ESSENTIALS
Craig Holton (The Craggus) — Editor-in-chief, What The Craggus Saw
Email — Twitter — Facebook Page — Instagram
FILMOTOMY RECOMMENDS
Favourite Films From Every Year Of My Life (Revised And Updated)
There’s no ignoring this elephant in the room. Dumbo (1941) Review
WANT TO KNOW MORE
Robin Write: Where else can you be found?
I haven’t done much outside of my own site to be honest and not through lack of willing but mainly lack of time. I recently recorded a guest appearance on the MovieBunker Podcast and that was fun so hopefully I’ll get to do more of that in the future. Writing for other sites would be great but I struggle to have the time to get through the content backlog I have for What The Craggus Saw and I *hate* the idea of letting anybody down. I even get a little anxious when I agree to join somebody else’s blogathon!
How was your Website / Podcast Conceived?
I’ve always been into movies and TV but the blog owes its inception to increasingly long and detailed Facebook posts after seeing movies. The site broadened out into (any) movies and (certain) TV shows and we’re currently kicking around a few ideas for a podcast but nothing definite yet.
What makes your Website / Podcast stand out from the rest?
I’d like to think its a little bit funny and a little bit insightful from time to time, but in all probability my USP is how often I change the logo.
Where do you see your Website / Podcast in the next 5 years?
For the site to be financially self-sustaining – not raking in cash to live off but enough to pay its own upkeep. We’re planning to move to a new hosting model which will have more functionality and features and help drive traffic. More contributors with more regular contributions (which would free me up to contribute to other blogs and sites) and definitely with a podcast spin-off. I want to get my kids more involved so that, in the fullness of time, I can hand off the site to them.
What are your Go-To Sites for Film?
Film School Rejects, The Hollywood Reporter, IMDb, io9.com and, honestly, Twitter – I read so much content through my twitter feed, it’s my go-to over and above any bookmarks, which I tend to forget I’ve saved. Plus I subscribe to tons of other blogs – the only rule I have is not reading reviews of a film I haven’t written up myself yet.
Classic Film you Shamefully haven’t seen?
Apocalypse Now
A Film that Genuinely Scared you?
Under The Skin
A Film that still makes you Cry like a baby?
Up
A Film that still has you Pissing Your Pants Laughing?
The Naked Gun
An Old film you would love to see on an IMAX screen?
Forbidden Planet
What is your Favorite Film of 2019 so far?
The Favourite
Which Screenplay do you wish you had Written?
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
Who would Play you in your Biopic?
Michael Sheen (not a physical resemblance, I just really admire him as an actor)
Who should Host the Oscars next year?
All the “dead” MCU Avengers.
Whose Zero Oscar wins or nominations hurts the most?
Amy Adams, Glenn Close and Bryan Cranston all spring to mind.
The Internet is no more – what is your Job now?
Yikes! That’s a scarily hard question to answer! I have no idea and also, now, existential employment dread.
What is one of your greatest Childhood Movie Memories?
I remember going with my Mum to see Grease in the local ABC cinema and then afterwards going to Boots (Boots, with it’s Star Wars interrogation droid style security cameras) to buy the LP soundtrack immediately after.
That’s probably my earliest movie memory but my *greatest* probably stretches the possible definition of childhood because it happened when I was 17 and I plucked up the courage to go and see Nightmare on Elm StreeT 1 to 4 (plus The Evil Dead) in an overnight movie marathon having not watched a horror movie since the age of 12 when my older cousins thought it would be hilarious to make me watch the first Freddy Krueger film.
Who were your Movie Star crushes growing up?
Lea Thompson
Elizabeth Shue
Janeane Garofalo
Neve Campbell
Pick 5 words that best describe going to the Cinema?
Escape
Wonder
Passion
Family
Pick’n’mix
Where do you stand on Streaming Services and their place in film?
I think they’ve expanded to fill the hole left when the big studios abandoned the ‘middle budget’ field to either plough money into big-budget franchise blockbusters or snap up cheap indie films for distribution. The proliferation of platforms is driving an increase in diversity of storytellers which is also a good thing.
Ultimately, the experience of watching a film communally on a big screen will always be different from watching on a TV or smaller screen but if the film is good enough, its power will still shine through. There’s no art form that doesn’t benefit from an increase in potential distribution channels.
What is your Honest Opinion on the entire Star Wars saga?
I doubt I’m capable of giving an even remotely objective view on the original trilogy as they were so indelibly intertwined with my formative years. The prequels almost crushed my enthusiasm for the franchise from me but now I recognise they were deeply flawed but fascinatingly ambitious. The latest cycle of films are entertainingly slick and fun but only The Last Jedi had any artistic courage to match the visual spectacle.
We really need a Film Twitter definition – what is yours?
Film Twitter is a four-letter world.
Share one of your most Controversial movie world opinions?
Christian Bale was a terrible Bruce Wayne / Batman and easily the worst part of Nolan’s trilogy.
Change one thing about a Masterpiece, and tell us why?
Fixing the match-cut betwixt bone and spaceship in 2001: A Space Odyssey because conventional wisdom hails it as incontrovertible visual genius but to me, I get the intent, but the execution is aggravatingly disjointed.
What are some of the Film Quotes you use a lot in everyday life?
Weirdly, “Off to the cupboard with you now, Chip…”
also
“I am Jack’s complete lack of surprise.”
and
“I carried a watermelon?” and many, many more…
What is the Role of a Film Critic – and how important are they?
Film Critics, both professional and amateur have a role to play in analysing film and bringing insights and observations to a wider audience, to support understanding and appreciation of the art and intent of the artists and their role is vitally important in bringing alternative interpretations and ideas into others’ sphere of consciousness.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve gained a new or deeper appreciation for specific films after reading others’ feelings and thoughts on them. It’s never about whether or not to go and see something, it’s about sharing the passion and pains of the movie-watching experience.
A Film Buff asks you for advice starting a Website / Podcast – what do you tell them?
Be prepared for it to be hard – and wanting to quit. Sometimes it will be the most fun you can ever have and other days (weeks, months even) it can feel like a millstone around your neck. Keep going, keep pushing out content and believe in your take. As long as your being authentic, it doesn’t matter if you’re the only one who likes the things you like.
