Movies vs. Capitalism

Frank and Rivka are joined by journalist Taylor Lorenz (User Mag) to discuss the horror film It Follows. The trio unpack the movie’s portrayal of suburban horror, the constant threat of violence against women, and how the film resonates in the context of COVID and our current cultural climate.

For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 1964 drama Seven Days in May.

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Rivka and Frank are joined by Brooklyn-based playwright Andy Boyd to talk about the Coen brothers’ 2016 movie Hail, Caesar!. They get into the film’s portrait of 1950s Hollywood, its sharp send-up of the capitalist studio system, and what it reveals about the uneasy marriage of religion, politics, and mass entertainment. 

For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2014 horror movie It Follows.

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This week on Movies vs. Capitalism, Frank is joined by labor historian and pod favorite Harvey Kaye to talk about Warren Beatty’s REDS. They dig into the film’s take on the Russian Revolution, American radicalism, and what Hollywood gets right—and wrong—about revolution.

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For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2016 Coen Brothers movie ...

Rivka and Frank are joined by Daniel from the new podcast ‘The Sickle and the Hammer: A Socialist History of the Soviet Union’ to talk about the 2001 Soviet-era drama Enemy at the Gates. If you’ve ever wondered what the Western capitalist perspective is on the siege of Stalingrad - this is the movie for you! We unpack all of the propaganda, historical inaccuracies, and flat out lies baked into the film. Because it turns out you’ll ...

Rivka and Frank are joined by journalist and Zeteo staff writer Prem Thakker to discuss Stephen Spielberg and Tom Cruise’s 2002 sci-fi dystopian crime thriller Minority Report. The three talk about the film’s critique of the modern day surveillance state, the philosophical concept of “pre-crime”, and whether the entire movie could have been avoided if John Anderton had just told his colleagues that some weird shit went down in the ...

While we're on hiatus, we're unlocking this episode from behind the paywall! Thank you all for listening and your support :)

Rivka and Frank are joined by MVC all-star Harvey Kaye to discuss Michael Moore’s 2009 documentary Capitalism, A Love Story. They talk about the film’s radicalizing potential, its portrayal of the 2008 financial crisis, what Moore could have done better, and Obama.

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Rivka and Frank are joined by attorney and legal organizer Don to talk about the 1981 cult classic Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. The three compare the political formations and ideologies inherent to both the communists of proto-Gastown and the violent raiders of Lord Humungus’ gang. They also unpack the nature of the film’s unreliable narrator, whether Max is even a good guy (a former cop?!), and if aesthetic expression is a fundame...

This week, Rivka and Frank dive into two of the most talked-about shows of the season: The White Lotus and Severance. They explore how Severance brilliantly captures Marx’s concept of worker alienation, debate whether The White Lotus functions as true satire or simply a glossy drama about wealthy vacationers, and discuss the political implications each series leaves us with.

For next week, we’ll be watching the post-apocalyptic Mel...

Rivka and Frank are joined by MVC editor John for a deep-dive into the sci-fi parody Galaxy Quest. They unpack the film’s clear affection for Star Trek, its sharp satire of fan culture and conventions, and why David Mamet once praised it as one of the best-structured screenplays in modern film. Speaking of space, Frank and Rivka give their take on girlboss billionaire’s modern day galaxy quest in today’s topical. 

For next week we’...

Rivka and Frank return with another duet to revisit a childhood staple: Jumanji, the Robin Williams-led adventure that shaped a generation’s imagination. But as they unpack the film, it becomes clear that it’s doing more than telling the story of a man trapped in a magical board game. Beneath the surface, Jumanji reflects deeper currents—tracing the shadows of American and European imperialism, colonial legacy, and the quiet manipu...

Rivka and Frank are joined by 3 time Emmy Nominated writer and comedian Ellory Smith to discuss the 1998 Disney / Pixar film A Bug’s Life. The trio deep dive into this radical animation, discussing its themes of exploitation and surplus value. They also discuss how the circus bugs symbolize mutual aid, and, in a controversial twist, they ask: Is Flick actually the hyper-individualistic villain of the story?

For next week’s movie, w...

Rivka and Frank are joined by author, activist, and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson to discuss Jason Reitman’s 2009 comedy drama Up in the Air — a movie where George Clooney flies around the country firing people. The three discuss the film’s context coming out shortly after the 2008 financial crisis, the film’s depiction of “corporate loyalty” culture, and how treating people like numbers on a spreadsheet leads t...

Rivka and Frank are joined by organizer and playwright Jesse Jae Hoon to delve into the 2008 Michel Gondry film Be Kind Rewind. Together, the trio explore how this quirky comedy, starring Mos Def and Jack Black, offers a poignant commentary on the power of community organizing and storytelling within movements. Frank and Rivka also discuss the current workers strike at Alamo Drafthouse. 

• Alamo Draf...

Rivka and Frank are joined by comedian Cassie Willson to discuss the 2001 Pixar classic Monsters, Inc. The trio dives into how the story of two monsters whose job is to extract energy through the exploitation of vulnerable human children offers a rich political allegory. This week, Rivka and Frank also cover the 2025 Oscars.

Next week, we'll be watching the 2024 horror-fantasy I Saw the TV Glow.

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Following Anora's big night at the Academy Awards, we're UNLOCKING our Patreon episode on the film, which some have described as the "most comprehensive Anora podcast of all time."

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JAN. 30: Rivka and Frank unpack the varied politics of Best Picture Oscar winner Anora, directed by Sean Baker with a breakout performance by Mikey Madison. The two discuss everything from the politics of sex workers on screen, fuck ...

Rivka and Frank are celebrating their 100th episode of Movies VS Capitalism with a very special guest—Frank's dad, Tom Cappello! With over 40 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Tom brings a deeply personal perspective to the hit 1996 Stanley Tucci film Big Night. In this milestone episode, the trio dives into the politics of cooking—particularly how authentic cuisine is a form of resistance—and explores the impact of a...

Rivka and Frank are joined by writer Svetlana Kitto to discuss the 2024 Timothée Chalamet Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. The trio examines whether the film delves deeply enough into the politics of its time. They also explore whether it matters if an artist considers themselves political, how the women in the film manage to shine despite their shallow character arcs, and why most musicians today are considered cowards.

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Rivka and Frank are joined by actor Kate Eastman to dive into the 2024 body horror thriller The Substance, a film that tackles the twisted intersections of beauty, capitalism, and patriarchy. The trio explores how this movie craftfully unpacks the moralization of beauty and self-care as a form of imprisonment, and why horror is the perfect genre for director Coralie Fargeat to make her unsettling, yet strangely insightful, statemen...