'24 Hours on Craigslist'

Any time of year, you can find it here

MICHAEL FERRIS GIBSON'S entertaining documentary takes a whirlwind tour through a few (among thousands) of the postings on the titular, hugely popular Web site during one typical day: Aug. 4, 2003, to be exact. A series of interviews explore the individuals behind some services offered or requested ("heavy metal chef," "ballroom dance instructor," "pre-op transsexual escort"), as well as relationship or sex ads (including one notably creepy guy in a basement). Not to mention miscellaneous oddities like a rock band fronted by an Ethel Merman impersonator, a diabetic-cat owners' support group, and the sad story behind a roommate-wanted post (the vacancy was created by a car-accident death). Started as an events calendar in 1995 by an actual Craig, the behemoth that is now Craigslist encompasses outlets specific to various cities across United States and around the globe. But the first, and largest, list remains in the right here in the Bay Area, where Gibson keeps his focus. (He also used an all-local crew – recruited via Craigslist, of course). Ultimately this fun, curiously reassuring human mosaic isn't so much about a particular Internet success story as it is about the stubborn Left Coast nonconformity for which it provides one important outlet. See Rep Clock for Red Vic showtimes. (Dennis Harvey)