Movies & Us

Ep. 218 - The Card Counter (2021)

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?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 217 - Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

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 flocking to the theaters to see this?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 216 - Top Gun (1986)

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)?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 215 - Men (2022)

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?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 214 - Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

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?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 213 - The Northman (2022)

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?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 212 - The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) with featured guest: Ty Tush

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 you want to see in this movie?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 211 - Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) with featured guest: Patrick James

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 or why not?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 210 - The Batman (2022)

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 on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 209 - Turning Red (2022) with featured guest: Abby Cerchio

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 us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.