The Deer Hunter
Matinee Heroes
THE DEER HUNTER Michael, Nick and Steven are lifelong friends who work in the mill, hang out at the local bar, and bond on regular deer hunts in the mountains. Before they ship out to Vietnam, they celebrate Steven’s wedding and take one last trip together, completely unaware of how the war will destroy their innocence. In Vietnam, they are thrown into brutal combat and captivity that leaves them physically and emotionally scarred, and for the survivors, it becomes almost impossible to ever truly find their way back home. Craig, Elisabeth and guest Blake Casselman talk about post-Vietnam...
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Ben Hur
Matinee Heroes
BEN-HUR An aristocratic Jew living in Judaea incurs the wrath of a childhood friend, now a Roman tribune. Forced into slavery on a galley and made to witness the brutal persecution of his family, he survives, silently nurturing a relentless dream of vengeance. Craig, Elisabeth and guest Derek McCaw talk about historical fiction, intermissions, inner fat kids and the movie “Ben Hur” on this week’s Matinee Heroes! Show Notes 1:04 Craig, Elisabeth and Derek McCaw talk about their inner and outer fat kids. 10:04 Craig, Elisabeth and Derek discuss "Ben-Hur" 47:30 Recasting 1:10:09...
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Titanic
Matinee Heroes
TITANIC A young aristocratic woman named Rose, suffocating in a rigid engagement, falls for free-spirited third-class passenger Jack Dawson aboard the unsinkable ocean liner - Titanic. Their secret romance defies class and her possessive fiancé as the ship sails toward disaster. When it hits an iceberg, their struggle to survive reveals love, sacrifice, and the brutal divide between those rescued and those left behind. Craig, Elisabeth and guest Ryley Brown talk about touchstone cinema, historical fiction, PCP chowder and the movie “Titanic” on this week’s Matinee Heroes. Show Notes ...
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Epsiode 11 - Enrico Colantoni - CONversations with Craig
Matinee Heroes
Enrico Colantoni brought warmth, candor, and craft to the stage at FanX Salt Lake in September 2025, moving from first-time motion capture on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to lived-in stories from Veronica Mars, Flashpoint, and Person of Interest, blending practical acting insights with dry wit, a steady respect for the work, and genuine connection with the audience. Enrico recounts his first stab at motion capture on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, cracking up about the clingy gray suit and the pure imagination it takes to act to a green void. The infamous Veronica Mars black eye...
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Dances with Wolves
Matinee Heroes
DANCES WITH WOLVES A Civil War soldier on the frontier bonds with a Lakota band and is drawn to the clarity of their way of life. Welcomed into the community and given the name Dances with Wolves, he falls for a white woman raised within the tribe. That fragile peace breaks when Union soldiers arrive to claim the land. Craig, Elisabeth and guest Annie Bulloch talk about reconciling America's bloody past, life on the frontier, confident dogs and the movie “Dances with Wolves” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!! Show Notes 0:57 Craig, Elisabeth and Annie Bulloch talk about Texas and dogs. ...
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Sinners
Matinee Heroes
SINNERS Two estranged twins head back to their Mississippi hometown hoping for a clean slate, but old grudges, buried secrets, and a town that doesn’t forget greet them at the county line. Soon they discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. Craig, Elisabeth and guest Derek McCaw talk about uncomfortable truths, the allure of vampires, Halloween candy and the movie “Sinners” on this week’s Matinee Villains! Show Notes 1:16 Craig, Elisabeth and Derek McCaw talk about vampires and zombies. 11:38 Craig, Elisabeth and Derek discuss "Sinners" 1:05:01...
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Taxi Driver
Matinee Heroes
TAXI DRIVER Travis Bickle can’t sleep, so he drives a cab all night. The city wears him down and he starts to crack. After meeting campaign worker Betsy, he fixates on “saving” the world. First by plotting a hit on a politician, then by trying to rescue a 12-year-old prostitute named iris as he descends into vigilante delusion, one ride at a time. Craig, Elisabeth and guest Brendan Agnew talk about sweaty New York, anti-hero or villain, Halloween goings on and the movie “Taxi Driver” on this week’s Matinee Villains!! Show Notes 1:00 Craig, Elisabeth and Brendan Agnew talk about...
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American Psycho
Matinee Heroes
AMERICAN PSYCHO Patrick Bateman is a polished Wall Street executive. Behind the perfect suit, he hides a predatory, psychopathic ego from his coworkers. After hours in 1980s New York, he unleashes it as a brutal serial killer. Craig and Elisabeth are joined by Everything I Learned From Movies Steve and Izzy to discuss the 80’s greed, unreliable narrators, the International Gay Rodeo and the movie “American Psycho” on this week’s Matinee Villains. Show Notes 1:00 Craig, Elisabeth, Steve and Izzy talk about Stizzy's trip to Reno for the International Gay Rodeo. 15:08 Craig,...
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Episode 10 - Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs - CONversations with Craig
Matinee Heroes
Two icons of 90s television and beyond—Rose McGowan (Scream, Planet Terror) and Holly Marie Combs (Picket Fences, Pretty Little Liars)—took the stage at FanX Salt Lake City 2023 for a heartfelt, funny, and wide-ranging conversation that delighted longtime fans. From sharing memories of growing up as child actors to reflecting on their post-Hollywood lives, the panel blended nostalgia, honesty, and plenty of laughs. Both McGowan and Combs began working as teenagers, navigating the strange realities of Hollywood at a young age. Combs spoke about finding “family” on the set of Picket...
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Fresh
Matinee Heroes
FRESH Noa’s dating life is a dumpster fire of ghosters and red flags, until she meets Steve, who seems refreshingly normal. A romantic getaway soon feels… off. She discovers he has a taste for something truly monstrous and must fight back to make it out alive. Craig, Elisabeth and guest Mark Woodring talk about the current state of dating, Nine-Inch Nails, cannibalism and the movie “Fresh” on this week’s Matinee Villains!! Show Notes 1:09 Craig, Elisabeth and Mark Woodring talk about Nine Inch Nails and FanX. 11:29 Craig, Elisabeth and Mark discuss "Fresh" 46:05 Recasting ...
info_outlineRecorded live at the Fayetteville Comic Show, this episode of CONversations with Craig features a raw, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation with actor C. Thomas Howell. From his early days as a child stunt rider to breakout roles in E.T. and The Outsiders, Howell shares stories from a career that spans Hollywood classics, cult thrillers, and gritty television drama. Whether he’s recalling a tense lunch with Rutger Hauer or reflecting on what it means to stay authentic in an industry built on illusion, Howell brings humor, humility, and a cowboy’s clarity to the stage.
- The Spielberg Spark: A nervous teen, a pack of Marlboros, and a surprise audition landed Howell a shot at E.T.—thanks to some fast thinking from his stuntman dad.
- Rutger's Rule: A cryptic lunch with The Hitcher co-star Rutger Hauer revealed a performance philosophy that would shape Howell’s future as a villain on Criminal Minds.
- Cowboy Credentials: Whether it's wrangling roles or actual horses, Howell proves that sometimes the best special effect is doing your own stunts.
“What I do is bullshit. You’ve got people out here saving lives, man. I play a guy that saves a life.” – C. Thomas Howell
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