Movies vs. Capitalism

Rivka and Frank talk with Evan from Left of the Projector , a podcast that explores film from a leftist perspective, to discuss the Wachowskis’ 2005 graphic novel adaptation V for Vendetta. They ask questions like: How is V able to take down the English government all by himself? Where does he get all of his supplies? How did he inspire an entire country to revolt without a comprehensive organizin...

This week, historian Harvey Kaye joins the show to gab about the 1992 live-action musical Newsies. They question how it was possible for a major studio like Disney to produce a movie about labor organizing in which police officers literally punch children in the face. They unpack how the film’s two main characters represent the dichotomy between labor “activists” and “intellectuals," and Harvey pr...

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 misogynist...

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. 🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR...

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

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 commodificat...

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...

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

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...

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...

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

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 co...

Rivka and Frank are joined by Chris Myers , an Obie Award-winning actor, organizer, and founder of Anticapitalism for Artists , to discuss Alfonso Cuarón's  masterpiece Children of Men. They talk about how this 2006 film is scarily reflective of today's world and our failing social systems, the theme of “faith vs. chance,” and the various forms of organizing that activists utilize in the movie and...

On the inaugural episode of Movies vs. Capitalism, Rivka and Frank are joined by journalist, writer, and The Lever founder David Sirota to discuss the Reagan-era classic Ghostbusters. They discuss how the film’s pro-business, anti-government messages are baked into almost every scene, which is extra troubling considering the movie was was largely marketed to children. They also dig into the film’s...

Movies vs. Capitalism premieres on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode!