Soylent Green (1973)

I'm going to tell you why I gave this movie a 9. I contemplated a 10, even though there are other superior science fiction films. Soylent Green hasn't aged well and its depicted technology was an anachronism for the year 2022. The book and the movie did not attempt to depict what technology could have been in the year 2022 because that wasn't the point of the movie. The movie was an environmental warning. I gave this movie a 9 because every pre-teen in America should be made to watch this movie. I believe watching Soylent Green makes a young person possibly more responsible for the environment and far more appreciative of the food his or her parents work so hard to put on the table. As a result of watching Soylent Green as a young teenager, I now appreciate all food served to me, whether by my mother, friends, or purchased. I could go to a friend's house and be served the toughest cow meat by the mother and I would relish it as if it were filet mignon. Soylent Green makes one appreciate the real, delicious food we take for granted in our lives. Everyone knows what Soylent Green is about. It's a national movie icon so I'm not giving away anything that nobody knows. Everyone knows without spoilers that the movie is about everyone having to eat mass-produced, synthesized food squares. Now I won't go further into the story. Other people have already done it. In this dystopian future, only the very wealthy can afford real food. Most Americans under age 35 have never eaten real meat. The scene where the local food grocer shows Shirl and her bodyguard a rare slice of raw, uncooked steak will make a lasting impression on your mind. You'll never forget it. You will become hungry watching this movie. You will come away from this movie as a nouveau-environmentalist. You will NOT waste food again. You will be less picky and less finicky about your food. You will be far more appreciative of the good fortune today to eat real food and meat everyday upon demand. In short, SOYLENT GREEN has the capability to make everyone who watches it a more responsible, more ethical citizen.

Not as potent as it was nearly 45 years ago, "Soylent Green" is a variation of the "1984" theme, a grim view of an undesirable future. It's 2022 New York City, overpopulated and certainly not an apple right off the tree. In fact, there are very few trees left in the city, and very little food. When food does become available, it's from the Soylent company, and here green is the preferred product. What it is exactly is no surprise to film historians, but to those who do not know, it is beyond shocking. At times, the film moves very slowly, but it's a slow road to the inevitable revelation. This is a frightening works where the living are nearly dead inside and desperation is severely felt. You can almost feel the stench, one that even in the heat of the summer, New York hasn't felt yet. In a sense, the film has to move at this speed to get the emotions in the viewers going, and once the film reaches its destination, you are so numbed by the horror of the future that the impact of it all is that much stronger. Reunited from "The Ten Commandments", Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson are friends here, not foes, and when police officer Heston brings Robinson home some surprises, the joy on EGR's face is tear inducing. In fact, Robinson gives a performance so beautiful, it's the best screen swan song an actor could have. He gets a farewell in a scene so poignant that you might be shaking in emotion. Robinson didn't get the Oscar nomination he richly deserved, but an honorary one was given to him, sadly posthumously. A supporting cast of many well known actors of the time goes from Joseph Cotten as a murdered millionaire, Chuck Conners as a brutal assassin, Leigh Taylor Young as a presumed high class prostitute, Brock Peters as Heston's supervisor aware of the conspiracy, Leonard Stone as a slimy pimp, Whit Bissel as the governor (running the state from a tent in what used to be Gramercy Park) and Paula Kelly as Conners' mistress. This is sometimes hard to watch because it sometimes seems so possible, yet ridiculously outlandish in normal times. But normal times have long disappeared, and sensitive viewers may indeed see this as a living nightmare of where society is heading...or possibly reached.

A classic film with Charlton Heston taking the lead as a detective trying to uncover who murdered a corporate big wig. Set in the future where greenhouse gasses and nasty chemicals have ravaged food supplied, a massively inflated populous struggles for food and breathing room. While this film may seem dated by today's slick standards this production from the 70's is still relevant, delivering a message about culture and society, wealth, greed, economics and the lengths humans will go to in order survive. Slow at times while the plot and setting unfolds the film picks up pace towards the end. The acting is as good as you'll get from similarly dated films. There's nostalgia for anybody re watching this but equally there's fun and thrills for new audiences still. Enjoy.

I saw this in 1973 and listed it in my list of movies that I had seen and could not find. A very pleasant surprise that it was just shown on the Comet Network. One of Charleton Heston's best but certainly not his last best. A lot of people dismiss the work of this fine actor simply because his politics were not what they would call politically correct.I really think we would all be better off if our celebrities would keep their politics to themselves unless they wish to run for office. This is certainly not a forum to discuss politics just like it is probably never a good idea to discuss politics in the work place today. We all have the right to our opinions and should respect the opinions of others and should not crowd those with whom we may disagree.As for this fine movie, after 44 years, it still holds up well. I have read in places that there is an effort to remake it and that would be interesting. I certainly think it would be a good project for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Charleton Heston part since a lot of physical "grunt work" is not required. It was certainly a fine farewell performance part for Edward G. Robinson. Rest in peace all of you. Well done.