“24 Hours on Craigslist” is the ultimate people zoo. This isn’t bullshit reality television fodder where the beautiful people go to grab their fifteen minutes. No, these are regular people, genuine in their strange habits and they have no problem sharing their eccentricities with the world. So where does one go to find all of these bizarre folks? Filmmaker Michael Ferris Gibson didn’t have to look much further than Criagslist.org.
Craigslist is an online classified ads community with a whole lot of personality. Well, you probably have to have plenty of personality yourself to discover the personality overflowing at this online destination. Some people think its sole use is to find jobs, locate housing and perhaps buy a used laptop. But dig further and you’ll find that there are far more interesting things going on at Craigslist, such as transsexuals for hire, want ads for tweeker chicks, jobs for heavy metal chefs and beer gut implants for sale. That’s all I can come up with at the top of my head, but it’s all there and more, and just about every major city has its own Craigslist, so wherever you may be, go and check out Craigslist and maybe you can get yourself a much deserved backrub from a gay porno star.
So Michael Ferris Gibson takes his camera out and about the Bay Area, where Craigslist originated, and acquaints us with many of the characters who frequent the list. It’s an absolute blast to watch as all walks of life are represented here and all interests, no matter how off-center, are shared.
And ultimately, we’re presented that inevitable question – is there really a Craig? Many questioned this for the documentary seem to think that Craig is some sort of Wizard of Oz type figure. Others think that he’s just a computer with a nametag reading CRAIG slapped on the side of it. While others really don’t give a s**t. The best thing about all of this is that THE Craig was sitting just a few seats over from me, giggling at all of these suggestions.
