ALICE ROYER

Starz was Netflix's most valuable source for movies. And the breakdown brings into focus the tension between new and old business models.

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Just a product of my surroundings is all.

What do you call a refreshing carbonated beverage?

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The House That Fun Built of the Day: Yokohama-based LEVEL Architects’ “House with Slide” is a private, three-story residence located in the Higashiyama district of Meguro City in Tokyo.

Dibs!

[designboom.]

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James Franco loves having jobs!

Yesterday, Vulture reported that James Franco and his partner in performance art, Kalup Linzy, had provided the soundtrack to Cynthia Rowley's show at New York Fashion Week — today we bring you the song itself. Mixed by the Misshapes, "I Love You" is a catchy pop-house tune featuring (we think) vocals by both Franco and Linzy. Put another notch on Franco's ever-more-scratched artistic bedpost.

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Filed Under: exclusive, cynthia rowley, james franco, kalup linzy, music, new york fashion week

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Humanities!

Sign Of Olden Times of the Day: Oregon Trail sign “spotted” in Los Angeles.

The world needs a lot more of this, and a lot less of everything else.

[pleatedjeans.]

See Also: Oregon Trail is now on Facebook.

Animated GIF of the Day: Took you long enough, Internet, but the SOTU Biden Fist Pump GIF is finally up.

[wonkette.]

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Friendly Sign Hack of the Day: Spotted in Los Angeles. brb, doing this everywhere.

[pleatedjeans.]

Black Swan: The Party Game

by MOLLY LAMBERT with contributions from TESS LYNCH and SARAH JOHNSON

In case you haven't seen Black Swan, reading this reveals and ruin nothing. The party game is simple; all things can be paired up and divided into white swans and black swans. White swans have technique but black swans have essential style. The white swan is the brain, the black swan is the crotch. Not every facemash splits this way but it sure wasn't hard to come up with like a billion of these in ten minutes with friends.

As with Fuck Marry Kill, the thing about this game is that it becomes dangerous as soon as you start directing it to people's personal black swans, which inevitably always happens. Drunk people have a tendency to be more honest than they really intended to. As soon as you start talking about people in the room at the party you are fucked.

But aren't all parlor games kind of dangerous/purposely meant to encourage relational transgressions? Isn't that also why people drink? God knows spin the bottle is built for destruction. It's easy to be the black swan that pushes other people into playing. Who wants to go to a party where nothing happens? What, you never rolled before?

White Swan/Black Swan

Madonna/Debbie Harry

Debbie Harry/Chrissie Hynde

Diana Ross/Donna Summer

Michael Jackson/Prince

Prince/Rick James

Luke Skywalker/Han Solo

Judd Apatow/Adam Sandler

Jackie O/Marilyn Monroe

Seth Rogen/Jason Segel

Jonah Hill/Danny McBride

Elvis/Little Richard (original black swan queen)

Joe Strummer/Joey Ramone

Belinda Carlisle/Cyndi Lauper

Emmylou Harris/Linda Ronstadt

Rachel Weisz/Marion Cotillard

George Clooney/Jon Hamm

the 60s/the 70s

Conan/Letterman

Thomas Pynchon/Kurt Vonnegut

Dreamworks/Pixar

Beatles/Stones

Coke/Pepsi

Steven Spielberg/Joe Dante

Joni Mitchell/Carly Simon

American Idol/X Factor

Betty/Veronica

Debbie Gibson/Tiffany

Lily Allen/Katy Perry

Drake/Lil Wayne

Taylor Swift/Miley Cyrus

Selena Gomez/Demi Lovato

Gwyneth Paltrow/Winona Ryder

Blair Waldorf/Serena van der Woodsen

Jack Kerouac/Neal Cassady

John Mayer (musician)/John Mayer (celebrity)

Adam Trask/Charles Trask

Fitzgerald/Hemingway

Kathleen Hanna/Courtney Love

David Bowie/Iggy Pop

John Cale/Lou Reed

Mick/Keef

Superman/Batman

black and white/color

Dakota Fanning/Taylor Momsen

David Byrne/Bryan Ferry

Philip Glass/Brian Eno

Sean Penn/Robert Downey Jr.

Brad Pitt/Johnny Depp

Oprah/Martha Stewart

Paul/John

sight/sound

2Pac/Makaveli

The OC/Gossip Girl

Elton John/Jeff Lynne

TRL Xtina/TRL Britney

TRL Britney/Pink Wig Britney

Gaga/Robyn

Fat Joe/Big Pun

Green Day/Blink 182

David Foster Wallace/Jonathan Franzen

Bernard Malamud/Saul Bellow

Saul Bellow/Philip Roth

John Cheever/John Updike

Steve Martin/Chevy Chase

Dan Ackroyd/Bill Murray

Bill Murray/Andy Kaufman

Lindsey Buckingham/Don Henley

Robert Redford/Warren Beatty

Warren Beatty/Jack Nicholson

Gregory Peck/Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando/James Dean

