Movies & Us

Bonus Ep - Revisiting Men (2022) with featured guests: Patrick James and Nate Belisle

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

Ep. 231 - Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)

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

Ep. 230 - Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (2022)

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 Shoes On? How does it compare to the original short video?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 229 - Emily the Criminal (2022)

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

Bonus Ep - Face-Off: Empathy-Inducing Lizards in Cinema

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@gmail.com.

Ep. 228 - The Black Phone (2022)

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

Bonus Ep - SWE Turns 4

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

Ep. 227 - Prey (2022)

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

Ep. 226 - Bullet Train (2022)

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

Ep. 225 - The Gray Man (2022)

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