Movies vs. Capitalism

Rivka and Frank are joined by political commentator Jessica Burbank to discuss Bong Joon-Ho’s 2019 masterpiece, Parasite, digging into the themes of class antagonisms, failed solidarity, and elitism that run through the characters' relationships. Also how the film uses “the smell” as a perfect metaphor for classism, and why being stinky in real life is actually a good thing..  🤝 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 at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com. Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Rivka and Frank are joined by filmmaker and activist Robin Johnson to talk about Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s deranged rom-com You’ve Got Mail, arguing that the movie’s plot is essentially a pro-capitalist psychological thriller about a woman who is manipulated and subdued by her corporate oppressor. They discuss how film's characters are emblematic of 90s liberalism that uses racially coded language and casually jokes about falling in love with fascist dictators, and how the character of Joe Fox is a manipulative pathological liar whose only redeemable quality is that he’s played by Tom Hanks. 🤝 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 at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com. Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

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 organizing campaign? And when did he find the time to set up that elaborate domino run?? Rivka also points out how V’s torture and reinvention of Evie detracts from what could have been a compelling heroine’s journey. 🤝 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 at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com. Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

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 provides additional historical context about the Gilded Age, the Bonus March, and the “neoliberal turn” of the 1970s.  🤝 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 at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com. Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

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.  🤝 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 at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com. Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Shannon Amabile, a licensed psychotherapist and passionate cinephile, joins the discussion to analyze the cult classic 'Josie and the Pussycats.' They delve into the film's sharp satire of late 90s consumerism and the music industry’s exploitative nature. Amabile shares insights on the impact of advertising on mental health and creativity. The conversation highlights the film's commentary on brand loyalty and subliminal messaging, urging listeners to engage thoughtfully with media while navigating the pressures of capitalism.

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_capitalism 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

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. 🤝 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 at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com. Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

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.  🤝 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 at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com. Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

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 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