Jeffrey M. Anderson

  • 332 Stories | 
  • Page 1 of 17
The Alamo Drafthouse in the Mission is pictured in August 2019. The movie theater industry was decimated by the pandemic, but doors are back open for new releases. (Jason Henry/New York Times)

Movie theaters and new releases are back

Our guide to what’s playing at San Francisco’s cinemas, large and small

The Alamo Drafthouse in the Mission is pictured in August 2019. The movie theater industry was decimated by the pandemic, but doors are back open for new releases. (Jason Henry/New York Times)
Video Wave of Noe Valley opened in 1983, during the days of VHS and well before the proliferation of widescreen TVs, high definition and Netflix. (Jeffrey M. Anderson/Special to The Examiner)

How SF’s last video rental store survives Netflix

Video Wave of Noe Valley is for streaming sceptics

Video Wave of Noe Valley opened in 1983, during the days of VHS and well before the proliferation of widescreen TVs, high definition and Netflix. (Jeffrey M. Anderson/Special to The Examiner)
Awkwafina and Simu Liu play San Franciscans who work at the Fairmont Hotel in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”<ins> (Courtesy Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios)</ins>

Marvel movie’s running ‘Rings’ around town

Asian superhero flick ‘Shang-Chi’ has exciting scenes in The City

Awkwafina and Simu Liu play San Franciscans who work at the Fairmont Hotel in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”<ins> (Courtesy Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios)</ins>
Denilson Garibo, a student member of the Oakland school board, is in the spotlight in “Homeroom.” (Courtesy Hulu)

School gaze: Documentarian faced devastating challenges making ‘Homeroom’

Peter Nicks completes film in wake of daughter’s death, COVID

Denilson Garibo, a student member of the Oakland school board, is in the spotlight in “Homeroom.” (Courtesy Hulu)
The hallway in the Regal Stonestown Galleria movie complex feels almost like something from the set of a music video. (Jeffrey M. Anderson/Special to The Examiner)

Big-screen scene is Regal at Stonestown

New 12-auditorium theater brings back movies the right way

The hallway in the Regal Stonestown Galleria movie complex feels almost like something from the set of a music video. (Jeffrey M. Anderson/Special to The Examiner)
Taylour Paige plays the title character in “Zola.” (Courtesy A24)

Trick or tweet: ‘Zola’ a zany story based on a social media thread

Meta movie explores the nature of 21st century storytelling

Taylour Paige plays the title character in “Zola.” (Courtesy A24)
Vin Diesel, left, is joined by John Cena in “F9,” to unimpressive effect. (Courtesy Universal)

‘F9’: Fallen from chase

Despite slick stunts, ninth ‘Fast and Furious’ flick requires big forgiveness

Vin Diesel, left, is joined by John Cena in “F9,” to unimpressive effect. (Courtesy Universal)
“Luca” is said to be inspired by director Enrico Casarosa’s childhood in Italy. (Courtesy Disney/Pixar)

Monster splash: Pixar’s ‘Luca’ is sunny and funny

It’s a pleasant summer flick, not a profound masterpiece

“Luca” is said to be inspired by director Enrico Casarosa’s childhood in Italy. (Courtesy Disney/Pixar)
The uplifting “In The Heights,” based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2005 stage musical, celebrates life in Washington Heights, N.Y. (Courtesy Warner Bros.)

Lin & tonic: Miranda’s ‘In the Heights’ hits the big screen exuberantly

Film version of B’way hit is everything a movie musical should be

The uplifting “In The Heights,” based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2005 stage musical, celebrates life in Washington Heights, N.Y. (Courtesy Warner Bros.)
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are back as the beloved Warrens in the third “Conjuring” movie. <ins>(Courtesy Warner Bros.)</ins>

Third ‘Conjuring’ shows signs of demonic fatigue

New director revisits the Warrens in slightly tired sequel

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are back as the beloved Warrens in the third “Conjuring” movie. <ins>(Courtesy Warner Bros.)</ins>
From left, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds and Emily Blunt appear in “A Quiet Place Part II.” <ins>(Courtesy Paramount)</ins>

Hush life: ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ a solid sequel

Impeccably made film has indelible pandemic-era images

From left, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds and Emily Blunt appear in “A Quiet Place Part II.” <ins>(Courtesy Paramount)</ins>
Suki Waterhouse is good in “Seance,” the debut feature by writer-director Simon Barrett. (Courtesy RLJE Films)

Director Simon Barrett debuts with scary, atmospheric ‘Seance’

Horror flick nods to Italian cinema and plays cleverly on genre motifs

Suki Waterhouse is good in “Seance,” the debut feature by writer-director Simon Barrett. (Courtesy RLJE Films)
Emma Stone plays the title character in the live-action “Cruella.” (Courtesy Laurie Sparham/Disney)

Back to the big screen: Summer Movie Preview

A brief look at the most promising of 2021’s offerings

Emma Stone plays the title character in the live-action “Cruella.” (Courtesy Laurie Sparham/Disney)
Amy Adams is excellent in the psychological thriller “The Woman in the Window.” (Courtesy Netflix)

Pane killer: ‘Woman in the Window’ a well-executed thriller

Joe Wright’s latest is conventional yet beautifully acted

Amy Adams is excellent in the psychological thriller “The Woman in the Window.” (Courtesy Netflix)
Jason Statham, left, and Josh Hartnett star in “Wrath of Man.” (Courtesy Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)

‘Wrath of Man’ is a solid, if solemn, revenge film

Jason Statham reunites with director Guy Ritchie

Jason Statham, left, and Josh Hartnett star in “Wrath of Man.” (Courtesy Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)
Michael B. Jordan adds a welcome depth to the lead character in the exciting “Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse.” (Courtesy Nadja Klier/Paramount Pictures)

‘Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse’ is taut and exciting

Film offers the coolest of the spy novelist’s heroes since Harrison Ford’s Jack Ryan

Michael B. Jordan adds a welcome depth to the lead character in the exciting “Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse.” (Courtesy Nadja Klier/Paramount Pictures)
Lewis Tan plays the hero in “Mortal Kombat.” <ins>(Courtesy Warner Bros.)</ins>

‘Mortal Kombat’ is surprising dumb fun

Gory reboot is a rare fresh film based on a video game

Lewis Tan plays the hero in “Mortal Kombat.” <ins>(Courtesy Warner Bros.)</ins>
The often great Morgan Freeman, seemingly inexplicably, stars in “Vanquish.” <ins>(Courtesy Lionsgate)</ins>

Action flick ‘Vanquish’ is bafflingly awful

Morgan Freeman-Ruby Rose vehicle might be worth viewing for a laugh

The often great Morgan Freeman, seemingly inexplicably, stars in “Vanquish.” <ins>(Courtesy Lionsgate)</ins>
A shot of a pole fisherman in Sri Lanka is among many striking images in “Awaken,” a film by Tom Lowe. ( (Courtesy DUST)

Life savor: Beautiful ‘Awaken’ meditates on human beings and life on earth

“Awaken,” debuting Friday on major Video On Demand platforms, is the latest…

A shot of a pole fisherman in Sri Lanka is among many striking images in “Awaken,” a film by Tom Lowe. ( (Courtesy DUST)
Godzilla battles Kong in in the fun action-adventure “Godzilla vs. Kong.” (Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)

Smash of the titans: ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’

Dumb and fun flick delivers everything you want from a giant monster movie

Godzilla battles Kong in in the fun action-adventure “Godzilla vs. Kong.” (Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)