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

Jan 29, 2022
Jan 29, 2022
58 min
Jen and Sarah review The Last Duel in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They dive into some of the film's bold creative choices, including the writing, pacing, cinematography, and casting. They also discuss the film's themes, their implication for us today, and why this was a box office flop.
What did you think of The Last Duel? Why do you think it did so poorly at the box office?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jan 26, 2022
Jan 26, 2022
1hr 4 min
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review The Lost Daughter. They discuss the great performances, enigmatic characters, and how the film builds tension through seemingly mundane events. They also comment on how Maggie Gyllenhaal skillfully brought this ambitious project to life.
What did you think of The Lost Daughter? How did this subvert your expectations?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jan 23, 2022
Jan 23, 2022
1hr 2 min
Jen and Sarah review tick, tick…Boom! in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the film’s major themes, endearing characters, and surprisingly good performances. They also share how it was able to capture the heart and magic of musical theater and translate it to the small screen.
What did you think of tick, tick…Boom!? How does this compare to other film adaptations of musicals?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jan 19, 2022
Jan 19, 2022
57 min
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Don’t Look Up. They examine the various characters and the important topics the film attempts to address. They also discuss the various reactions to this film and why critics and the masses view it so differently.
What did you think of Don’t Look Up? How does this compare to other satirical works?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jan 15, 2022
Jan 15, 2022
1hr 45 sec
Jen and Sarah are joined by a special guest, Patrick, to discuss The Matrix Resurrections. In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, they share their reactions to this film and how it compares to the others in the franchise. They also discuss the film’s pacing, world-building, and reinvention of some iconic characters.
What did you think of The Matrix Resurrections? Did you have a great time with it, or did the film leave you wanting more?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jan 12, 2022
Jan 12, 2022
1hr 22 sec
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review The Matrix Revolutions. They discuss the continued world-building, the characters, and the larger themes present in the final installment of the original trilogy. They also share what they hope to see in the next film in the series.
What did you think of The Matrix Revolutions? What do you hope to see in the next film?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jan 8, 2022
Jan 8, 2022
1hr 2 min
Jen and Sarah review The Matrix Reloaded in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss some of the ways this film fails to live up to its predecessor, including its disjointed plot and unrelatable characters. They also discuss the continued world-building and what they expect to see in the third film.
What did you think of The Matrix Reloaded? How does it compare with the first film?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jan 5, 2022
Jan 5, 2022
1hr 25 sec
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review The Matrix. They discuss the quality of the film's special effects and why it still holds up over 20 years later. They also share about the plot’s brilliant simplicity and how the hard work behind the scenes really pays off for the viewers.
What did you think of The Matrix? Why do you think this movie is still so good all these years later?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jan 1, 2022
Jan 1, 2022
1hr 40 min
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah share the top ten films they watched in 2021. They welcome in the new year by reflecting on yet another memorable year of movies.
Jen’s list:
C’mon C’mon
Sound of Metal
The Harder They Fall
Taxi Driver
Dune
Minari
Raging Bull
One Night in Miami
Nomadland
The Power of the Dog
Sarah’s list:
Herself
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Sound of Metal
One Night in Miami
The Harder They Fall
Pig
Promising Young Woman
C’mon C’mon
Pieces of a Woman
Malcolm and Marie
What were your favorite films of the year? What are you looking forward to watching in 2022?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Dec 29, 2021
Dec 29, 2021
1hr 1 min
Jen and Sarah review Being the Ricardos in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the great writing and problematic directing. They also unpack the performances that stood out to them and wonder what it was like to portray such iconic figures.
What did you think of Being the Ricardos? How does this compare to other biopics?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.








