Movies & Us

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. They discuss the gorgeous visuals and the empathy-inducing characters. They also marvel at the technical components that came together to make this film. What did you think of Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio? How is this unique among other Pinocchio adaptations? Follow us on Instagram @strategic...

Jen and Sarah review The Fabelmans in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss how this coming-of-age story is widely accessible without falling into cheesy tropes. They also talk about the film’s themes, including the magic of movie-making and how movies shape how we see the world around us. What did you think of The Fabelmans? What themes stood out to you? Follow us on Insta...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review The Menu. They discuss this film's interesting premise, colorful characters, and compelling performances. They also share the nuanced themes that stood out to them in this genre-blending thriller. What did you think of The Menu? What themes stood out to you? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @st...

Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest Daisah to review Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, they discuss a few of the film’s many themes. They unpack the ways the film honors Chadwick Boseman and also wonder about the future of the franchise. What did you think of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever? What do you hope to see in the next film? Follow us...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Don’t Worry Darling. They unpack the story and plot structure, and then suggest changes that could have made this film great. They also discuss the themes, casting, and creative choices that were made. What did you think of Don’t Worry Darling? What would you change to make this film even more impactful? Follow us on Instagra...

Jen and Sarah review The Banshees of Inisherin in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They take a deep dive into the complex and colorful characters in this dark comedy. They also discuss this film's various themes, including legacy, niceness, and more. What did you think of The Banshees of Inisherin? What themes stood out most to you? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Tár. They discuss the complex protagonist, provocative subject matter, and the thesis of the movie. They also share what stood out to them in this nuanced character study that provides more questions than answers. What did you think of Tár? What do you think this film’s central thesis is? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhim...

Jen and Sarah review Entergalactic in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the ways this film fits into and breaks out of the romance genre. They also unpack how the animation style, original music, and compelling characters combine to create this engaging story. What did you think of Entergalactic? How is this different from other rom-coms? Follow us on Instagram @strateg...

Jen and Sarah review Hocus Pocus 2 in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss how the film capitalizes on nostalgia and how it compares to other recent sequels. They also dive deep into the plot structure and characters in this Halloween adventure. What did you think of Hocus Pocus 2? What makes this different than other sequels? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperim...

Jen and Sarah review Amsterdam in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They dive into what didn’t work and how changes to its structure, pacing, and characters could’ve improved the film. They also discuss this film’s unique portrayal of historical events and how it differs from traditional biopics. What did you think of Amsterdam? What writer/director would you like to see take on thi...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Blonde. They dive deep into the story, plot structure, and characters. They also discuss the difficulties of fictionalizing an iconic historical figure. What did you think of Blonde? Were you able to connect with the characters and this story? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy ....

Jen and Sarah review Elvis in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They take a deep dive into the choice of narrator, the story’s framing, and the plot as a whole. They also discuss the performances, visuals, and musical choices in this biopic. What did you think of Elvis? Did the framing of this story work for you? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @stra...

In this bonus episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by Patrick and Nate for the A24 Gauntlet. They discuss four A24 films in the horror or thriller genres, A24 as a whole, and what makes a good movie. What do you think of A24? What are your favorite A24 horror or thriller films? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy . Conta...

Jen and Sarah review The Woman King in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They dive into the story and themes, the characters and actors who portray them. They also unpack the responsibility that comes with making a movie inspired by historical events. What did you think of The Woman King? What parts of the story resonated with you? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment a...

In this bonus episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by special guests Patrick and Nate to review Men. They unpack the film’s many themes, motifs, and symbols. They also discuss the one-word title and this film’s place in the horror genre. What did you think of Men? Did the film’s themes and symbols resonate with you? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment...

Jen and Sarah review Three Thousand Years of Longing in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the plot, characters, and major themes of the film. They also dive into the importance of stories and how they shape our lives. What did you think of Three Thousand Years of Longing? What did you think of the characters? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twit...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. They share their experience with the original short video and how that shaped their thoughts about the feature-length film. They also unpack some of the major themes and comment on the filmmaking components that help make these shells feel so human. What did you think of Marcel the Shell With S...

Jen and Sarah review Emily the Criminal in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss a few of the many themes and topics that are packed into this efficient screenplay. They also share the ways they related to these complex and empathetic characters. What did you think of Emily the Criminal? What did you think of the ending? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and...

In this bonus episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah face off and bring their nominations for who they think are the most empathy-inducing lizards in cinema. After listening to the episode, vote for who you think is more empathy-inducing on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment or on Twitter @strategicwhimsy . Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment...

Jen and Sarah review The Black Phone in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the coming-of-age plot that intentionally builds empathy for the characters. They also dive into the way the film creates and resolves tension throughout, keeping viewers engaged from start to finish. What did you think of The Black Phone? What parts of this coming-of-age story resonated with you?...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah reflect on the last four years of the podcast. They celebrate SWE’s birthday by sharing their favorite episodes and clips of the last year. Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy . Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com .

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Prey. They discuss how this film builds on the Predator franchise and intentionally honors Comanche culture and history. They also share how its quality filmmaking sets this apart from other summer blockbusters. What did you think of Prey? How does this compares to other Predator films? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsy...

Jen and Sarah review Bullet Train in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They take a deep dive into the plot and share what they think could’ve been changed to set this apart from other recent action films. They also share what creative choices worked well and what didn’t. What did you think of Bullet Train? How does this compare to other action films? Follow us on Instagram @strategi...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review The Gray Man. They dive into the characters, pacing, and plot structure. They also discuss how this is the foundation for future films and compare and contrast it with other popular action franchises. What did you think of The Gray Man? What do you hope to see in a sequel? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and...

Jen and Sarah review Jordan Peele’s Nope in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the themes that stood out to them, and the symbolism found throughout. They also talk about the characters, cinematography, and sound design that made this film so immersive and impactful. What did you think of Nope? What themes stood out to you? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperime...