Movies & Us
Movies & Us is a weekly gathering place filled with conversations about movies, stories, and connection. Our name sums it up: we’re all about movies and the powerful ways we can connect with each other and the world around us. This podcast is about all of us and our shared stories. Join us in conversations about movies and the stories that connect us!
Episodes

Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Wednesday Aug 31, 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?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Sunday Aug 28, 2022
Sunday Aug 28, 2022
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.

Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Wednesday Aug 24, 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.

Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
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.

Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Wednesday Aug 17, 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?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Wednesday Aug 10, 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.

Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Wednesday Aug 03, 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.

Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
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 @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
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 compare to the book?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
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 us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.