The Graduate/Carnal Knowledge

Thoureau/Emerson

Emerson/Whitman

Pacino/De Niro

John Malkovich/Christopher Walken

Emilio Estevez/Charlie Sheen

Meryl Streep/Susan Sarandon

Angela Chase/Rayanne Graff

Townes Van Zandt/John Prine

Godfather/Godfather II

Freaks And Geeks/Undeclared

Loudon Wainwright III/Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon/Tom Petty

Harry Nilsson/Randy Newman

Eric Clapton/George Harrison

Tyra Banks/Naomi Campbell

the 90s/the 00s

showers/baths

Harvest/On The Beach

Rumours/Tusk

Tina Fey/Amy Poehler

Leonardo DiCaprio/Matt Damon

Matt Damon/Ben Affleck

Priscilla Presley/Ann Margaret

Betty Draper/whoever Don Draper is banging 

Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn

David Gordon Green/Jody Hill  

David O. Russell/Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson/Coen Brothers

Christopher Nolan/Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofsky/David Fincher  

Madonna/Young Madonna

Molly Lambert is the managing editor of This Recording. She is a writer living in Los Angeles. She tumbls here and twitters here.

"The Passenger" - Iggy Pop (mp3)

"China Girl" - David Bowie (mp3)

"Under Pressure" - Queen ft. David Bowie (mp3)

"Airplane!" the outlandish 1980 spoof of disaster movies; "All the President's Men," the Oscar-winning fact-based drama about the uncovering of the Watergate scandal; and "Let There Be Light," John Huston's controversial 1946 war documentary that was banned for several decades, are among the 25 films selected for the 2010 National Film Registry, according to the Library of Congress. 

The films on this year's list -- which also include the 1934 W.C. Fields comedy "It's a Gift," 1891's experimental "Newark Athlete" and George Lucas' 1967 student film, "THX II38 4EB," which became the basis of his first feature -- are considered to be "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant," according to the Library of Congress, which announced its selections for the registry Tuesday morning. 

The list was assembled from recommendations from various creative film guilds and archivists, which were submitted to Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, but the public was invited to submit their choices as well through the library's website, according to Patrick Loughney, chief of the Library of Congress' Packard Campus of the National Audio Visual Conservation Center.

Every year since 1988, when the Library of Congress passed the National Film Preservation Act, which established the National Film Preservation Board, films have been selected for the honor. To qualify, titles must be at least 10 years old and must have had some form of theatrical release. "When you look at these really old films from the 1890s or documentaries, that is a pretty broad definition of what constitutes a theatrical release," Loughney said.

Over the next year, the Library of Congress will ascertain the condition of these films. "Many of the films have been preserved by other archives or the studios who own the films," Loughney said. "We will make an effort to contact the rights' owners or the archives and make inquiries and encourage the films to be preserved."

With the addition of this year's selections, the registry now boasts a total of 550 films. 

Following is the complete list of this year's selections in alphabetical order, with excerpts from the Library of Congress as to why they were chosen:

2. "All the President's Men" (1976) "'All the President's Men' is a rare example of a best-selling book that was transformed into a hit theatrical film and cultural phenomenon in its own right."

3. "The Bargain" (1914) This western marked William S. Hart's first film and made him a star. The film was selected because of "Hart's charisma, the film's authenticity and realistic portrayal of the Western genre and the star's good/bad man role as outlaw attempting to go straight."

4. "Cry of Jazz" (1959) Ed Bland's seminal documentary short "intercuts scenes of life in Chicago's black neighborhoods with interviews with interracial artists and intellectuals. 'Cry of Jazz' is a historic and fascinating film that comments on racism and the appropriation of jazz by those who fail to understand its artistic and cultural origins."

5. "Electronic Labyrinth: THX 113B 4EB" (1967) George Lucas shot his award-winning student film at USC, and it became the basis of his 1971 feature, "THX 1138." "This film has evoked comparisons to George Orwell's '1984' and impressed audiences with its technical inventiveness and cautionary view of a future filled with security cameras and omnipresent scrutiny."

6. "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) "The much anticipated continuation of the 'Star Wars' saga, Irvin Kershner's sequel sustained the action-adventure and storytelling success of its predecessor and helped lay the foundation for one of the most commercially successful film series in American cinematic history."

 
7. "The Exorcist" (1973) "One of the most successful and influential horror films of all time. ... The film's success, both commercially and cinematically, provides a rare example of a popular novel being ably adapted for the big screen."

8. "The Front Page" (1931) "'The Front Page' is a historically significant early sound movie that successfully demonstrates the rapid progress achieved by Hollywood filmmakers in all creative professions after realizing the capabilities of sound technology to invent new film narratives."

9. "Grey Gardens" (1976) "'Grey Gardens' is an influential cinema verite documentary by Albert and David Maysles that has provided inspiration for creative works on stage and film."

10. "I Am Joaquin" (1969) The 20-minute short film, directed by Luis Valdez, is based on the epic 1967 poem by Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales. "The film is important to the history and culture of Chicanos in America, spotlighting the challenges they have endured because of discrimination."

11. "It's a Gift" (1934) The third W.C. Fields comedy to be named to the registry. "'It's a Gift' has survived a perilous preservation history."

