Cinema Lounge, a film discussion group, takes place at 7:00 PM at Barnes and Noble, 555 12th St., NW in Washington, DC (near the Metro Center Metro stop). The group meets informally on the second floor in the open dining area, seated at round dining tables. You do not need to be a member of the Washington DC Film Society to attend.

Cinema Lounge is moderated by Daniel R. Vovak.

Love Chemistry: Why Does It Work Sometimes and Not Others?

On October 13, 2008, we discussed "Love chemistry--why does it work sometimes and not others?" However, about 30-45 minutes into the discussion, the topic suddenly died and quickly evolved into "Great Death Scenes." (See this month's Adam's Rib column on death scenes). It was the first time in the past nearly two years that one of our discussions hit a dead end. But oh, what a fun twist of a night it became!

Someone began the discussion (about love chemistry) with saying that ego is a leading reason for a lack of love chemistry on screen. Sometimes actor contracts require a certain number of camera shots. Other times narcissism gets in the way. One actor commented about a kissing scene that she had on screen. "We had a huge kissing scene and we hadn't practiced, so we did. Kissing someone you don't know can be a problem on screen."

Other times atmosphere can be a problem. How intimate is the set, allowing for screen romance to develop? Eyes Wide Shut (1999) is a good example of intimacy. Office Space (1999) is another, a film loved by many for multiple reasons. One person said that Kirk Cameron in Fireproof (2008) had a kissing scene, but he wouldn't kiss someone other than his wife, so she secretly filled in for a few shots.

A bad script can be another reason why romance on set flops. Gigli (2003) was perhaps the worst romance film ever. Charlie Wilson's War (2007) had terrible chemistry between Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Knocked Up (2007) showed no love whatsoever between the main characters, the opposite of the theme of the movie.

Then someone said that there are also movies with good bro-mance (male friends who click on screen). Brokeback Mountain (2005) came to mind, though Jake Gyllenhaal was definitely not a cowboy type. The Bucket List (2007) had good bro-mance between Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

Someone said, "It seems with all movies that: 1) Either the directors are on crack, 2) the screenwriters are on crack, 3) The actors are on crack, 4) The audience is on crack, 5) Or the movies are just about crack." Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005) came to mind.

Ironically, "death" became a fun topic. Spontaneously, many in the group started hurling their favorite death scenes at each other. Here is a list:

In James Bond: A View to Kill (1985) they should have shot the blond, but didn't. Yes, "Shot the blond, not Bond!"; In Deep Blue Sea (1999), everyone dies; True Romance (1993) has many great death scenes; Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi died a great death in Star Wars 4: A New Hope (1977); Alan Rickman in Die Hard (1988); Yoda in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983); Mr. Inconceivable in Princess Bride (1987); Marlon Brando in Godfather (1972). Also, the horse death, too!; Jason Statham in Crank (2006); Steve McQueen in The Sand Pebbles (1966); The bald fighter man with the airplane propeller in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); In Dr. Strangelove (1964), everyone dies; Janet Leigh in Psycho (1960); The first death in Jaws (1975); The death scene with Sigourney Weaver in Alien 3 (1993); Bambi's mother in Bambi (1942); Old Yeller in Old Yeller (1957); Death by water with the Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz (1939); Everyone dies in The Departed (2006); The one man in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988); Kevin Bacon in Friday the 13th (1980); The skinned rabbit in Roger and Me (1989); John Travolta in Pulp Fiction (1994); King Kong in King Kong (1933 & 2005); Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); The last scene in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966); The death of Spock in Star Trek 2; The death in Cocoon (1985); William DaFoe in Platoon (1986); Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket (1987); The eyeball scene in Zombie 2; The lawyer in Jurassic Park (1993); The magic trick in Dark Knight (2008); The fax machine in Office Space (1999); Hal 9000, the Computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); All the passengers on Ghost Ship (2002); The deaths in Se7en (1995); Morgan Freeman in Lucky Number Slevin (2006); The girl who drowned in The Prestige (2006); Micky in Rocky 3 (1982); Apollo in Rocky 4 (1985); And didn't someone die in Rocky 12?; Romeo and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (1936, etc); The near-final scene of War of the Roses (1989).

A few bad death scenes were mentioned: Young Guns (1988) had a bad death ending. Death to Smoochy (2002) was bad. Also, Queen of Alderaan in Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith (2005).