
Location:
United States
Description:
MOVIES VS. CAPITALISM explores the politics of your favorite films through an anti-capitalist lens and the crucial intersection between pop culture and politics. Each episode, hosts Rivka and Frank are joined by a guest for a critical discussion about a movie and the ideological messages baked into it.
Language:
English
Episodes
REDS [PATREON PREVIEW]
7/10/2025
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 Hail, Caeser!
Duration:00:04:49
Enemy at the Gates (w/ Daniel from ‘The Sickle and the Hammer’)
6/26/2025
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 betray your entire belief system if the girl you like doesn’t like you back. We also talk about Daniel’s podcast, which is a comprehensive telling of the Russian revolution told from a socialist perspective.
The Sickle and the Hammer: A Socialist History of the Soviet Union For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 1981 drama REDS.
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Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:50:07
Minority Report (w/ Prem Thakker)
6/13/2025
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 milk vat.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching 2001 film Enemy at the Gates.
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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
Duration:01:40:13
Capitalism, A Love Story (w/ Harvey Kaye) [UNLOCKED]
5/21/2025
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.
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
Duration:02:04:21
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (w/ Don)
5/1/2025
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 fundamental component of post-apocalyptic survival.
MVC will be taking a break for May but will return with new episodes in June!
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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
In addition, here are Don's expanded notes on the film:
Superstructure and Base What is the base of the tribe outside? Scavenging, primary accumulation
What sort of superstructures does that produce? Militaristic, violent, extremely hierarchical
What is the base of the Papagallo tribe? Maintaining the pump
What superstructures does it produce? More communal, democratic, we need everyone, we will all help and allow everyone to help (assuming it’s not a myth)
We can see the tension between the destroyed economic base but the lagging superstructure. Most clearly exemplified in how the characters approach agreements. They call them “contracts”, but they’re clearly not going to a court to enforce them. We see a number of times that they actually know there isn’t anything to enforce, all parties talk about just backing out of agreements.
I think we see this in this country in our own society now. The economic base of this country has changed significantly since the mid-century compact. The broad-based middle class really doesn’t exist. The political structures we had that served and responded to it have lagged. There’s no need to maintain a broad-based middle class without the threat of an alternative system in the form of the Soviet Union. That threat meant that there had to be some forward momentum on wages, workers rights etc. We had to show progress on a lot of issues to be able to claim that the alternative system was worse. In the political sense that incentivised compromise. At least one element of the American political superstructure (the Republican party) has realized that there’s nothing enforcing that anymore, there's no external threat to the system that requires progress and compromise. What's not so clear is if the other has realized this (Dems).
Duration:01:32:01
Severance/White Lotus
4/24/2025
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 Gibson epic MAD MAX 2: The Road Warrior.
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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
Duration:01:29:51
Galaxy Quest (w/ MVC Editor John)
4/17/2025
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’ll be talking about TV, discussing Severance and White Lotus.
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:41:07
Jumanji [PATREON PREVIEW]
4/10/2025
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 manipulations of capitalist logic.
🤝 TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝
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For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 1999 sci-fi satire Galaxy Quest.
Duration:00:06:40
A Bug’s Life (w/ Ellory Smith)
4/3/2025
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, we’ll be watching the 1995 Robin Williams classic, Jumanji.
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:23:32
Up in the Air (w/ Marianne Williamson)
3/27/2025
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 to feelings of extreme alienation.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 1998 Disney / Pixar film A Bug’s Life.
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:19:16
Be Kind Rewind (w/Jesse Jae Hoon)
3/20/2025
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 Drafthouse Workers Strike FundMore about Jesse Jae HoonTheater Workers for a Ceasefire Next week, we'll be watching the 2009 George Clooney dramedy Up in the Air with special guest Marianne Williamson. .
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:15:49
I Saw the TV Glow [PATREON PREVIEW]
3/13/2025
Rivka and Frank join forces to dissect the 2024 indie horror gem I Saw the TV Glow, directed by Jane Schoenbrun. The pair dive into the film's political subtext, its hauntingly beautiful portrayal of suburban oppression, and its poignant power as a trans allegory.
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For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2008 comedy Be Kind Rewind.
Duration:00:03:28
Monster’s Inc (w/ Cassie Willson)
3/7/2025
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.
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:21:46
Anora [UNLOCKED]
3/3/2025
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 boys with oligarch daddy issues, Sean Baker’s legacy, and more.
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:27:09
100TH EPISODE: Big Night (w/ Tom Cappello)
2/27/2025
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 assimilation on Italian immigrants in America, plus the internalization of the American Dream.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2024 horror fantasy, I Saw the TV Glow.
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:25:05
A Complete Unknown (w/ Svetlana Kitto)
2/20/2025
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.
Svetlana’s Writing For next week’s movie, we’ll be celebrating our 100th episode by watching the 1996 comedy Big Night with a very special guest - Frank’s dad!
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:22:52
The Substance (w/ Kate Eastman)
2/14/2025
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, statement.
For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2024 Timmy Chalamet Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:58:17
Bezos: the Beginning (w/ Sean Morrow)
2/6/2025
Rivka and Frank are joined by Sean Morrow of More Perfect Union to dive into the utterly bonkers straight-to-streaming biopic about everyone’s favorite capitalist, Jeff Bezos. Sean pitches it as a contender for the "so-bad-it's-good" hall of fame alongside The Room, and the trio explores why, against all odds, this might just be an accidental anti-capitalist masterpiece. Oh, and did we mention the villain? None other than Kevin Sorbo as the CEO of Barnes & Noble. Yes, really.
More Perfect Union For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2024 body horror thriller The Substance.
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:25:41
Anora [PATREON PREVIEW]
1/30/2025
Rivka and Frank are back with another “duet” episode, diving into the 2024 indie darling and Oscar-nominated film 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 boys with oligarchy daddy issues, Sean Baker’s legacy, and more. This may in fact be the world’s most comprehensive Anora podcast ;) … You don’t want to miss it.
🤝 TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON 🤝
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For next week’s movie, we’ll be watching the 2022 biopic about the founder of Amazon — Bezos: the Beginning — which is available to watch for free on the Roku channel.
Duration:00:04:55
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (w/ Harvey Kaye)
1/24/2025
Rivka and Frank are joined by podcast favorite Harvey Kaye for a heated debate about the 1971 children's classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Is Wonka, the eccentric chocolate genius played by the brilliant Gene Wilder, simply a monstrous capitalist factory owner? And will Charlie, with his working-class roots, follow in his footsteps—or is he the one who can turn the factory around?
🤝 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.
Artwork by Rufus Paisley | Theme song by JustBen
Duration:01:48:53