RoboCop / Starship Troopers: Neoliberalism, Fascism and Paul Verhoeven's Unsung Comedic Skills

In 1987, Paul Verhoeven came to Hollywood and gave us all the Neoliberal critique that is RoboCop.  A violent image of dystopian future where corporations run public services like hospitals, prisons, space exploration and the police.  How absurd! Ten years later, after making Total Recall (1990), Basic Instinct (1992) and Showgirls (1995) Mr. Verhoeven gave the world a "film about fascists who don't know they are fascist".  Starship Troopers (1997) was dismissed at the time as a film celebrating fascism instead of being the great satire that it really is. Articles mentioned on this episode:  RoboCop review by Rita Kempley RoboCop cartoon series Paul Verhoeven interview about Starship Troopers Goosestepping at the Movies by Steven Hunter Starship Troopers review by Janet Maslin Follow us at: Patreon / Twitter / Instagram / Letterboxd / Facebook