 It's the year 2022 . . . People are still the same. They'll do anything to get what they need. And they need Soylent Green. Soylent Green is landmark screen science-fiction, a riveting entertainment and a cautionary tale that holds a mirror to a tomorrow rife with ecological disaster. Working well again in the futuristic genre following Planet Of The Apes and The Omega Man, action titan Charlton Heston portrays Thorn, a detective prowling the dark streets of a polluted, overpopulated Big Apple gone rotten in 2022. He's trailing a murderer-and the trail leads to a stunning discovery. Vividly realized, Soylent Green's world gains its power not just from its social effects but from its heart-a human dimension magnified by the performance of legendary Edward G. Robinson in his moving screen farewell. Cast Notes: Charlton Heston (Detective Thorn), Leigh Taylor-Young (Shirl), Chuck Connors (Tab Fielding), Joseph Cotten (William R. Simonson), Brock Peters (Chief Hatcher), Paula Kelly (Martha), Edward G. Robinson (Sol Roth), Stephen Young (Gilbert), Mike Henry (Kulozik), Lincoln Kilpatrick (The Priest), Roy Jenson (Donovan), Leonard Stone (Charles), Whit Bissell (Governor Santini), Celia Lovsky (The Exchange Leader), Dick Van Patten (Usher #1). User Comment: Loadmaster from Dallas, TX, 15 August 2003 • This was Eddie Robinson's 101st film and his last, and he died of cancer nine days after shooting was complete. All of which makes his key scene in the movie all the more poignant. Although some of the hair and clothing styles are a bit dated (also note the video game shown in the film), but the subject of the film is pretty much timeless. Heston said he had wanted to make the film for some time because he really believed in the dangers of overpopulation. Several things make this film a classic. The story is solid. The acting is top-notch, especially the interplay between Heston and Robinson, with nice performances also by Cotten and Peters. The music is absolutely perfect. The medley of Beethoven, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky combined with the pastoral visual elements make for some truly moving scenes. This was the icing on the cake for the film. And the theme (or the "point") of the film is a significant one. Yes, it's a film about overpopulation, but on a more important note it's a cautionary tale about what can go wrong with Man's stewardship of Earth. It's in the subtext that you find the real message of the film. Pay attention to what Sol says about the "old days" of the past (which is our present), and note how Thorn is incapable of comprehending what Sol is saying. This film is one of my top sci-fi films of all time. Summary: A classic even after 30 years. User Comment: dr_foreman from Brooklyn, NY, 1 July 2004 • Soylent Green IS...a really good movie, actually. I never would've thought it. I don't really like Heston in his sci-fi efforts. He's one of those actors who, like Superman, manages to come across all sneery and invincible most of the time. I prefer more vulnerable heroes. And indeed, he sneers his way through much of Soylent Green, too, but as he's supposed to be playing an overconfident bully I don't really mind. I can understand why some people would turn their noses up at this movie. Soylent Green makes no effort whatsoever to create futuristic visuals (what do you know - it looks just like 1973), and it's lacking in action. But I admired the film's vision of a complex, corrupt, and highly stratified society, and I was so pleased to see that Edward G. Robinson had such a moving, funny final role. Nice little character moments - like when he shares some precious food with Heston - really make the movie. Summary: remember, before Star Wars, when sci-fi was smart? Trivia:
IMDb Rating (07/04/11): 7.0/10 from 17,228 users
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