Z-View: “Soylent Green”

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The Pitch: ”Hey, what about Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson in a big screen scifi film?”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “What is the secret of Soylent Green?”

The Overview:   *** Beware –  spoilers are found below ***

The year is 2022.  The world is overpopulated and (thanks to climate change and pollution) without resources to house or feed most of the population.  The divide between the haves and have-nots has never been worse.  Most of the poor survive on rations provided by the Soylent corporation.

Charlton Heston plays a cop assigned the murder of a wealthy man with connections to the Soylent corporation and important politicians.  When Heston refuses to stop his investigation he becomes marked for death.

The Good

  • The state of the world without food, water, shelter and resources for any but the wealthiest is well done.
  • Leigh Taylor-Young as Shirl.  Chuck Conners vs Charlton Heston!
  • Edward G, Robinson in his final role.
  • The scene of Robinson and Heston enjoying a real meal of food Heston had confiscated.
  • Heston going to save Robinson and becoming mesmerized at the video playing.
  • The last line of the movie is a classic.

The Bad:

  • The state of the world.
  • The cops are crooked… including Heston.
  • How much people like Soylent Green.
  • The movie has a bit of a 1970’s futuristic vibe to it, but overall still holds up well.

The Ugly:

  • When your best choice is to check out.

 

Rating: 4 out of 5