Movies vs. Capitalism

Latest Episodes:

Do The Right Thing Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Rivka and Frank come together for one final duet! This time, they’re diving into a much-requested favorite: the Spike Lee joint Do the Right Thing. Recorded in the middle of a New York heat wave, this episode touches on climate, capitalism, race, community and gentrification.

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Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

REDS (w/ Harvey Kaye) [UNLOCKED] Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

As MVC winds down, we've decided to release our episode on REDS from behind the paywall. Enjoy!

On this episode of Movies vs. Capitalism, Frank is joined by labor historian and pod favorite Harvey Kaye to talk about Warren Beatty’s REDS. They dig into the film’s take on the Russian Revolution, American radicalism, and what Hollywood gets right—and wrong—about revolution.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

City of Hope (w/ Harvey Kaye) Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

In one of our final episodes, Rivka and Frank are joined by pod favorite, award-winning author and professor Harvey Kaye, to discuss the John Sayles drama City of Hope. Filled with an ensemble of working class characters, this film has been on Harvey’s list for us to watch for a while.

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Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest [PATREON PREVIEW] Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Frank and Rivka come together for an MVC duet to discuss one of the podcast's most requested movies: FernGully: The Last rainforest. Often referred to as the "Millennial Silent Spring," the duo explores whether this animated classic is truly an eco-activist film…or whether it's doing more favors for Big Oil than it realizes.

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Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Rain Man (w/ Daniel) Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

This week, Rivka and Frank are reunited with Daniel, host of The Sickle and the Hammer: A Socialist History of the Soviet Union, to discuss another classic: Rain Man. Remarkably, this is the second film in a row we've watched in which Tom Cruise plays a yuppie asshole with a heart of gold. Daniel shares why Rain Man holds deep meaning for him—not only personally, but politically as well.

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Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Risky Business (w/ Harvey Kaye) May 29, 2026

Show notes

This week, Rivka and Frank are joined by favorite returning guest Harvey Kaye to discuss the Reagan-era film that made Tom Cruise an icon: Risky Business. The trio dives into the film’s neoliberal fantasy, its questionable sex politics, and more.

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Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Father Hood (w/ Editor John) Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

This week, Rivka and Frank are joined by the third leg of the MVC team: editor John. Together, they discuss Father Hood, the 1993 Patrick Swayze comedy-action thrille (not to be confused with Kevin Hart’s Fatherhood). Buried beneath the film’s utterly unhinged plot, the trio uncover the politics of its era, including the decade’s fascination with the “deadbeat dad turns out to have a heart of gold” trope.

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Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

American Psycho (w/ Kate Eastman) Apr 18, 2026

Show notes

This week, Rivka and Frank are rejoined by another pod favorite Kate Eastman (ig: @k8beastman) to break down the cult-classic American Psycho. The trio discuss everything from the powers and failures of satire, Patrick Bateman as the embodiment of capitalism and the original incel.

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Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Starship Troopers (w/ Joe) Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

This week, Rivka and Frank are rejoined by pod favorite Joe (of Joewrote) to take on the much-requested Starship Troopers. Together, they dig into the film’s anti-imperialist politics. The group discuss the film’s anti-imperialist politics and its connections (if any) to the current “manosphere” of today.

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Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Andor, Season 1 Mar 13, 2026

Show notes

This week, in a rare turn for the pod, we head to television. Rivka and Frank are joined again by actor and cultural worker Chris Myers to discuss the widely beloved and much-talked-about series Andor, Season 1. The trio explore what lessons the political left might draw from Tony Gilroy’s writing, digging into Cassian Andor’s radicalization, the community and culture of Ferrix, Luthen as an accelerationist organizer, and more.

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MVC donates its ad space to progressive or leftist causes and organizations. If you’re interested in promoting your work, email us at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com.

Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen