Movies & Us

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Where the Crawdads Sing. They compare the film with the book and the creative choices that were made to bring this story to the big screen. They also wonder how the target demographic for this film influenced elements of the story that were included or removed. What did you think about Where the Crawdads Sing? How does this c...

Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest Kaitlin to review Thor: Love and Thunder. In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, they discuss the emotional and humorous moments throughout the film. They also share what character arcs worked for them and what didn’t. What did you think of Thor: Love and Thunder? Did the humor work for you, or did it leave you wanting something else? Follow u...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review After Yang. They discuss the characters, pacing, and major themes of the film. They also dive into the ways it separates itself from others in the sci-fi genre. What did you think of After Yang? How does this compare to other futuristic films? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy ....

Jen and Sarah review Jurassic World Dominion in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They take a deep dive into the screenplay, pacing, and many characters. They also compare this film with other recent blockbusters that also capitalized on the audience’s nostalgia. What did you think of Jurassic World Dominion? Do you think it’s asking too much for a blockbuster to have a strong emoti...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Netflix’s Spiderhead. They analyze the characters, the emotional stakes, and the plot as a whole. They also compare and contrast the film to the original short story. What did you think of Spiderhead? How do you think this compares with the original? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicw...

Jen and Sarah review The Card Counter in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the writing, characters, casting, and cinematography. They also dive into its major themes and how this compares to other Paul Schrader films. What did you think of The Card Counter? How has Schrader’s exploration of complex characters evolved over time? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexp...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Top Gun: Maverick. They discuss how this film’s writing, editing, and pacing, make this sequel work 30 years after the original. They also discuss how audiences have responded to this film and what makes it different than other recent blockbusters. What did you think of Top Gun: Maverick? Why do you think audiences are flocki...

Jen and Sarah review Top Gun in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They dive into the elements of the film that are still engaging and relevant today and which ones didn’t age well. They also share what they hope to see in the sequel, released more than thirty years later. What did you think of Top Gun? What do you hope the sequel includes (or excludes)? Follow us on Instagram @strat...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Alex Garland’s Men. They discuss some of the many symbols throughout the film and speculate about some of their meaning. They also dive into story, character, and casting choices they wish had been a little different. What did you think of Men? Were there any elements you wish the film had handled differently? Follow us on In...

Jen and Sarah review Spider-Man: No Way Home in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the film’s themes and how these build upon the previous Spider-Man films. They also wonder what’s next for Peter Parker in the ever-growing MCU. What did you think of Spider-Man: No Way Home? What do you hope to see next from Marvel? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review The Northman. They discuss the beautiful cinematography, immersive score, and outstanding performances. They also dive into the ways that this differs from other movies in the revenge genre. What did you think of The Northman? What do you think separates this from other films in the genre? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhi...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Ty to review The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They share their reactions to the film, familiarity with the Nic Cage cannon, and thoughts on Paddington 2. They also share what they would’ve liked to see in this action-adventure comedy. What did you think of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent? What else did y...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by Patrick to review Everything Everywhere All at Once. They discuss the profound themes, unique characters, and creative symbols throughout this film. They also consider if this could be the movie of the year. What did you think of Everything Everywhere All at Once? Do you think this could be the movie of the year? Why o...

Jen and Sarah review The Batman in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They dive into the various themes and characters and how these have changed over the years. They also unpack how the cinematography and story worked together in this film to create a moody noir. What did you think of The Batman? How does this compare with other interpretations of this character and world? Follow us...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest, Abby, to discuss Pixar’s Turning Red. They discuss the importance of representation in film and unpack some of the story’s major themes. They also compare the reception of this film with others in the Disney/Pixar canon. What did you think of Turning Red? What themes resonated with you the most? Follow u...

Jen and Sarah review The Shape of Water in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the film’s characters, themes, and production design. They also unpack the film’s fairytale-inspired structure and how that enhances the film as a whole. What did you think of The Shape of Water? Did framing this story as a fairytale work for you? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperime...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah reflect on the 74th Academy Awards ceremony. They share their reactions to the show itself, the films that won, and the moments everyone is talking about. They also reveal the winner of this year’s Oscar wager. What did you think about the Oscars? What do you hope they include (or don’t include) next year? Follow us on Instagram @st...

Jen and Sarah dive into all things Oscars in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They share their predictions about who the Academy will honor and their personal picks in 12 categories. They also discuss some of the biggest snubs and surprises in this year’s group of films. What do you think are the biggest snubs this year? Who do you want to see win big on Oscar night? Follow us on I...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review The Worst Person in the World. They wonder if this is a rom-com or not and discuss how this film differs from others in the romance genre. They also dive into the complex characters and reflect on how movies are great at building empathy. What did you think of The Worst Person in the World? Do you think this is a rom-com? Fol...

Jen and Sarah review Parallel Mothers in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss how the writing, characters, and score subverted their expectations and avoided many familiar tropes. They also dive into how the film thoughtfully weaves together many different themes for the audience to grapple with. What did you think about Parallel Mothers? What themes stood out to you? Foll...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review King Richard. They take a deep dive into the characters, pacing, and plot structure. They also discuss the main themes of this film, how it was made, and how it differs from other biopics. What did you think of King Richard? What sets this apart from other films in the genre? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment...

Jen and Sarah review Belfast in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They unpack the film’s pacing and plot structure and share how they would’ve changed some elements to make a more impactful film. They also discuss its Oscar nominations and how this compares to other critically-acclaimed films. What did you think of Belfast? How does this compare with this year’s Best Picture contend...

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review West Side Story. They discuss this adaptation’s outstanding cinematography and great performances. They also compare it to the 1961 film that received so much critical acclaim. What did you think of West Side Story? How does this compare to the 1961 film? Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strat...

Join Jen and Sarah in celebrating the 200th episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. In this episode, they reflect on what SWE has meant to them, the value of infusing whimsy into their lives, and how art can help us connect with others. They also review Sorry to Bother You and Fences—two films that have shaped their lives. How have you infused whimsy into your day? What films have shaped your...

Jen and Sarah review Drive My Car in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss their reactions to the slow-building plot and the themes of grief, connection, and more. They also celebrate the recognition this film has received from the Academy and share their hopes for more people to seek it out. What did you think of Drive My Car? What themes resonate with you the most? Follow...