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PODCAST

Movies vs. Capitalism

Movies vs. Capitalism

MOVIES VS. CAPITALISM explores the politics of your favorite films through an anti-capitalist lens and the crucial intersection between pop culture and politics. Each episode, hosts Rivka and Frank are joined by a guest for a critical discussion about a movie and the ideological messages baked into it.

tv & film politics

All Episodes

01:31:50

Michael Clayton (w/ Matt Strackbein)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2024/01/23

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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01:07:31

Blow Up My Life (w/ Abigail Horton & Ryan Dickie)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2024/01/16

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. 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism MVC donates its ad space to progressive or

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01:12:08

Alien (w/ Joe Mayall)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2024/01/09

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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03:26

Saltburn, Leave The World Behind [PATREON TEASER]

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2024/01/05

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. 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism

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01:30:25

The Muppet Christmas Carol (w/ Wren Mack)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/12/19

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. Candle House Collective 5 Calls 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism MVC

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01:32:41

It’s A Wonderful Life (w/ Melanie Vesey)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/12/12

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

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01:22:39

Zoolander (w/ Brian Morabito)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/12/05

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. 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism MVC donates its ad space to progressive or leftist causes and organizations. If you’re interested in promoting your work, email us

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03:53

The Killer, The Curse, Britney Spears, Band Of...

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/12/01

Rivka and Frank discuss David Fincher’s new hitman movie, The Killer, a thriller that explores the modern gig economy. They also chat about Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder’s new TV series The Curse, the commodification of pop icon Britney Spears and her autobiography The Woman In Me, and whether it’s ethical to enjoy stories about war, like Band of Brothers, which rules. 🤝 TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism

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58:35

Ask MVC Anything

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/11/28

Rivka and Frank take a break from watching movies to answer questions from listeners! They explain how the cooperative media production structure could supplant the Hollywood studio system, and share some of their favorite personal films — including the ones they still love, despite their terrible politics. They also discuss the recent wave of Hollywood blacklistings against entertainment professionals who have been critical of the Israeli government’s siege of Gaza, including actors Melissa Barrera

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01:13:23

Network (w/ Josh Olson)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/11/21

Rivka and Frank are joined by screenwriter Josh Olson for a discussion of Sidney Lumet and Paddy Chayefsky’s 1976 dark satire Network. They unpack the film's depiction the ideological battle between the Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers, and how the character of TV executive Dianna Christensen remains one of the most important film characters ever rendered on screen. 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism MVC donates its ad space to progressive or leftist causes

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01:10:55

Clueless (w/ Karen DiConcetto)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/11/14

Rivka and Frank are joined by television and film writer Karen DiConcetto for a material analysis of a film about materialism: Amy Heckerling’s 1995 teen comedy Clueless. In today’s interview, Rivka, Frank, and Karen celebrate Heckerling’s brilliant script while unpacking the rampant materialism depicted by the film’s Beverly Hills teenagers — and how those themes were potentially harmful to its audience, particularly young women. They also draw a line between the lead character Cher Horowitz and

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01:08:41

Sorry to Bother You (w/ Boots Riley)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/11/07

Rivka and Frank are joined by musician, activist, screenwriter, and director Boots Riley for a discussion about his film debut — the 2018 satire set in the world of telemarketing, Sorry to Bother You. Boots talks about his creative process, including his personal experience working in the telemarketing industry. They also discuss the depiction of organized labor in the film, how the story feels even more relevant in 2023 than it did five years ago, and how we could see a resurgence of “company

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04:00

Killers of the Flower Moon, Fair Play, The Morning...

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/11/03

Rivka and Frank discuss Martin Scorcese’s epic historical drama, Killers of the Flower Moon. They also chat about reading Karl Marx’s Capital, the gender politics of Netflix’s Fair Play, and the new season of the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show. 🤝 TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism

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01:00:16

Bee Movie (w/ CJ Koepp)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/10/31

Rivka and Frank are joined by comedian and climate activist CJ Koepp for an analytical discussion about the 2007 animated feature and Jerry Seinfeld vehicle Bee Movie. Rivka, Frank, and CJ unpack the status quo-reinforcing themes of Bee Movie. They also lambast the film for being deeply unfunny, and size it up against the other animated bug movies from the same era (of which, surprisingly, there are a lot). Grief Café for Gaza 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism MVC

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01:24:44

The Wizard of Oz (w/ Franciso Pérez)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/10/24

Rivka and Frank are joined by Francisco Pérez, an activist, educator, and the director of the Center for Popular Economics, who blows the lid off the 1939 movie-musical classic The Wizard of Oz. Francisco explains how L. Frank Baum’s original 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, offered an allegory for U.S. monetary policy and the populist economics movement of the 19th century. Specifically, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 which sought to upend the gold standard in order to ease the

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01:30:02

Antz (w/ Max Epstein)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/10/17

Rivka and Frank are joined by Max Epstein, Head of Content for Means TV, a worker-owned streaming service, for an in-depth conversation about Dreamworks’ 1998 film Antz. They talk about the film’s depiction of class consciousness spreading throughout an ant colony, the theme of individualism vs. collectivism, and question if the screenwriter read Marx. Jewish Voices For Peace Means TV 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism MVC donates its ad space to progressive or

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01:18:06

9 to 5 (w/ Patricia Resnick)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/10/10

Rivka and Frank are joined by Patricia Resnick, screenwriter of the iconic 1980 comedy 9 to 5, for a firsthand conversation about the radical pro-labor film. Patricia describes the history of 9 to 5, including the lived experiences of female office workers she spent time with, and how studio executives were afraid to make a movie about three women kidnapping their boss. They also discuss 9 to 5’s depiction of the intersection of capitalism and patriarchy, and its recent cultural resurgence as a

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04:47

Telemarketers, Love Is Blind, Blowback, Kardashians...

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/10/04

Rivka and Frank chat about the HBO documentary series Telemarketers, the return of reality TV series Love is Blind and Survivor, the cultural impact of the Kardashians, the historical narrative podcast Blowback, and more. 🤝 TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism

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01:09:21

Heaven’s Gate (w/ Matthew Donovan)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/10/03

Rivka and Frank are joined by Matthew Donovan — founder of The Future Left and co-host of the Neoliberal Hell podcast — to discuss Michael Cimino’s epic 1980 Western Heaven’s Gate. They discuss the film’s depiction of law enforcement aligning itself with property owners in order to violently eradicate the immigrant underclass, the dichotomy of the class traitor vs. the class apologist, and the film’s infamous production. 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism MVC

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01:19:14

Back to the Future (w/ Jon Shelton)

Movies vs. Capitalism ·

2023/09/26

Rivka and Frank are joined by Jon Shelton, professor of democracy and justice studies at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, for a conversation about the 1985 classic sci-fi comedy classic, Back to the Future. They explore the film’s focus on hyper-individualism as it relates to economic mobility, and critique the character of Doc Brown for his Silicon Valley style scientific approach, and the flawed sexual politics ascribed to the movie's only female character. The Education Myth: How Human Capital

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130 results

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