Rita Kempley (Craig Cola/ washingtonpost.com)

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PASSION SPECIAL

To commemorate Valentine's Day, Rita Kempley invited all the Unusual Suspects to a PASSION SPECIAL to dish and talk about your favorite romance flicks and movie characters. Turn-ons and turn-offs at the movies. Who does it for you and who doesn't? And what makes you want to run for your life? Kempley explored the world of love and sex in the cinema.

Kempley was online Thursday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. EST, to talk about your favorite or not so favorite movies, leading men and women, and people ISO (in search of) love on the big screen.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Mister Jimmy: Happy Valentine's Day, Rita!

I'm submitting early because I have a very UNromantic 2 o'clock meeting. Two semi-recent movies that still make me tingle are "The Wedding Singer" and "My Best Friend's Wedding." I'd consider jumping over to the other side of the fence for my Drewsie. And VERY willing to stay on my own side for just one night with that hunka-lunka Rupert Everett.

On the real-life romantic front, the lovely, but still-unemployed Miss Edie doesn't know it yet, but -- for Valentine's Day -- I'm treating her to a trip to New York City next weekend. Perhaps we can play out the last scene in "Sleepless in Seattle." Meg doesn't hold a candle to my Edie.

Rita Kempley: Happy Valentine's Day to you Mister Jimmy:
It sounds like you are very well-rounded when it comes to amore. While I can only fantasize about the generous wonders of Miss Edie, I admire your other favorites, especially Rupert.

Nani/Texas: Happy Valentine's Day Rita!

Favorite Romantic Movie Scene: Bill Holden and Kim Novak's dance routine in the 1955 film, PICNIC. The music is sensual and sweet; the dancers never break eye contact and the chemistry between the two is riveting. In an interview, the director noted that the dance wasn't choreographed, but rather totally ad-libbed by Novak and Holden, and that the dance scene was completed in just one take!
Who does it for me? Guy Pearce, Billy Bob Thornton. Who doesn't? Russell Crowe, Tom Cruise.

Rita Kempley: Nani?Texas: And a happy Valentine's Day to you.
You probably already know this since you're a fan of Guy Pearce, but Pearce was a much bigger star than Russell Crowe in Australia before the two appeared in "L.A. Confidential." He was one of the passengers in "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert." The boy's got range. Billy Bob, interesting choice.

Herndon, Va.: OUR VALENTINE'S DAY QUEEN: In an earlier missive, I forgot to mention one of the great male-male love stories (platonic, in this case) in movie history, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." (Either Newman or Redford has referred to it in that manner.)

Rita Kempley: Yes, one of the great buddy love comedies of all time. One of the most ludicrous--Tango & Cash...every time I think about Sly Stallone and Kurt Russell in that prison shower scene, I wonder why one of them didn't drop the soap.

Sir Synergy: Our Queen is Wise in the ways of love, and benevolent to all of her subjects.

I always liked the old Steve Martin love story Roxanne, some of his material in that was simply dynamite!

Still sticking by your prediction that LOTR is an Oscar lock for Best Picture?

Rita Kempley: Sir Synergy: "Roxanne" was charming. It was Martin's movie, of course, but Darryl Hannah was endearing. I also liked her in "Splash," though her most compelling screen lover was opposite Rutger Hauer in "Blade Runner."
I think I will stick with LOTR.

Valentine's Day Massacre: Meg Ryan - Tom Hanks (feel free to substitute actors of your choice) nothing but mush. What would be your pick for a slasher movie for two for a quiet night at home?

Rita Kempley: I think I would go with "Silence of the Lambs." Though it's not exactly a slasher movie, it is Hannibal Lecter's bloody valentine to his beloved Clarice Starling.

Gaithersburg: The world's most heartbreaking movie has to be -- and I'm gonna say it because no one else will -- The Terminator, after you've seen T2. Think about it -- Linda Hamilton utterly destroys Arnold, but he comes back to be her savior anyway. If that's not romantic, I don't know what is.

Rita Kempley: Hmm. Never thought of it that way, but I have always thought of "Terminator" as a not-so-immaculate conception story. I always though of "T2" as Schwarzenegger's attempt to revamp his image during the "kinder, gentler" era. Beyond that I see it as a relationship between a father and son. Mom is nearly, maybe even more manly than the robot.

EraserheadGuy, D.C.: Rita, a belated congratulations on this fellowship you’ve been awarded. (Lord, where ARE my manners?) I’m glad you’re not forsaking us for your high-octane research (but hopefully not high-methane.)

