Capitalism: An Education

We did get to see two movies so far while we've been here. "Capitalism: A Love Story" and "An Education." I just don't feel like writing much on them, but I'll give you a quickie on each.

Novelists would be hard pressed to invent a character like Michael Moore. Frumpy and overweight, creative and fearless, Moore's take on the world seems pretty much on the mark. He's able to explain complex relationships clearly with his camera and his tongue and his juxtaposition of stories. We see working people being thrown out of their long term homes by heartless real estate agents with the help of police. Then we see a guy who talks quite openly about how he helps clients find foreclosures they can buy cheap. Republicans will see these folks as deadbeats who spent more than they had. Moore shows a story of predatory finance organizations luring people into unworkable agreements. We hear from Congresspersons and lobbyists who helped bail out the bankers. He keeps up the pressure and the camera antics til the very end when he surrounds Wall Street with yellow crime scene tape.

I know that people yell and scream that he's outrageous - and he is. But his take on capitalism, while not exactly what Jr. Achievement preaches, is probably far more accurate. Capitalism plays an important role, but like the circus elephant, it needs to be chained down lest it goes on a rampage. After all, capitalists say it works because everyone pursuing their self interests, keep each other in check. Unfortunately, pursuing their self interest part is right, but keeping each other in check isn't. That's why the chain needs to be there. But the ideologically impaired, seem to believe that capitalism is an integral part of Christianity.


"An Education" kept me uncomfortable through the whole movie. It wasn't long after we meet the older (30s?) gentleman, David (Peter Saarsgard) who offers the 16 year old cellist, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) a ride in the rainstorm, that it was clear this wasn't going to end well. I tend to question conventional knowledge and I suspect that not all older-younger romance has to be bad. But in this case the cad is lying early on and all the bells went off. This just wasn't a good situation. The acting was convincing, but I just felt uncomfortable throughout. Jenny was well developed, but we never saw more than quick glimpses behind David's facade. How had he become who he was? How did he deveop his charming facade and what caused him to be so totally without compassion for others? Was he a non-violent, gentleman sociopath? We don't know. And since he was the most troubling character, understanding him would have been more enlightening than understanding Jenny. A good movie for teenage girls to watch.