Jamel Johnson, comedian and podcaster, joins the hosts to discuss the film Trading Places and its exploration of wealth inequality. They delve into the 'nature vs. nurture' debate, praise the satirical depiction of the upper class, but also highlight the film's problematic racism and sexism. The rise of neoliberalism in the 1980s is attributed in part to the success of Michael Jackson's Thriller. They touch on exploitative practices in reality TV, power dynamics within organizations, and the LA comedy scene. The differences in public transit between Los Angeles and New York are also compared.
Trading Places satirizes the wealthy elite and criticizes their exploitative practices and elitism.
The movie falls short in its depiction of working-class characters and people in poverty, lacking empathy and depth.
The podcast episode discusses the political messaging in the movie, highlighting class politics, capitalism, and the arbitrary nature of success in the financial world.
Deep dives
Depicting the rich and powerful
Trading Places does a great job of caricaturing old, wealthy white men and their exploitative practices, highlighting their privilege and elitism. The movie satirizes and criticizes the Heritage Foundation and other similar conservative organizations by portraying them as out of touch and ridiculous. It portrays the frat bro culture of the elite with exaggerated acapella singing and self-entitled behavior, shedding light on the absurdity of their actions.
The problematic depiction of poverty
While the movie is strong in criticizing the rich, it falls short in its depiction of working-class characters and people in poverty. Eddie Murphy's character, Billy Ray Valentine, is portrayed in a broad and sometimes stereotypical manner as a street hustler. The movie lacks empathy and depth when it comes to these characters, instead opting for broad generalizations and caricatures. This aspect of the film could have been handled with more care and sensitivity.
The performances of Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy
Dan Aykroyd delivers a strong performance as Louis Winthorpe III, effectively portraying the spoiled and privileged Wall Street executive. His portrayal of a weak man who loses everything is convincing and brings depth to the character. Eddie Murphy shines as the street hustler Billy Ray Valentine, displaying his comedic talents and delivering memorable lines. Their chemistry on screen is palpable and adds to the enjoyment of the film.
Political messaging in the movie
The podcast episode discusses the political messaging in the movie. The speaker reflects on how the movie Trading Places explores class politics and capitalism. They highlight the portrayal of the rich as despicable and manipulative, emphasizing their vulgar worldviews. The dukes, two wealthy characters, are seen as the epitome of greed and selfishness. The movie also touches on the concept of nurture versus nature and the idea that anyone can succeed in the stock market, highlighting the arbitrariness of success in the financial world.
Critique of sexism in the movie
The podcast episode critiques the portrayal of sexism in the movie. The speaker points out a scene where a female character, Ophelia, inexplicably takes her shirt off at a party. They argue that the scene serves no purpose and is an example of gratuitous sexism. They note the lack of nuance and care in handling gender dynamics throughout the film. The speaker questions the motive behind including such scenes and highlights the contradictions in how racism is attributed to the rich characters, while sexism is depicted without justification.
Rivka and Frank are joined by comedian Jamel Johnson to talk about the 1983 Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd comedy Trading Places. They explore the film's central theme of “nature vs. nurture” debate explored in the film, and its satirical depiction of the crusty upper class. Jamel also attributes the rise of neoliberalism in the 1980s in part to the success of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
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