Valentine’s Day: Well, the all-time classic is “Eraserhead,” of course, with Henry and The Beautiful Girl Across the Hall for lust, and Henry and The Lady and the Radiator for love. Who’s lighting up the Eraserheart-o-meter lately? I just saw “In the Bedroom” and while that isn’t exactly romantic fare, it was nice to see that time (or Bedroom’s cameraman) is being extremely kind to Marisa Tomei. And Helen Mirren still has the right stuff underneath her servant’s starched uniform and demeanor in “Gosford Park.”

Rita Kempley: EraserheadGuy:
Thanks for the good wishes.
While I think most of us couldn't agree with you more regarding the classic love story, "Eraserhead," I'm surprised that you didn't mention the relationship between "Blue Velvet's" Isabella Roselini and Dennis Hopper.

Springs of Silver Sarah: Welcome back, our Queen. Most (recent) movie to rent on Val. night? No question, Moulin Rouge. I saw it in theater and rented last night. Glittering lights against darkened Paris roof tops, opulent Indian inspired sets, tragic figures, truth, beauty, freedom and above all, LOVE. Ewan (yum!) singing. Baz sure knows how to do romace.
Question: What have you heard about Hart's War?

Rita Kempley: SSOS: Thanks, glad to be back. I' with you all the way on "Moulin Rouge." Of course, I never get it when the Academy nominated a movie for best pix and ignores the director.

Jim Broadbent, the impresario in MR, is so wonderful in "Iris," one of the most literate and heart-breaking romances since "84 Charring Cross Road." Only this one involves the body as well as the heart and mind.

Alexandria, Va.: For me, some of the greatest scenes that demonstrate the power of love come from war movies -- because of the thought of dying in battle and never seeing those at home again, nor the the ones to be lost.

To this day, I can't see Weir's "Gallipoli", because of that wrenching final scene. The men and boys, about to go over the top of the trench knowing they were to be mowed down, desperately scribbled last letters home, some staking their wedding rings with the letters into the sandbags with their knives. All while Mel Gibson was running desperately (and in vain) to send the message that the charge was to be aborted.....

Rita Kempley: Alexandria: What an amazing movie that was. This may be off point, but the "Best Days of Our Lives" does a brilliant job of addressing the many stages of love, including it's loss.

Oscars: Apart from Baz, what in your Queenly opinion are the biggest snubs or most worthless nominations?

Why are you so sure that LOTR will win the big prizes?

Rita Kempley: Sean Penn as best actor for "I Am Sam." Arggh.

Alexandria, Va.: Most Romantic Movie: I've always had a thing for the original "Return of Martin Guerre", in French and everything.

I know it seems to be fashionable to dump on Russell Crowe -- maybe because he's given so many performances that people have liked and rewarded him for, and he was in one of those blockbuster movies so many sophisticates love to hate. But he's one of my faves. He never gives less than his full effort -- he's never too good for the movie he's in and he adds value to any movie he's in. Without his performance, Gladiator might have made a lot of money, but would not have been voted Best Picture.

My other favorite actor right now is Clive Owen, of Gosford Park, Croupier, and the English detective show that ran on Mystery, Second Sight.

Rita Kempley: Oops, Oscars, I meant one of the stupidest nominations.

Thanks for letting me piggyback, Alexandria.
Not to be confused with "Martin Guerre" with Jodie Foster and Richard Gere. Mercy. I didn't know it was fashionable to dump on Crowe. I just don't think he deserved an Oscar for "Gladiator," nor did I think "Gladiator" deserved diddledy. But Clive Owens, now you're talking.

Boonies, Va.: I am not sure what it is, but my vote for best movie kiss ever goes to Mary Stuart Masterson and Eric Stoltz in Some Kind of Wonderful (the one where they are "practicing"). And I've seen a LOT of movies. What do you think?

Rita Kempley: Boonies: Very sweet moment.

Terminator: The first Terminator movie was achingly romantic. I wouldn't mind Michael Beihn coming back in time clutching my picture to his fervent chest and willing to die to keep me alive. And the fact that he turns out to be the father of his best friend - beautiful.

Rita Kempley: You have to love the conceit.

Laurie: And lest we forget, Mr. Clive Owen is also the star of The Driver Series on BMW Films.

Rita Kempley: Happy Valentine's Day, Laurie.

Glad to hear from you again.

St. Joseph, Mo.: I agree totally with your Gladiator assessment. I just watched The Insider again, and wow, was Russell Crowe EVER good in that. He SO deserved the Oscar for that movie.
What's your favorite journalism movie? I think that's mine.

