The Greats of Roth Kicks Off
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Blame it on "bad chop-suey" if you will, but Eli Roth has put together the most eclectic film festival bill, ever.
Where else but during the Greats of Roth 2-week run at L.A.'s classic grindhouse movie theater, The New Beverly, can you see a mixed bag like a nonsensical giallo (Torso, 1973), a whacky comedy (Zapped, 1982), and an all-out horror film (The Blair Witch Project, 1999)?
I had the pleasure of attending last years' excellent director/curator film festivals by Quentin Tarantino and Edgar Wright, and I must say it looks as though 2008 will be just as cinematically orgasmic. Much like the man himself's movies, Roth's "greats" are a rollercoaster ride of laughs, scares, shocks and head-shakers. There really is something for everyone here, and if nothing else you will be thoroughly entertained.
At last night's kick-off, Roth introduced the ghoulishly delightful double-bill of Torso (1973) and Pieces (1982) and doled out a few trivia tidbits on how they relate to his own films: for example, Torso actor Luc Merenda plays the detective who stabs Jay Hernandez in Hostel II; and the totally random kung-fu scene in Pieces — complete with the "bad chop-suey" excuse — inspired the "pancakes" scene in Cabin Fever.
Roth went on to express the importance of keeping the New Beverly alive, following last summer's unexpected death of longtime owner and manager, Sherman Torgan — one of the ways to do that, Roth said, is to attend these fun film festivals and to tell all your friends… So, I'm doing my part. Here goes!
THE GREATS OF ROTH FILM FESTIVAL
February 17th - 19th
TORSO
PIECES
February 20th - 21st
MOTHERS DAY
CREEPSHOW
February 22nd - 23rd
CARRIE
ZAPPED!
February 24th - 26th
THE APPLE
STUNT ROCK
February 27th - 28th
THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST
February 29th - March 1st
BACHELOR PARTY
CADDYSHACK
Click to read our reviews of Torso and Pieces.
Admission to all of the screenings is $7 for adults, $6 for students with ID and $4 for children and seniors. All evening screenings begin at 7:30, with a matinee double feature on weekends. No advance tickets will be sold. The box office opens 15 minutes before the first show.