-screen couples made me feel voyeuristic watching any movie with such a couple kissing for quite some time. Such couples make you feel as though you're intruding, as though the film itself has disappeared and you're just watching two peoples' private moments.

Posted by: Ruby at July 2, 2011 6:15 PM

Jeremy Irons & Juliette Binoche in Damage

I might agree with this if I hadn't been so close to throwing up all the way through that movie.

Posted by: Todd at July 2, 2011 6:33 PM

Regarding Damage and Binoche and Irons: I love this horrible scary emotional movie but nowhere near as much as I love the book. Sexxxxxy!!!! I want to mention them in this thread but rumor has it that they really were antagonistic for the filming and she was really traumatized. Which is appropriate given the subject. But yes!! Sexxxxxxy and scary and whoa.

He blows so many of today's leading men out of the water. Same with Thierry Lhermitte. OMG. That man.

Posted by: klingonfree at July 2, 2011 7:50 PM

Hands down, In the Cut with Mark Ruffalo and Meg Ryan. That is one of the sexiest and most sensual films I've ever seen, even with all the murdering. Their chemistry is off the charts. And I don't even like Meg Ryan.

Posted by: Phofascinating at July 2, 2011 7:52 PM

#1: James McAvoy and Keira Knightly. Library scene in Atonement. Holy. Shit. Actually, the whole first half hour of that film is a study in sweaty sexual tension and longing. And James McAvoy's sexual intensity makes ALL his sex scenes hot, particularly in this and The Last King of Scotland as someone else mentioned.

#2 Tim Roth and Julia Ormond in Captives. She's a dentist, he's her prison-inmate patient, and the chemistry is INSANE. The scenes of them flirting are just as sexy as their very hot sex scene in a public bathroom stall. What can I say, I've always had a little thing for Tim Roth.

#3 John Malkovich and all his female costars in Dangerous Liasons. His chemistry with Michelle Pfeiffer has already been mentioned, but he's just as sexy with his female counterpart, Glenn Close and even, to a degree, a young, buxom Uma Thurman. Whoever said that Dangerous Liasons made them see John Malkovich in a new way--I concur!

Posted by: Jill at July 2, 2011 8:15 PM

I've tried posting this a million times. What's up Pajiba?

Sexiest couples:

Matt Damon and Emily Blunt: The Adjustment Bureau

Ralph Fiennes and Kristen Scott Thomas: The English Patient

James Purefoy and Polly Walker: Rome

Lana Turner and John Garfield: The Postman Always rings twice

Daniel Day Lewis and Juliette Binoche: The Unbearable lightness of being

Rachel McAdams & Ryan Gosling: The Notebook

Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev: The Vampire Diaries

Jackie and Hyde: That 70's show

Posted by: Corinthos at July 3, 2011 12:39 AM

Jackie and Hyde are of course Mila Kunis and Danny Masterson.

Posted by: Corinthos at July 3, 2011 12:40 AM

@Ruby I completely agree with you about feeling as if you're intruding while watching a couple with amazing chemistry. For me the test of whether or not a couple has strong chemistry is if I feel the need to look away a times during their scenes. Because, what I'm watching seems so intimate.

Posted by: Corinthos at July 3, 2011 12:51 AM

Ewan McGregor and Jonathan Rhys Meyers- Velvet Goldmine

RDJ and Heather Graham- Two Girls and a Guy

Posted by: lunggwai at July 5, 2011 4:02 PM

Super artykuł.Dobra robota.

Posted by: projektowanie stron lublin at July 27, 2011 6:22 PM