Movies to watch about capitalism

[Supermodel]

Here is my must-see list to give you something to ponder about capitalism.....

Wall Street (how the mega-rich get that way)

It's a wonderful life (the foundations of the banking system and the theory of the run on a bank)

Far and Away (how do you get rich? Grab a bunch of land!! Let's go!!)

Dances with wolves (did we forget to mention the Native Americans?)

Billy Elliott (oh that big, bad union!!! How will Billy go to dance school now?)

Howard's end (class and property in England)

Mission Impossible II (I'm brilliant!! Everybody gets sick and I get rich!!If I get paid in stock options instead of cash, no-one will catch me!!!) eh, what?

[peaccenicked]

Bulworth Meets Warren Beatty
Or, portrait of the actor as a politician in post-Reagan America.
That is what I was thinking as I headed, recently, to a pre-release screening of "Bulworth," Warren Beatty’s ambitious new film about a fictitious California senator up for re-election in 1996. The plot is an old one: a man who is depressed about his life decides to change his ways. The twist is that this man, J. Billington Bulworth, has also hired a hit man to kill him just prior to election day. Thus the movie begins, and thus begins one of the more bizarre – and intriguing – films I’ve seen in a long time, complete with an all-rap soundtrack, no less.

No, "Bulworth" is not as tightly written as, say, "Wag The Dog." No, "Bulworth" does not carry the politically immediacy of, say, "Primary Colors." But "Bulworth" is tight and is immediate because it is a comedy, albeit an incredibly dark one, about race and class and how these issues shape who Senator Bulworth is, who he was, and who he wants to be.

While I have certainly seen my share of independent and art-house films, which pose these types of questions, it is rare, indeed, to witness a Hollywood-made film (20th Century Fox bankrolled this $35 million joint) raise these issues. Hell, "Bulworth" is downright subversive – and rightfully so.

At a time when so many of us Americans have all but tuned out politics, save our fascination with Bill Clinton’s libido, it is refreshing to see a movie idol of Beatty’s stature (think "Bonnie and Clyde," "Shampoo," "Heaven Can Wait," "Reds," "Dick Tracy," and "Bugsy") who is privileged, who remains a sex symbol to many, who is, well, a white male, do this type of film is amazing in this era of political correctness and overzealous right-wing control over things artsy and intellectual.

For sure, I, like a lot of folks in the theater, was at times uneasy with "Bulworth." He disparages everyone – blacks, Jews, women, to name a few – and along the way makes us, the audience, take stock of ourselves and the stereotypes and mythologies we’ve swallowed whole. It is almost as if Beatty made "Bulworth" to laugh at us as we are laughing at the journey of Bulworth.

Beatty is, after all, an old political soul, in spite of himself. He supported Robert Kennedy’s short-lived presidential bid in 1968. He vigorously stomped for George McGovern against Nixon in ’72. And he and former Senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart were boys back in the day. For sure, there are rumors that Hart’s dilemmas of the mid-1980s indirectly influenced Beatty’s Bulworth.

Whatever the case, Warren Beatty has decided, at age 61, to push the envelope. And we, the media, are reaching for it. Everyone – MTV, BET, The New York Times Magazine, and Newsweek, among many, many other outlets – are wondering why Beatty has made this kind of film – and why now.

The question should not be why, but why not? American cinema has a history of producing entertaining yet stimulating films. For example, the Christmas classic "It’s A Wonderful Life" and Martin Scorcese’s maniacal "Taxi Driver" immediately come to mind.

Yet Beatty is correct in saying things are different now. Most of us would rather see "Godzilla" than (yikes!) do some thinking while we’re sitting in a theater.

But you know what? Ask yourself, as you bypass "Bulworth" on your way to "Godzilla": When was the last time a monster voted on legislation that affects your life?

If you say just yesterday, then go see "Bulworth," too.

[Supermodel]

Oh God I hated that movie Bullworth!!

Did anyone see American Beauty? Rich midlife couple in trouble as husband abandons the good life for an honest job at the fast food place....