Rita Kempley: St. Josephine: I was thinking about "The Insider" even as I gassed on about Gladiator. I believe it's his best performance to date. I love "Network." How prophetic was that.

Sommersby: Actually the Jodie Foster/Mel Gibson of "Martin Guerre" was called Sommersby. Set after the Civil War in the US, I believe. Loved the French original too, never saw Sommersby.

Rita Kempley: Yes, that's the American title. But I think you are thinking of the remake of "Maverick."

Ashburn, Va.: I can't get A Beautiful Mind out of my mind. To me it is his wife's role that shows the depth of love. I want to emulate her strength and loyalty.

On a lighter note, my husband tells me that one of the sexiest scenes in a movie is the girl washing the car in Cool Hand Luke.

Movie guys that do it for me are Brad Pitt (oddly enough in the movie Fight Club) and Daniel Day Lewis in the Last of the Mohicans...I also like Ed Norton.

Famous guys who do nothing for me are Tom Cruise, Kevin Costner or any other star who seems go through change where they tend to think very highly of themselves.

Rita Kempley: Ashburn: Good point about the wife's support. If only, the film adaptation had been a bit more honest about the hero's homosexual relationships and other marriages.

ManosGuy, Va.: Just a side note for the chat today: it was recently reported on www.thedigitalbits.com that "Eraserhead" is set for an upcoming DVD release, but will only be available from the director's Web site at davidlynch.com.

Rita Kempley: Thanks for the head's up.

John Cusack romance: Actually I'll have to credit my sister for coming up with the John Cusack Romance Trifecta:

-Say Anything (or Better Off Dead or The Sure Thing): young love
-Grosse Pointe Blank: getting older but still in denial
-High Fidelity: face it, you're a grown-up

Rita Kempley: John Cusack in anything but "American Sweethearts."

Arlington, Va.: Hi Rita -

I would gladly fling my closet door open even wider if I thought I would find Clive Owen hiding in there. Talk about dreamy. However, with my luck, I'd probably find Tom Green in there.

Random thought -- Unintentionally funny death scene in a movie: Shelley Winters in The Poseiden Adventure. Champion swimmer, my Aunt Fanny...

Rita Kempley: Poseidon Adventure: Adore it. The old woman and the sea. Deep stuff.

Wiredog: Not a romantic love story but... Aliens (the second one) has a great mother/daughter theme.

You doing a Mother's Day chat?

Rita Kempley: Wiredog: And it wouldn't be that much of a stretch to see "Alien" as an extremely dysfunctional relationship between Beauty and the Beast.

If you all want, I will be happy to do a Mother of all Mothers' Day shows.

Charm City: Most realistic movie about love: anything by Catherine Breillat

Sweetest movie about love: High Fidelity

Funniest movie about love: The Wedding Singer

This has nothing to do with love, but I saw Storytelling last night and LOOOOOOVED it. (OK, maybe that did have something to do with love.) Solondz captures suburbia like no one else.

Rita Kempley: Charm City: You are nothing if not eclectic in your tastes.

Slasher movie for V-day: It's not really a slasher movie, but I went to see "Pulp Fiction" on a Valentine's Day years ago. How's that for alternative?!

Rita Kempley: Yes. Especially the touching sado-masochistic moments.

Herndon, Va.: OUR QUEEN: The best "romantic" newspaper story - HAS TO BE "HIS GIRL FRIDAY!!" The best version of "The Front Page" ever put on film. (AND the best use of "speak-over" dialogue).

Rita Kempley: Well, if you insist. I think Woodward and Bernstein were sweet in "all the President's Men."

Eastern Market: Don't laugh, Rita, but this 40-year-old HETERO man still gets teared up at the final scene in "The Way We Were."

Rita Kempley: Eastern Market: Okay, I'm not laughing. If only we all could be the way we were, we wouldn't be the way we are. Or something.

New York, NY: Definitely two movies if passion and romance are involved:
Daniel Day Lewis and Madeline Stowe in Last of the Mohicans have incredible chemistry and the scenes in which they're together are amazing.
Another favorite: Dr. Zhivago. Wow, Julie Christie and Omar Sharif are amazing together and when they spend the time at house in the Urals....
Hmm, I think I'll leave early to go watch some DVDs with my husband tonight!

Rita Kempley: New York: I'm going to cast a vote for the ripping off the dress scene, followed by the sewing it back up in the tub scene in "the English Patient."

Broomes Island, MD DEAREST RITA: For on-screen passion, nothing beats Sigorney Weaver and Mel Gibson breaking curfew in "The Year of Living Dangerously". Happy Valentine's Day!

