Movies vs. Capitalism

The Santa Clause [PATREON PREVIEW]

ust in time for Christmas, Frank and Rivka are back with their second holiday duet—this time breaking down The Santa Clause. The duo dive into the politics of this absolutely unhinged ’90s classic, from the divorced-dad trope to Scott Calvin being a full-on pos, the film’s fatphobic messaging, and Santa as the ultimate capitalist overlord.
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For next week’s movie, snap out of it because we’ll be watching Moonstruck.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

In time for the holidays, Rivka and Frank cover the 2000 Jim Carrey adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The duo dig into whether this Dr. Seuss classic is truly an anti-consumerist tale—or if it ultimately misses the mark. They also unpack Whoville as a surprisingly prophetic preview of our current plastic-surgery obsession and the class aesthetics baked into its cheerfully creepy smiles.
 
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching another Christmas classic, Tim Allen’s 1994 The Santa Clause.
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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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Cinderella Man (w/ Ron)

This week, Rivka and Frank are joined by longtime social studies teacher and progressive activist Ron to discuss the 2005 Depression-era boxing drama Cinderella Man. Ron, who has taught for 23 years, uses the film in his 11th-grade classroom to explore politics on screen, and the trio digs into this classic “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” melodrama starring Russell Crowe.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2000 holiday favorite How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
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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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Total Recall (w/ Nathan Gelgud)

This week, Rivka and Frank are joined by former projectionist, alt-weekly critic, and illustrator Nathan Gelgud to discuss the 1990 sci-fi Schwarzenegger hit Total Recall. The trio dive into the film’s take on transhumanism and techno-feudalism, as well as life on mars and how its futuristic anxieties still hit close to home.
 
Reel Politik 
 
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2005 depression era boxing drama Cinderella Man.
🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝
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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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Sinners [PATREON PREVIEW]

Just in time for Halloween, Rivka and Frank team up for a premium duet to discuss the wildly adored 2025 horror-thriller-musical Sinners. Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, the duo unpack the politics behind this genre-bending vampire film.
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For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2005 Ron Howared depression era drama Cinderella Man.
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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
 

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (w/ Shannon Amabile)

This week, Frank is joined by returning guest — psychotherapist and cinephile Shannon Amabile  — to discuss the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? starring Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin. Set during the Great Depression, the film follows a group of desperate contestants competing in a grueling, dehumanizing dance marathon run by a sociopathic emcee. Shannon and Frank unpack the film’s haunting politics and enduring relevance.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching Ryan Coogler’s 2025 vampire smash hit Sinners.
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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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Jurassic Park (w/ Ben Bonnema)

This week, Rivka and Frank are joined by musical theater writer, playwright, and organizer Ben Bonnema to discuss Spielberg’s 1993 classic Jurassic Park. The trio digs into the film’s politics: what it suggests about de-extinction, how the park embodies capitalism’s knack for turning scientific wonder into a luxury good, and whether there’s even a glimpse of a socialist horizon in this dino-thriller.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 1969 Jane Fonda drama They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? 
🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝
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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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Spy Game (w/ Assad Shalhoub)

This week, Rivka and Frank are joined by Assad Shalhoub, co-host of the Habibi House Podcast, for a deep dive into the 2001 thriller Spy Game, starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. Together they unpack the film’s overt racism, its relentless Islamophobia, and its unmistakable role as propaganda for the CIA.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching Spielberg’s epic classic Jurassic Park. 
🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝
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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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Matewan (w/ Harvey Kaye & Jon Shelton)

This week Frank is joined by returning guests Harvey Kaye (award-winning author and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay) and Jon Shelton (professor and chair of Democracy and Justice Studies). In honor of Labor Day they discuss the John Sayles union drama Matewan and dive into labor issues, with insights on workers’ rights and the fight for social democracy.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2001 CIA thriller SPY GAME..
🤝 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝
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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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

I Love You, Man (w/ Andrea More & Mike Benner) [PATREON PREVIEW]

This week, Frank is joined by comedian and actress Andrea More (STICK) and returning guest Mike Benner (Bob’s Burgers) to talk about the Paul Rudd/Jason Segel bromantic comedy I Love You, Man. Together, they unpack the epidemic of male loneliness, the pitfalls of toxic masculinity, and how male friendships are portrayed on screen—especially compared to female ones.
🤝 TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝
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For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching John Sayles’ union drama Matewan.
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.
Editing by John Patrick | Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen