EPISODE 237: CORPORATIONS
In this episode, Tyler and David discuss depictions of the corporate mindset in film.
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In this episode, Tyler and David discuss depictions of the corporate mindset in film.
Tags: alienbattleship pretensionblade runnercorporationsdavid baxidiocracymichael mooremilton friedmanmore than one lessonmoviesoffice spacepodcastpreviously onthe corporationtyler smith
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I don’t quite agree with your assessment that Driver is a shallow movie. It certainly seems to be a case of style over substance, but I think in this instance that’s more a reflection of just how much style it is rather than how little substance (I’ll try to keep this as spoiler free as possible, but some may follow if anyone who has not yet seen the movie happens to read this).
To me the movie seems to be about this violent dark side that seems to be Driver’s nature. But he is aware of it and seems to be fighting it the duration of the movie. The conversation with the son about whether there can be bad sharks may be a little on the nose, but it does show us that this is something on his mind.
I’m also brought back to a conversation he has with a criminal he drove for in the past that takes place in a cafe. When told of another job opportunity, most people will remember the viciousness of Driver’s response but what stood out to me is he says something along the lines of “that’s not me.” It’s not? Certainly some of what we have seen seems to clash with that statement.
Finally, the movie to me is was just an example of what you were talking about in the episode. A movie whose parts all come together magnificently.
Correction, obviously the conversation was about whether there can be GOOD sharks.
An interesting discussion. At the beginning of the ep, when David described himself as a formalist, he said that there were other ways of looking at film, like from a political perspective. I agree. All films have an implicit political/philosophical POV. Even a classic Hollywood “American dream” success story implies a political view of the world where possibility and individual agency can always overcome systemic social and economic injustices. Rocky, therefore, is a very political film.
Bearing that in mind, I would have loved to see you fully embrace a political perspective when discussing “corporation” movies. But you seemed reluctant to push things in that direction, almost apologising (by distancing yourself from Puppet-Tim-Robbins) for the topic before you set out. Perhaps it’s because you have different political views from each other. But I would have liked to have heard that debate.
Two other non sci-fi corporation movies worth mentioning – Office Space and the Hudsucker Proxy. These movies are like Michael Clayton in that they are movies where the characters are battling for their souls in a dehumanising environment. The specific villain may be a boss, but the corporation as a whole represents a force that’s big and faceless and unfeeling and restricting the choices of the protagonist.
Was great to hear you talk about Other People’s Money, I really love that movie, and there’s something special and more engaging about a film which ends with a pair of really great opposing monologues.
Lots of movies meet the criteria of Corporation, but there’s one that’ll always come to mind for me: Terry Gilliam’s “THE CRIMSON PERMANENT ASSURANCE” in Monty Python’s the Meaning of Life. The amazing short where the elderly old men of the Permanent Assurance Company are treated like galley-slaves, and then rise up and declare war against their corporate masters. So wonderful!
Was this episode timed to coincide with the March on Wall Street stuff, or is it just a happy coincidence?