Movies vs. Capitalism

Latest Episodes:

27 Dresses (w/ Erica Bitton) Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by actor and writer Erica Bitton for a cautionary discussion of Katherine Heigl’s 2008 romantic comedy 27 Dressess, which serves as essential propaganda for the wedding-industrial complex. They also critique the film’s reductive portrayal of its two lead female characters, and pay homage to rom-com legend Judy Greer.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Cradle Will Rock (w/ Harvey Kaye) Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by historian Harvey Kaye for a deep-dive on Tim Robbins’ Depression-era film Cradle Will Rock. The film tells the story of the Federal Theatre Project — a New Deal program that funded public theater productions around the U.S. during the Great Depression — and the reactionary forces that ultimately killed it. Rivka, Frank, and Harvey explore the film’s central themes of ownership in the arts and political censorship. As always, Harvey provides a detailed explainer on the historical context and accuracy of the film.

The Most Radical Speech in Presidential History (Gravel Institute)

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Hillary Clinton’s Oscar Favorites [PATREON PREVIEW] Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Rivka and Frank catch up on the TV series The Curse. They also revisit their conversation about Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in the wake of the Academy Award nominations, unpack Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s Oscar snubs, and wonder why Hillary Clinton felt like she needed to weigh in.

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Michael Clayton (w/ Matt Strackbein) Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by artist and YouTube host Matt Strackbein, AKA The Letterhack, for a conversation about Tony Gilroy's 2007 film starring George Clooney, Michael Clayton, the story of a high-priced “legal fixer” who uncovers a deadly conspiracy perpetrated by his law firm’s corporate client. They discuss how Michael Clayton is ultimately a story about radicalization and redemption, and how the film viscerally depicts the psychological toll exacted from doing a corporation’s dirty work.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Blow Up My Life (w/ Abigail Horton & Ryan Dickie) Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by filmmakers Abigail Horton and Ryan Dickie to discuss their independent feature film Blow Up My Life, a dark comedy thriller set in the world of corporate pharmaceuticals. Abby and Ryan discuss their inspiration for making the film, and go into detail about the challenges producing and distributing independent film in the age of giant media conglomerates.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Alien (w/ Joe Mayall) Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by author Joe Mayall for a deep (space) conversation about Ridley Scott’s 1979 science fiction and horror classic Alien. They explore how the film served as a warning against the erosion of organized labor in the U.S. during the late ’70s and early ’80s, how the film’s intentional choice to foreground the perspective of female and non-white characters, and how the android character of Ash represents the danger of artificial intelligence solely used to maximize profit.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Saltburn, Leave The World Behind [PATREON PREVIEW] Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

Rivka and Frank chat about the flawed class politics (and flawless vibes) of Emerald Fennell’s new film Saltburn, starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi. They also critique Julia Roberts’ new Netflix film, Leave the World Behind — a neoliberal apocalypse fever dream.

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The Muppet Christmas Carol (w/ Wren Mack) Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by actor, writer, and educator Wren Mack to discuss the 1992 holiday classic The Muppet Christmas Carol. They break down why this particular adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel has become a staple of the holiday viewing schedule, including Michael Caine’s committed dramatic performance, Miles Gordon and Paul Williams’ score, and, of course, the friggin' Muppets.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

It’s A Wonderful Life (w/ Melanie Vesey) Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by comedian and actor Melanie Vesey for a cheerful yet critical discussion about Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, It’s A Wonderful Life. They discuss how the film’s depiction of American and liberal idealism may have something to do with its staying power. They also question why Jimmy Stewart’s character George Bailey didn’t simply go on a vacation or two, and suggest that the film’s alternate reality of “Pottersville” actually looked pretty fun.

Netflix Turns To South Korean Writers And Crews As Hollywood Strikes. But They Feel Exploited Too (Los Angeles Times, 2023)

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Zoolander (w/ Brian Morabito) Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by actor and comedian Brian Morabito for a heated debate about Ben Stiller’s 2001 comedy set in the world of high fashion, Zoolander, which seems more interested in portraying models as vapid rather than genuinely critiquing the destructive and exploitative fashion industry.

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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.

Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

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