SOYLENT GREEN

title: SOYLENT GREEN
year: 1973
cast: Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, Edward G. Robinson
rating: ****

Like SILENT RUNNING, this science-fiction cult classic has a big time environmental message, yet never gets preachy. The investigative action, through the eyes of Charlton Heston's wily cop character, is always intriguing: there's a secret being withheld and the murder of an important man (Joseph Cotten) could be connected. The future, where overpopulation and lack of food causes the government to dole out a wafer substance called "Soylent Green," seems claustrophobically real despite some dated sets and costumes. And with actors like Heston, Joseph Cotten, Leigh Taylor-Young, Chuck Conners, and Edward G. Robinson, this is a gem with a twist ending that, although you might see it coming, is still quite good: if not for the fact Heston gets to scream it at the top of his lungs!