Curating a season at the Edinburgh Filmhouse

Craig Hill has picked his favourite films to be screened at Edinburgh’s Filmhouse cinema. 

The comedian said: ‘I was thrilled when the Filmhouse – which I’ve been going to since 1991 when I was a student in Edinburgh – asked me to indulge myself and come up with my favourite fun films.

‘It’s so hard to narrow your favourite films down to a shortlist but basically I chose the ones that made me laugh the most or were feel-good I could lose myself in or just pure entertainment.

‘I think my number one favourite film is What’s Up Doc? the 1970s slapstick comedy with Barbra Streisand, Ryan O’Neal and Madeline Khan giving spot-on comedy performances.’

That film kicks off the season on Monday.

The cinema has been inviting famous names to curate short searsons since 2017. Hill is the tenth ‘ house guests’ to take on the role, following the likes of Young Fathers, Irvine Welsh and Ian Rankin.

His selection – with his reasoning – includes 

What’s Up Doc? 'For comic timing, nothing beats this. Barbra Streisand’s delivery is so spot on and I never knew she was such a great comedy actor till I saw this. And Madeline Khan’s character is brilliantly unhinged and hysterical and who doesn’t love a 70s farce with car chases and a tanned Ryan O'Neal in white boxers?'

Up: 'Simply because that’s how you feel when it’s finished-up! It’s joyous, fun, charming and for an animated film I totally believed in the world it created.'

Deadpool:  'This was a complete surprise to me! I wasn’t expecting it to be laugh a minute but it absolutely was. Ryan Reynolds is just brilliant at taking the piss out of the superhero genre. Classic lines and an AMAZING opening scene!'

Contact: 'I was enchanted by this film. I was taken away to another world, in fact, universe – and I just loved going on that journey with Jodie Foster’s character. A spiritual, peaceful fascinating film.'

Airplane: 'How could I not include this in my top films! An absolute classic which surprisingly even to this day makes me laugh out loud! So many brilliant lines that my friends and I still quote back to each other even now.'

Slumdog Millionaire:  'It’s just such a joy to watch-the cinematography is stunning!  It’s a feast for the eyes and a great story well told-what more do you want?'

Published: 8 May 2019