Movies vs. Capitalism

Back to the Future (w/ Jon Shelton)

Rivka and Frank are joined by Jon Shelton, professor of democracy and justice studies at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, for a conversation about the 1985 classic sci-fi comedy classic, Back to the Future. They explore the film’s focus on hyper-individualism as it relates to economic mobility, and critique the character of Doc Brown for his Silicon Valley style scientific approach, and  the flawed sexual politics ascribed to the movie's only female character.
The Education Myth: How Human Capital Trumped Social Democracy (Cornell University Press, 2023)
The Goldie Wilson Conspiracy (Yo! Black Pop Culture)
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

The Grapes of Wrath (w/ Harvey Kaye)

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. 
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

First Reformed (w/ Andrew Perez)

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. 
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Titanic (w/ Dr. Erika Okamoto)

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)
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Trading Places (w/ Jamel Johnson)

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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NOlympics LA
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

John Q (w/ Nina Turner)

Rivka and Frank are joined by former Ohio state senator and congressional candidate Nina Turner for a heartfelt discussion about the Denzel Washington health insurance drama John Q, the story of father who holds an emergency room hostage after learning his health insurance won’t cover his son’s heart transplant. Even though the film was made in 2002, its message and themes remain as relevant as ever. Nina shares her personal experience with the American health care system and talks about the country’s desperate need for universal health care. They also explore how the health care industry dehumanizes both patients and doctors, and how the film’s clear-eyed portrayal of John Q leads to even his hostages feeling sympathy for him.
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Barbie (w/ Jessie Kahnweiler)

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.
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Robocop (w/ Mike Benner)

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.”
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Dr. Strangelove (w/ Matthew Cunningham-Cook)

Rivka and Frank are joined by journalist Matthew Cunningham-Cook to dig into Stanley Kubrick’s dark satire about nuclear war, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. They explore the historical parallels between Dr. Strangelove and what actually transpired during the Cold War. Matthew explains how one of the film’s main characters was loosely based on eccentric anti-communist Air Force General Curtis "Bombs Away" LeMay. They also also touch on the influence of the right-wing anti-communist John Birch Society on 1950s American politics, and the origins of Operation Paperclip, in which the U.S. intelligence community recruited former Nazi military officials and scientists to help defeat the Soviet Union.
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen

Dude, Where’s My Car? (w/ Devon Young)

Rivka and Frank are joined by Devon Young, organizer and founder of the performance venue Little Secret LA, for a truly mind-altering conversation about the 2000 stoner comedy Dude, Where’s My Car? They discuss the concept of “male amnesia” and how the film’s protagonists, Jesse and Chester, progress through their adventure as unbiased babies. While the film remains immensely offensive upon a rewatch, Devon mentions a thesis by queer theorist Jack Halberstam that explores the characters’ latent heteroflexibility. Devon also tells Rivka and Frank the story of going on a date with the ’90s supermodel Fabio. 
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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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen