Movies vs. Capitalism

Latest Episodes:

The Social Network (w/ Jordan Uhl) Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by progressive activist and political commentator Jordan Uhl for a discussion of David Fincher’s 2010 cultural touchtone The Social Network. They get into how the film portrays Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg as a sharp-witted outcast, even though the real-life Zuckerberg is best described as, “if vanilla pudding was annoying.” They also break down the film’s misogynistic gender politics (cough, Aaron Sorkin, cough), and whether or not ordering two rounds of appletinis is worse than being Larry Summers.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Josie and the Pussycats (w/ Shannon Amabile) Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by psychotherapist and cinephile Shannon Amabile for a deep dive into the 2001 cult classic Josie and the Pussycats, taking a nostalgic trip back to the days of body glitter and zebra prints. They talk about the film’s sharp satire of late 90s consumerism, the influence of corporate propaganda, and the hyper-exploitative nature of the music industry.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Chinatown (w/ Julia Rock) Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by journalist Julia Rock for a conversation about the 1974 neo-noir classic Chinatown. They dig into the film’s near-perfect politics regarding institutional corruption, LA’s history of gentrification and real estate expropriation, and Frank finally figures out what the “Chinatown” metaphor actually means.

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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Clerks (w/ Branson Reese) Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by comedian and illustrator Branson Reese to delve into the working class politics of Kevin Smith's 1994 indie classic, Clerks. They discuss how the film effectively depicts the soul-crushing aspects of the service/retail industries, how the film places occupational blame on the individual rather than the system, the movie’s problematic sex politics, and the commodification of Kevin Smith.

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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

Judas and the Black Messiah (w/ Ryan Christian) Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by actor and activist Ryan Christian for a conversation about the 2021 Fred Hampton biopic, Judas and the Black Messiah. They discuss the film's revolutionary politics, how rare it is to see a non-whitewashed version of Black radicalism in pop culture, the history of violence and repression perpetrated by U.S. intelligence agencies, and how the film balances its pathos along with its political messaging.

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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

Brazil (w/ Melanie Vesey) Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by comedian, actress, and director Melanie Vesey to discuss Terry Gilliam’s dystopian black comedy Brazil. They dig into the film's depiction of the merger of state and corporate power, the themes of fantasy escapism, and how hot Robert DeNiro is as a revolutionary plumber.

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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

Office Space (w/ Adam McKay) Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by writer and director Adam McKay — MVC's first official Academy Award winner, no big deal. Adam joins the pod to unpack the 1999 movie Office Space, Mike Judge’s comedic meditation on the modern work environment. The group breaks down the film’s stark portrayal of worker alienation, the brutality of corporate consultants, and how this movie has become even more relevant almost 25 years after its release.

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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

Modern Times (w/ Pedro Ángel Rivera Muñoz) Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by filmmaker, writer, and activist Pedro Ángel Rivera Muñoz to discuss Charlie Chaplin’s anti-capitalist masterpiece Modern Times, which remains relevant to this day with its grotesque depiction of factory working conditions, its satire of the ruling class and state power, and the aspirational message of its ending. They also discuss the historical context of Chaplin as a political artist during the 1930s, and the retribution he received at the time.

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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

Working Girl (w/ Ele Woods) Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by actor, writer, and comedian Ele Woods to discuss the 1988 classic, Working Girl, the prototypical “girl boss” film, and how it brilliantly portrays the predatory male gaze dominant in 1980s cinema. They also do some Melanie Griffith voice ASMR, in case that's what you're into.

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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

Triangle of Sadness (w/ Carla Marie Davis) Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

Rivka and Frank are joined by Carla Marie Davis, co-host of the Sip & Politic podcast, to discuss Ruben Östlund’s brutal 2022 satire, Triangle of Sadness, and how the film is one of the most effective modern commentaries about class politics, even though its ideas regarding gender dynamics aren’t as fully fleshed out. They also dig into how the film confronts the concepts of capitalism and communism head-on, but seems more interested in the influence of power.

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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