Movies vs. Capitalism

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

Guest: Matthew Donovan, founder of The Future Left and co-host of the Neoliberal Hell podcast. They discuss Heaven's Gate's depiction of law enforcement favoring property owners to eradicate the immigrant underclass. They delve into the film's troubled production and the clash between class traitor and class apologist.

Jon Shelton, a professor of democracy and justice studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and author of "The Education Myth," joins the hosts to dive into the iconic film 'Back to the Future.' They critique the film's portrayal of hyper-individualism and its implications for economic mobility. Shelton sheds light on the problematic gender dynamics and the flawed depiction of Doc Brown's character. The conversation challenges nostalgia by exploring the film’s deeper social and political themes, advocating for a more inclusive narrative.

Rivka and Frank are joined by labor historian Harvey Kaye to discuss the classic 1940 film The Grapes of Wrath, and how today’s climate crisis bears frightening parallels to the Great Depression’s Dust Bowl, both man-made environmental and economic disasters. They also explore the film's portrayal of bankers and law enforcement, class consciousness and proletarian revolution, and how itremains one of America’s most optimistic stories about the power of solidarity.  🤝 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 journalist Andrew Perez to discuss the existential dread of Paul Schrader’s 2017 climate change drama First Reformed. They discuss the film’s masterful storytelling and performances, how its fictional villain is a perfect stand-in for real-world villains like Koch Industries, and its realistic portrayal of radicalization.  🤝 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 the host of the Cocktails and Capitalism podcast, Dr. Erika Okamoto, for a deep (ocean) dive conversation about James Cameron’s 1997 global smash hit Titanic. They discuss the parallels between today’s ecological crisis and the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, in which a person’s societal rank became a literal death sentence for more than 1,500 travelers and crew members. They also debate the internal conflict of Rose’s aristocratic life, the portrayal of the steerage class’ “poor-people party,” and whether or not Jack could have fit on that door. John LaRoche: Titanic's Only Black Passenger (Kelly Carter Jackson, 2020) Cocktails and Capitalism Food Not Bombs Stop Cop City 🤝 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

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.

In this discussion, Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator and an advocate for economic justice, shares her insights on the film 'John Q'. She connects its 2002 narrative about a father's desperation for his son's heart transplant to the ongoing crisis of the American healthcare system. Nina reflects on her own experiences with healthcare, emphasizing the urgent need for universal coverage. The conversation also critiques how the industry dehumanizes patients and explores the film's poignant portrayal of empathy, highlighting the relevance of its themes today.

Rivka and Frank are joined by filmmaker Jessie Kahnweiler for an off-the-walls discussion of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. They discuss the full-blown cultural phenomenon and how its overall message is emblematic of “plastic feminism.” They offer their conflicting feelings about the film’s success: how it is both a win for female filmmakers but an even bigger win for a toy company. Jessie also talks about her experience being on strike, as a member of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), and what’s at stake for artists in Hollywood. 🤝 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 TV writer and producer Mike Benner to discuss Paul Verhoeven's Robocop. They talk about how the film’s evil corporation, Omni Consumer Products, serves as a perfect stand-in for consolidated corporate power. They also unpack Verhoeven’s depiction of homoerotic male aggression as a metaphor for capitalist competition, and how the iconography of Robocop has been misappropriated by police officers who think the character is "cool" “badass” rather than “a cautionary metaphor for the dehumanization of police.” 🤝 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