Rita Kempley: Broomes Island: How could I have forgotten that. Whew.

20001: Great love story - Now, Voyager. Bittersweet ending but so romantic!

Rita Kempley: The soundtrack is fabulous, too.

Harrisburg, Pa.: If you want to laugh on Valentine's Day, what about "Raising Arizona"? The couple wait for each other while he's in prison and they do anything to get a child. Although, if you're relationship is anything like this movie, you may wish to get outside help.

Rita Kempley: Harrisburg: That's one of my all time favorites. And speaking of movies by the Cohens, "Fargo" also features an extremely loving relationship between the heroine and her husband.

Hot scenes: Hands down, the sexiest scene on the screen is in "The Big Easy", where Dennis Quaid seduces Ellen Barkin. Yowza!

Rita Kempley: Your luck is about to change, sugar. Wasn't that Quaid's line?

Columbia, Md.: Still the greatest screen romance - "Casablanca."

Rita Kempley: Yep, we'll always have Paris.

Phoenix, Ariz.: I have to chime in and say that I wholeheartedly agree with Ashburn's husband. The girl washing the car in Cool Hand is one of the sexiest scenes every filmed. A great movie.

Just in case anybody cares, today is Arizona's 90th birthday as a state.

Rita Kempley: Phoenix: Girls, cars, wet T-shirts. The way to a guy's heart.

D.C.: Other than a few men making coy references to finding certain straight actors sexy (and one gay actor in a role as neuter-friend), it seems your discussion group (or you as moderator) has limited all mentions of romance to straight love stories. Do I smell a bigot?

Rita Kempley: Oh, puhleese. If you want to mention a favorite gay or lesbian romance, by all means do so. It's not my turn-ons or offs, it's your turn ons and turn offs, but I will mention a few of my favorites non-hetero romances: Desert Hearts, steamy love scene in "Bound," "My Beautiful Laundrette," and although it's not exactly a healthy love story, "Chuck and Buck."

D.C.- ville: On the yummy scale, how would you rate Ed Harris?

I love him; but thought he looked O-L-D Old in A Beautiful Mind.

Rita Kempley: Way yummy!

Arlington, Va.: Hello,
I have got to agree with that wonderful kiss in Some Kind of Wonderful. That movie also shares one of the best lines every -- after Eric Stoltz gives Mary Stuart Masterson the diamond earrings he had bought with his college money, she says, "How do they look?" and he responds, "You look good wearing my future."

Rita Kempley: Hello: Yes, that's a grand line.

Re: Fargo comment: HA HA HA!!!! That's why we luv ya, Rita!

Rita Kempley: XOXOXO back at ya.

Potomac: Man, that scene with Michael Douglas and whatshername in "Basic Instinct" is hot!

Rita Kempley: The best scene, a classic already: Sharon Stone manipulating the cops during the interrogation. Didn't even need the flash.

Still love: Fried Green Tomatoes -- the best female buddy movie.

Rita Kempley: Yes, but I think they were a lot more than buddies.

Falls Church, Va.: I am so happy to see there are fellow Clive Owen fans out there: I was beginning to think I was the only one: people look at me with blank stares when I mention his name. let's hope PBS re-runs some of the Second Sight series now (and although it's TV: anyone else out there a Monarch of the Glen fan?)
Most romantic film: Raiders of the Lost Ark. It has a little bit of everything, and a LOT of Harrison Ford!

Rita Kempley: Falls Church: Harrison Ford andKelly McGillis in "Witness," the sponge bath, the barn dance.

Poolesville: OK ... The most romantic movie I have ever seen is Cinema Paradiso. Not only does it show the beauty of the first teenage love, but also the amazing strength of other kinds of love, like the one between the young boy and the old man.

Rita Kempley: Yes, great choice. The final montage, just incredible.

Ellen Barkin!: Wow. Glad someone mentioned her. All time favorite steamy scene: Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino up against the wall with the pistol in hiding in Sea of Love. Woof.

And I'm a straight female.

Rita Kempley: Yes, yes, yes.

Alexandria, Va.: For obsessed love -- Antonio Banderas in The Law of Desire. Beautiful love scene, beautiful death scene. What more do you need?

Rita Kempley: Call me sick, but I also liked "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down."

Bowie, Md.: Who does it for me:
Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Viggo Mortensen

Common Demoninator: cleft in the chin. Growl!

Rita Kempley: You are a woman or a man after my own heart.

Conspiracy Theory: Is there any truth to the rumor that Oliver Stone is producing a movie called "The John Walker Lindh Story: How The CIA Set Me Up, The Inspiring Story Of A Young American"?

