Houston, we have a problem: Where's Kevin?
Perhaps the ultimate coming-home movie, āApollo 13,ā and the ultimate staying-home one, āHome Alone,ā are both being honored this year, selected for preservation in the National Film Registry They're part of an annual group of 25 that this year spans more than 90 years of filmmaking.
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The 2023 collection includes the sci-fi sequel āTerminator 2: Judgment Day,ā the Disney animated classic āLady and the Tramp,ā and the searing, Oscar-winning drama ā12 Years a Slave.ā Just in time for the holidays, āThe Nightmare Before Christmasā is included.
The oldest film is from 1921: āA Movie Trip Through Filmland,ā a very early look at the impact of movies. The newest are both from 2013: ā12 Years a Slaveā and the Oscar-winning documentary ā20 Feet From Stardom,ā about backup singers.
The registry is housed at the Library of Congress, which since 1988 has selected movies for preservation based on their cultural and historic importance. The current picks bring the registry to 875 films ā some, but not all, among the 2 million items in the libraryās collection. Turner Classic Movies will host a TV special on Thursday, screening a selection of this yearās movies.
A look at some of the films entering the registry
āThe Wedding Banquetā (1993): Ang Leeās romantic comedy about a gay man from Taiwan trying to hide his orientation from his family, featuring an over-the-top wedding banquet.
āBamboozledā (2000): Spike Leeās stinging satire about race in entertainment, with Damon Wayans as a program executive at a cable network.
āMaya Lin: A Strong, Clear Visionā (1994): Freida Lee Mockās Oscar-winning documentary about the artist who created two famous memorials.
āApollo 13ā (1995): Ron Howardās impeccably told chronicle of the near-tragedy involving U.S astronauts trying to get back to Earth, featuring Tom Hanks and the famous (and slightly altered) quote: āHouston, we have a problem.ā
āDesperately Seeking Susanā (1985): Susan Seidelmanās uniquely New York saga featuring Rosanna Arquette and none other than Madonna as the elusive Susan.
āMatewanā (1987): John Saylesā tale of efforts in 1920 to unionize a company town in West Virginia.
āHome Aloneā (1990): Chris Columbusā holiday classic about, let's face it, deeply questionable parenting that made wide-eyed Macaulay Culkin ā aka Kevin ā a star.
āAlambristaā (1977): Robert M. Youngās story of a Mexican migrant laborer in the United States.
āFameā (1980): A story of students seeking fame at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City, and known for Irene Caraās version of the title song.
āLady and the Trampā (1955): The classic Disney canine love story, featuring surely the most famous spaghetti kiss in animated film.
The Full List
āA Movie Trip Through Filmlandā (1921); āDinner at Eightā (1933); āBohulano Family Film Collectionā (1950s-1970s); āHelen Keller: In Her Storyā (1954); āLady and the Trampā (1955); āEdge of the City: (1957); āWeāre Aliveā (1974); āCruisinā J-Townā (1975); āAlambristaā (1977); āPassing Throughā (1977); āFameā (1980); āDesperately Seeking Susanā (1985); āThe Lighted Fieldā (1987); āMatewanā (1987); āHome Aloneā (1990); āQueen of Diamondsā (1991); āTerminator 2: Judgment Dayā (1991); āThe Nightmare Before Christmasā (1993); āThe Wedding Banquetā (1993); āMaya Lin: A Strong Clear Visionā (1994); āApollo 13ā (1995); āBamboozledā (2000); āLove & Basketballā (2000); ā12 Years a Slaveā (2013); ā20 Feet From Stardomā (2013).