Movies vs. Capitalism Movies vs. Capitalism
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- TV & Film
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MOVIES VS. CAPITALISM explores the politics of your favorite films through an anti-capitalist lens. Each episode, hosts Rivka and Frank are joined by a guest for a critical discussion about a film and how it’s obviously a scathing indictment of late-stage capitalism. Examining the crucial intersection between pop culture and politics — and unpacking the ideological messages baked into our favorite movies.
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Princess Mononoke (w/ Kate Eastman)
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.
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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 -
Dream Scenario [PATREON PREVIEW]
Rivka and Frank unpack the 2023 Nicolas Cage film Dream Scenario, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli.
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www.patreon.com/movies_vs_capitalism -
Little Shop of Horrors (w/ Alex Hare)
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 1997 Studio Ghibli Miyazaki masterpiece Princess Mononoke.
🤝 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 -
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (w/ Rebecca Burns)
Rivka and Frank are joined by journalist Rebecca Burns for a conversation about Robert Zemeckis’ 1988 masterpiece Who Framed Roger Rabbit. They talk about how the film draws inspiration from Los Angeles’ history, like “The Great Red Car Conspiracy” and the Chavez Ravine. They also discuss how the film’s “Toons” serve as a stand-in for LA’s marginalized communities, the incredible technical achievements of the film, the tension between Disney and Warner Bros, and how Bob Hoskins is a sexy little hairy meatball.
Against the Wind (The American Prospect, 2024)
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 1986 movie musical classic Little Shop of Horrors.
🤝 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 -
The Truman Show (w/ Jaffer Khan)
Rivka and Frank are joined by comedian Jaffer Khan for a conversation about the 1998 Peter Weir / Jim Carrey masterpiece, The Truman Show. They discuss how Truman’s arc serves as a metaphor for radicalization, Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle and the commodification of genuine human experience, and how the film prophesied the self-surveillance state of social media.
CeasefireToday.com
5Calls
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 -
Pig (w/ Seth Simons)
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
Customer Reviews
Super Great Show
The host are very knowledgeable and take for me, a new look at movies and the messages they send. Easily my favorite podcast. Entertaining, newsy, and fun.
Great pod, intro music ehhhh
Such a good look into current events and incisive critiques movie. Please please change the into music. Thx
Pre show
Love, love, LOVE when you guys check in and rant about the current irritations of the day. Particularly because you also suggest different ways situation could be handled. Very much part of the solution, love the discussions, and am deeply grateful to hear others talk about what a mess capitalism has created in the world. Thank you Rivka, Frank, and all at the Lever!