Interview: Jeffrey Anderson
Everyone's a critic these days. But how many of YOU actually make a reading of it? Movie Jeff (AKA Jeffrey Anderson) is one of those lucky folks who manages to get paid to do what the rest of us seem to always be paying for. You can check out all of his reviews at Combustible Celluloid. Now we all know what critics are really good for right? That's right, arguing with! Feel free to take issue with any of Jeff's Pic and Pans in the comments. Who knows? Maybe Jeff has pegged your movie going preferences dead on.
BEST movie of ALL time:
Not to sound too scholarly, but it's Carl Theodor Dreyer's "Passion of Joan of Arc" -- a truly transforming experience
Worst movie of all time:
Too many people dump too much abuse on horror and sci-fi movies when the real horror comes in the form of "Forrest Gump" -- truly the most monstrous movie ever made
Adjectives that film critics way overuse: Visually Stunning. Turns out that Jeff is no hypocrite, a search of his site turns up only one use of this hated phrase, to describe "Kafka"
T/F: I can accurately predict who will win Oscars every year.
False. I usually get them about 60% right.
T/F: I am a voting member of the Academy: False.
Stuff I get hooked up with because of my job: I just got a "War of the Worlds" flashlight/radio. I get lots of t-shirts. My favorite thing by far is my James Bond martini shaker (shaped like a bullet), a promo item for "Die Another Day."
Introduce yourself in one sentence
I'm Jeffrey M. Anderson, a freelance film critic for about the past eight years, and I don't have much time for anything else.
Age and Occupation
36, "entertainment journalist"
Home Town
Sonora, California
How much time have you spent in the Bay Area?
I came here in 1988 for college and got my first apartment in 1990. I've been here ever since. I've worked a number of odd office jobs, from a company that supplies concessions to movie theaters to a porn catalog company. I started writing professionally in 1997. I've lived in five places: two apartments in the Richmond disctrict, two apartments in the Mission/Dolores district, and a house in the Ingleside disctrict. One of my favorte things to do here is eat out. We have so many great restaurants. (Thankfully I've kept my youthful figure!)
Favorite website
I use the Internet Movie Database most of all (us.imdb.com), but my favorite would probably be www.rottentomatoes.com (except for the fact that it's so graphics heavy and sometimes very clunky).
Favorite local business
There's great video store called Le Video that is absolutely brilliant, but the greatest local business (off the top of my head) has to be Brainwash.
What I'm currently Reading
I'm trying to slog through both "Moby Dick" and "Don Quixote," but the book that's currently in my bag is "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon.
Best Deal in San Francisco
The Goodwill store.
Favorite mode of transportation
BART
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
the Dead Kennedys (and/or) American Music Club
Favorite local hangout
Amoeba Music on Haight
SF has the BEST: food.
You've never lived in SF until: you've eaten at Ti Couz on 16th Street.
Favorite Bay area politician of past or present: Gavin is impressive, but Willie Brown was the most stylish corrupt politician of the decade.
Now that Gavin Newsom is single, who are you going to set him up with? Isn't Sharon Stone single too?
You can tell someone is a local here IF: they dress in layers.
SF would be soooo much better if only: there weren't so much goddam rain and fog.
Best Burrito: Le Taqueria on Mission at 25th.
Best Restaurant: Depends on what mood you're in. Ti Couz always pops in my mind first, though.
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF: Jimmy Stewart following Kim Novak around in "Vertigo."
Best thing to do in the city in the summer: go somewhere sunny.
Favorite artist to come out of the bay area: Robert Crumb
Favorite author to come out of the bay area: Dashiell Hammett, though Daniel Handler is a great guy.
Place you always tell visitors to check out: It depends, but probably either Mission Street or Clement Street.
Favorite Bridge in the area: The big guy, the Golden Gate.
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do? Oh man. Probably have a burrito and go to a movie.
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist:
Nothing really, but I have used it to look for jobs.
I want all the SFists out there to know:
We definitely rank up there with New York, Paris and London. So there.
Tell us a San Francisco Story:
I met my wife in San Francisco. Her friend was dating a friend of my friend, and she met my friend and he cast us both in a movie together. I thought she was cute, and when her date with my friend failed (he arrived on a skateboard), we got together. With everyone's permission of course. Everyone in San Francisco is nice and considerate of each other's feelings. I wouldn't have made a move if my friend were still interested.
Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview:
Favorite outdoor activity?