Best of 2013: Betsy Sharkey picks 'Gravity,' 'American Hustle' - Los Angeles Times
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Best of 2013: Betsy Sharkey picks ‘Gravity,’ ‘American Hustle’

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In this time when news is disseminated ever more quickly, we asked our critics to list the best of culture in 2013 in tweet form:

1. “Gravity:†A perfect marriage of art and technology, Alfonso Cuarón’s film and Sandra Bullock’s performance, out of this world in wondrous ways.

2. “American Hustle:†David O. Russell’s raucous, riotous con game. Christian Bale’s hustle and flow, Jennifer Lawrence’s scene stealing. Wow, baby.

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3. “12 Years a Slaveâ€: “The Butler,†“Fruitvale Station:†Beautifully rendered portraits of our racial past. In looking back, the future may change.

4. “Herâ€: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams caught up in Spike Jonze’s acerbic techno love triangle. Brilliant concept, great execution.

5. “Blue Is the Warmest Colorâ€: For using sex — explicitly — to get beyond sex and into purer extremes of love; and introducing Adele Exarchopoulos.

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GRAPHIC: Best of 2013 | Entertainment and culture

6. “Inside Llewyn Davisâ€: In my book the Coen brothers do no wrong. It’s only a matter of what they’re doing right. Everything, and Oscar Isaac too.

7. “Nebraska,†“Mudâ€: Earthy stories, harsh realities. Bruce Dern, Matthew McConaughey, respectively, handle the raw and real exceptionally.

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8. “Saving Mr. Banks,†“Philomenaâ€: Men driven crazy by smart, insistent women. Emma Thompson, Judi Dench perfectly on point. What’s not to like?

9. “The Armstrong Lie,†“Inequality for All,†“The Unknown Knownâ€: Shrewd docs that show truth is not just stranger than fiction, it’s far scarier.

10. “Frozen,†“The Way Way Backâ€: Disney animation and indie comedy. Very different beasts. Both made me laugh. And that, my friends, is priceless.

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Twitter: @BetsySharkey

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