Year in Review: Best Onscreen Chemistry of 2021

by Team Experience

Screen chemistry is the great intangible of movies. It can happen behind the camera among teams on the same or complimentary wavelengths. Director/Muse relationships often become the stuff of legend. But the most commonly celebrated electricity is the spark between actors that you can see onscreen. Sensational chemistry between them can elevate any genre, even the ones that aren't intrinsically built on interpersonal dynamics. A thrilling duet, romantic or otherwise, can rescue a film from mediocrity and elevate a very good picture to a beloved one. Old Hollywood understood this, reteaming co-stars that clicked over and over again. Modern Hollywood has a much rougher go of this kind of repetition (given that everyone is a freelancer) so we treasure great chemistry whenever it crops up in its too fleeting way.

We polled the team on 2021's greatest examples of screen chemistry and here were their top 16 choices...

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Thankful for... Christopher James

This year for our "thankful for" column we're interviewing our contributors so you can get to know them better. Yes, Thanksgiving is technically over but we're still grateful. Here's one more for you. A big hug and thank you to CHRISTOPHER JAMES!

Chris has been with for TFE for just over a year but we've known him much longer online, first meeting him in the flesh on a trip to Los Angeles. In the short time he's been with us he's completed the popular "Gay Best Friend" series (one more wrap-up episode is coming!) and is about to launch a new series. He also kept things lively with fun personal anecdotes and important questions, and has been a powerhouse when it comes to our Emmy coverage. 

Our short interview follows...

When did you first fall in love with the movies?

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Thankful for... Jason Adams

This year for our "thankful for" column we're mixing it up a bit. Instead of asking our contributors to share a brief list of favourite things, I wanted to share with you, dear readers, why I love the team so and then ask them a few key questions so you can get to know them better. As you digest your Thanksgiving pies, consider JASON ADAMS!

I have been a fan of Jason's writing forever  -- My New Plaid Pants is literally my favourite personal blog -- and he has been contributing to The Film Experience for a good portion of its life. His first self-given assignment in our current iteration (since 2011) was to see all three of James Dean's films for the first time. He has done weekly series since then like Horror Actressing and Beauty vs Beast. And of course he writes personally evocative reviews. Ccurrent releases he's sounded off on include The Humans, C'mon C'mon, Drive My Car, and next week's not-to-be-missed Paul Verhoeven lesbian nun picture Benedetta.

A short interview follows!

When did you first fall in love with the movies?

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Thankful for... Nick Taylor!

This year for our "thankful for" column we're mixing it up a bit. Instead of asking our contributors to share a brief list of favourite things, I wanted to share with you, dear readers, why I love the team so and then ask them a few key questions so you can get to know them better.  NICK TAYLOR. 

Nick has been with us for about two years, and we first got to know him because he regularly voted and wrote up beautiful emails for the Smackdown. Since joining us he's looked at supporting actresses that weren't nominated. Some of our favourites include the Evil Witch in Snow White, Taraji P Henson in Hustle & Flow, and Sister Ruth in Black Narcissus. But he also pops in for contemporary festivals.

Our mini interview follows...

When did you first fall in love with the movies?

I've been into movies my whole life. Lotta Animal Planet docs and Disney movies growing up, but that feels different from the way I love and think about film as an adult...

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Thankful for... Lynn Lee

This year for our "thankful for" column we've been mixing it up by interviewing various team members (the ones that volunteered -- we love the other ones, too!). If you're just taking a break from family this holiday to peak around the web, please give it up for LYNN LEE.

We were first introduced to Lynn by her friend Nick Davis (of Nicks Flick Picks fame). It was yet another example of Nick's impeccable taste, not just in movies but in people. Lynn began as a contributor back in 2015 (with a Mad Men @ the Movies featuring Joan Crawford as Mildred Pierce) and given the long hours that come with the lawyer life we don't see her enough but when she's here we love it. Some posts to check out include takes on both 1994's and 2019's Little Women remakes and  a personal piece on Minari's grandma.

Other pieces she's written are linked from our mini interview that follows... 

When did you first fall in love with the movies?

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