12. "Let There Be Light" (1946) John Huston's documentary about World War II soldiers suffering from trauma and depression was banned by the War Department for 35 years "because no effort was made during filming to disguise or mask the identities of the combat veterans. ... The film provides important historical documentation of the efforts of psychiatric professionals during World War II to care for emotionally wounded veterans and prepare them to return to civilian life."

13. "Lonesome" (1928) The part-sound/part-silent romance that was recently restored by the George Eastman House "has been recognized for its success as both a comic melodrama and for its early use of dialogue and two-color Technicolor."

14. "Make Way for Tomorrow" (1937) Leo McCarey's drama about an elderly married couple forced to live separately in order to save money after their children abandon them. "'Make Way for Tomorrow' deftly explores themes of retirement, poverty, generational dissonance and the nuances of love and regret at the end of a long married life."

15. "Malcolm X" (1992) Spike Lee's biographical film on the slain civil rights leader. "Featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Denzel Washington, the film exemplifies the willingness of the American film industry in the early '90s to support the making of mainstream films about earlier generations of social leaders."

16. "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971) "The aesthetically acclaimed film that demonstrates why the Western genre, especially when reinvented by acclaimed Robert Altman, endured in the 20th century as a useful model for critically examining the realities of contemporary American culture."

17. "Newark Athlete" (1891) An experimental film by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise was one of the first made in America at the Edison Laboratory in West Orange, N.J. "Heise and especially Dickson made important technical contributions during 1891-1893, leading to the invention of the world's first successful motion picture camera -- the Edison Kinetograph -- and to the playback device required for viewing early peepshow films -- the Edison Kinetoscope."

18. "Our Lady of the Sphere" (1969) Perhaps the best known film from San Francisco animator Larry Jordan, who uses "'found' graphics to produce his influential animated collages, noting that his goal is to create 'unknown worlds and landscapes of the mind.'''

19. "The Pink Panther" (1964) Writer/director Blake Edwards introduced the comic character Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) in this classic. "The influence of the great comics of the silent era on Edwards and Sellers is apparent throughout the film, which is recognized for its enduring popularity."

20. "Preservation of the Sign Language" (1913) A two-minute film featuring George Veditz, one-time president of the National Assn. of the Deaf of the United States, which demonstrates in sign language the "importance of defending the right of deaf people to sign as opposed to verbalizing their communication. The film conveys one of the ways that deaf Americans debated the issues of their language and public understanding during the era of World War I."

21. "Saturday Night Fever" (1977) John Travolta became an overnight sensation in this disco musical-drama featuring a bestselling soundtrack by the Bee Gees. "Produced long after the heyday of the classic Hollywood musicals, this cinematic cultural touchstone incorporated set-piece music and dance numbers into a story of dramatic realism."

22. "Study of a River" (1996) Peter B. Hutton's exploration of the winter cycle of the Hudson River over a two-year period. "Some critics have described Hutton's work as reminiscent of the 19th century artist Thomas Cole and other painters of the Hudson River School."

23. "Tarantella" (1940) A five-minute color avant-garde short film by pioneer Mary Ellen Bute. "Bute's work influenced many other filmmakers working with abstract animation during the '30s and '40s, and with experimental electronic imagery in the 1950s."

24. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (1945) Elia Kazan's first feature film, based on the novel by Betty Smith. "A timely film, 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' was released at the end of World War II, helping to remind post-war audiences of the enduring importance of the American dream."

25. "A Trip Down Market Street" (1906) A 13-minute "actuality" film that was made by placing a moving camera on the front of a cable car as it traveled down Market Street. "A fascinating time capsule from over 100 years ago, the film showcases the details of daily life in a major American city. ..." Originally thought to have been shot in 1905, historian David Kiehn discovered it was made just days before the devastating 1906 earthquake after studying contemporary newspapers, weather reports and car license plates from the film.

For more information or to nominate films for next year, go to http://www.loc.gov

-- Susan King

First photo: From left, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jason Robards, Jack Warden and Martin Balsam in "All the President's Men" Credit: Warner Bros.

Second photo: Max von Sydow and Linda Blair in "The Exorcist." Credit: Warner Bros.

Third photo: Denzel Washington in "Malcolm X." Credit: Warner Bros.

Fourth photo: Donna Pescow and John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever." Credit: Margaret Herrick Library

Telling It Like It Is of the Day: Rep. Barney Frank finally owns up to his radical homosexual agenda.

[towleroad.]

You know that exquisite torture of trying to find a parking spot in Hollywood that's anywhere vaguely close to your actual destination? As of 2pm this afternoon, there will be an app for that, according to LA Now.

City officials will unveil "Parker" - an iPhone app that will help you find open parking spots in Hollywood that are closest to your circling-about-in-a-frenzy location. In addition to the holy grail feature of actually helping you find a spot, the app will also give you information on time limits per space, the cost per space, and if the meter only takes coins or (phew!) if it takes your trusty ATM card.

If parking spots are simply too full (as Hollywood parking spots can become on a minute-by-minute basis), the app will point you toward the nearest paid parking garage instead.

Love it. Now if we could just get a parking app for West Hollywood. And Venice. And Downtown. And...

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