Rita Kempley: Yes

Sin City: Let's not forget the touching romance between Malcolm McDowell and...anything that moved in "Caligula."

Rita Kempley: I have been trying to forget, but now that you have reminded me.

MagnoliaGuy, Alex., Va.: My favorite romantic scene of all time has to be the end of Peter Weir's THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY when Mel Gibson is detained at the last checkpoint before leaving Indonesia, he's been beat up and will probably lose an eye, but he sneaks through the guards and through the doors and walks out to the plane still on the tarmac and we finally see Sigourney Weaver embrace him on the steps of the airliner as the film fades out. Just perfect. I don't think Weaver, Gibson or Weir have yet to top their work in this film.

Related note: Now that GHOST WORLD is on video, I urge people to watch it. One of the few films this year from Hollywood that had characters that are recognizable as human beings and not cartoon action figures or historical personages. Characters that are actually likable and unlikable at the same time. Oscar, of course, only gave them an adapted screenplay nomination.

Rita Kempley: Ghost World, Memento were dissed.

Michigan girl: Romantic films - when I was in college I saw Camelot with my absolutely adorable boyfriend. When Franco de Niro as Lancelot first appeared, his face just filled the screen and he was GORGEOUS! The immediate gasps and sighs of all the women in the audience were followed by a round of masculine self-conscious chuckles - few of those callow college boys could compete for magnetism with de Niro. (My guy could, though - and wasn't I the lucky one!)

Rita Kempley: Michigan: Was that the way you were? Or are you and your college beau still together?

Washington, D.C.: I think one of the best non-hetero romantic/sweet scenes in a movie is the bedroom scene in "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" with Sean Hayes and Brad Rowe.

Rita Kempley: Yes and one of the most disturbing: the slimeball who puts the make on the naive kid in "The Deep End."

Takoma parker: I LOVED the moved Truly, Madly, Deeply. A woman pining/grieving for her dead lover that he returns to her, only for her to realize she needs to get back into real life. Sooo said when he watches her go on a date.

Rita Kempley: Takoma parker: I love that movie too. Anthony Minghella's first. My favorite scene: when all the friends of her beloved's ghost show up and start rearranging the furniture.

Downtown DC: One Hot Romance? Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon in "Bull Durham."

Who Does it for Me? Sean Bean, especially when he was young and adventureous. Check out "Caravaggio," where he played a pimp and the great artist's love interest and model. It's just...well...too much. And it's a good movie, too.

Rita Kempley: Downtown: The toenail painting scene was a classic. But then so was the one in "Lolita." Very creepy.

Portland: Rita,

I think one of the most romantic scenes in a movie is the one in Diva, when they are walking around Paris in the dawn. Just love it!

Rita Kempley: Hi Portland: I had forgotten all about Diva, what an unusual movie.

Non-Hetero Flicks: Also, don't forget the under-rated "All Over The Guy" from this past year. A wonderful movie that could have easily been guy/girl story instead of guy/guy.

Rita Kempley: I don't get that either. Movies tend to vanish if there's no advertising budget behind them. I suspect that happened in this case.

Old Baby Boomer in Mississippi: favorites: Roman Holiday, Persuasion Two For the Road, Notorious, A Man and A Woman and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon had a nice romantic subplot (between fights) ...

Rita Kempley: Stop, my face is flushing.

Gaithersburg: After reading all these posts.... my honey is in for it tonight!

Rita Kempley: Gaithersburg: We are glad to be of service.

Silver Spring, Md.: A great dating movie (a really good idea for Valentine's Day night) that guys can also get into is the romantic comedy Whipped. As a guy who did not marry until 37 I can tell all of you women out there that if you really want to know how guys feel about their dates with you then you should see this movie.
Whipped!

Rita Kempley: Somebody needs a spanking.

VD greetings from kim o'd: hello, my dear. hope no one will forget the hot steam between Harvey Keitel and Kate whatshername in Up in Smoke. Hot stuff.
How are you?

Rita Kempley: Kim: And let's not forget Harvey under Holly Hunter's hoop skirt in the "Piano."

Memphis, Tenn.: A few of my favorite romantic films include Like Water for Chocolate, Out of Sight (meow George Clooney) and Love Story (even more appro. with recent ice skating events).

Rita Kempley: Memphis: Speaking of chocolate, I better say so long for now--darn I wish I could have gotten to more folks--and go buy a couple of pounds for my darling, Guido.
P.S. KD: I have alreadya begun to marinate my mangos. Let's do lunch.

Love to all.

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