[peaccenicked]

Is it a fair picture of american middle class life?

[Supermodel]

Here's a fair picture of American middle class life:

Both husband and wife go to work in their gas-guzzling vehicles, stopping to drop their 1.7 children off at school. They sit at their jobs for 10 hours eating fatty sweet snacks all day and barely paying attention to whether what they do has any meaning.

On the way home they stop at the store to pick up meaningless items of clothing, toys and household items so they will feel good about getting ahead in life.

They spend one hour in front of the TV with their kids and the whole family collapses into their beds.

What they are missing is that their spending exceeds their income so they are slaves to more hours and to trying to get the next promotion so they can afford their ever-more expensive, ever-less meaningful existence.

When the kids are in high school the marriage falls apart and the couple splits their earning and savings power, further enslaving them to 10 hour days.

By the time they reach their fifties they are on anti-depressants and have forgotten what they used to do for fun. They will die on average within a year of retirement.

You see, America, which has everything, is full of people who have no idea how to stop and enjoy life while they still have it.

Everything is disposable from underwear to fetuses to marriages. Attention spans last 30 seconds. No one where I work knows who Che Guevara is.

That said, I trippled my salary when I moved to the US with my global employer and I will never permanently leave. Still haven't found what I'm looking for but this isn't bad. Easy for me to say, though.

[Imperial Power]

Supermodel have you had a personal experience that your confusing with capitalism?

[Jurhael]

Let's not forget that the US middle class is SHRINKING and they're not becoming rich.

And meaning has different, well, meanings for different people. Materialism IS a problem in the US, but that's a product of a system where competition is the end all be all of life and your worth is measured by what you have and how much money you make. Conformity is also a problem, but that's true everywhere.

And I'm leaving the US, but only because I am lucky. Otherwise, I'd end up staying too. But, that doesn't say much at all.

[Supermodel]

OOOh I got some more responses!!!

Imperial, I tell the truth when I say that everyone I know has a soul that is starving to death because of their straining to keep up finanially with the money dreams that were sold to them.

Have I had a brush with capitalism: let's see....I started dirt poor...I've worked for two global companies, including being at the Vice President level.....I own a company....my husband owns four companies...I have spent months in the US Capitol including testifying before Congress....I have never voted....I belong to no political organization whatsoever...I'm a soccer mom...let's just say I have an opinion. Having that, and the ability to express it here on this website, means the most to me. Che would have loved the internet.

[I Will Deny You]

Quote: from Supermodel on 6:41 pm on Jan. 31, 2002
Billy Elliott (oh that big, bad union!!! How will Billy go to dance school now?)I thought Billy Elliot was about dancing. But I could be wrong, I've never actually seen it.

Boiler Room was one of the few remakes that seemed better than the original. That Giovanni Ribisi's hot stuff. He looks sleep deprived and diseased, though.

What about all of those mob movies--[/i]Scarface[/i], Goodfellas, Casino, The Godfather.

What's Up Tiger Lily? was about the founding of a capitalist nation. Haha. "Death and danger are my various breads and butters." This, from your movie critic who thought Blazing Saddles is a timeless portrait of racism in the Old West and The Producers is a guide to fascism.

Conclusion: Movies don't make the best guides to economic/political structure. (They do, however, make great guides to egg salad.)

[vox]

Supermodel,

I've only seen one of the movies on your list, but if the other descriptions are as inaccurate as the one for "It's a Wonderful Life," then you've a problem.

See, Bailey didn't own or run a bank. It was a Savings and Loan. I suspect you're only familiar with S&Ls post-Reagan, so you don't understand the nature of, nor the limitations placed upon, Savings and Loans pre-Reagan. I suggest you do a little reading before you begin preaching.

vox

[vox]

SM,

You were so excited about responses, but you ignored mine. Hmmm. Maybe I'm not PRETTY enough for you???

Fact is, I'm right, you're wrong, and this is another thread that you'd prefer, in you capitalist "glory," that people forget.

I haven't forgotten, right-winger.

vox (better, I suppose, to ignore than confront me)