Movies vs. Capitalism

Rivka and Frank are joined by theater educator, author, and Executive Artistic Director of Celebration Barn, David Bruin, to discuss the 2011 finance drama Margin Call. The film, which takes place at a fictional investment firm at the start of the 2008 financial crisis, is a fascinating look into the toxic work of finance. They talk about the ins-and-outs of the subprime mortgage crisis, the twisted pathology of finance bros, and how when the ultrarich play games the only losers are the people not playing. CeasefireToday.com Celebration Barn For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2014 jazz drama Whiplash.  🤝 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 educator Julian Elijah Martinez for a conversation about Park Chan-wook’s 2003 masterpiece Oldboy. They discuss the film’s themes of toxic male narcissism and unquenchable vengeance, how the film serves as a metaphor for the violence perpetuated by the carceral system, and how many live Octopi the lead actor had to actually eat. For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2011 financial crisis-era thriller Margin Call. 🤝 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 share their thoughts about the new dystopian war film Civil War, written and directed by Alex Garland. They discuss the film’s seemingly complete lack of politics, other than its cynical view of war correspondents and journalists in general. They also get into the whole “Red vs. Blue” debate, how the film fails to contextualize our current conditions, and praise power couple Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons. 🤝 TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism

Rivka and Frank are joined by actor Kate Eastman for a conversation about Hayao Miyazaki’s 1997 masterpiece Princess Mononoke. They discuss the film’s central theme of environmental equilibrium, the groundbreaking animation, some brief history of feudal Japan, the queer-coded love story, and how Ashitaka is the snack we’ve all been waiting for.  Princess Mononoke and History (Jonathan Hielkema) Radical American Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation: A Third World Critique (Ramaehandra Guha)   For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching Alex Garland’s 2024 dystopian thriller Civil War. 🤝 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 unpack the 2023 Nicolas Cage film Dream Scenario, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli. 🤝 TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝 www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism

Rebecca Burns, an investigative reporter specializing in housing and finance, joins the discussion about Robert Zemeckis’ animated classic. They delve into the film's nods to Los Angeles history, such as the Great Red Car Conspiracy, and explore how Toons represent marginalized communities. The conversation also touches on the groundbreaking animation techniques, the rivalry between Disney and Warner Bros, and the film’s darker themes reflective of capitalism and societal issues, including urban displacement and exploitation in Hollywood.

Rivka and Frank are joined by writer and director Alex Hare for a conversation about the anti-capitalist banger Little Shop of Horrors. They talk about the musical’s production history and how creators Alan Menken and Howard Ashman set out to write a musical that was critical of capitalist social relations. They also unpack the myriad metaphors of Audrey II, whether Seymour is a complicit actor or abuse victim, and the show’s original (and much darker) ending.  Alex’s Little Shop Playlist Ember Cooperative For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 1998 Robert Zemeckis film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. 🤝 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

Jaffer Khan, a New York-based stand-up comedian and TV writer, joins the hosts to delve into the cultural significance of 'The Truman Show.' They explore how Truman's journey serves as a metaphor for radicalization and critiqued the commodification of genuine experience. The conversation reveals how the film anticipated the self-surveillance state of social media and reflects on the ethical dilemmas faced by artists today. Jaffer shares insights on political comedy, while they all discuss the need for resistance against manufactured realities.

Rivka and Frank are joined by journalist and writer Seth Simons for a conversation about the 2021 Nicolas Cage drama Pig. They discuss the film’s central theme of creativity vs. commodification, cooking as one of the most communal forms of art making, the abusive and exploitative nature of the restaurant industry, and whether the character of Darius is the scariest produce supplier ever depicted on-screen.  Humorism.xyz CeasefireToday.com 5Calls For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 1998 Peter Weir / Jim Carrey classic The Truman Show. 🤝 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 review the 2024 Academy Awards, AKA The Oscars. They discuss the pro-Palestinian protest outside the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, director Jonathan Glaser’s (somehow) controversial acceptance speech for The Zone of Interest, Emma Stone’s surprise victory, and all of glitz and glam of Hollywood’s biggest night.  CeasefireToday.com 5 Calls 🤝 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