Movies & Us

Ep. 133 - Minari (2020) with featured guest: Madelyn Ong

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by a special guest, Maddie, to review the Oscar-nominated film Minari. They discuss the performances, characters, and creative choices that worked and didn’t work in the film. They also reflect on the importance of representation in Hollywood so more diverse films about the Asian American experience can be created.
What did you think of Minari? Were you wowed by it or left wanting more?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 132 - Another Round (2020)

Jen and Sarah review the Oscar-nominated film, Another Round, in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss its life-affirming, whimsical, and comedic handling of a dark subject. They also unpack the tragic events surrounding this film and how personal tragedy may have influenced the final product.
What did you think of Another Round? How did you interpret the film’s whimsical ending?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 131 - Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) with featured guest: Erin Pudenz

Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest, Erin, to review Disney’s latest film, Raya and the Last Dragon. They discuss the ways this film is relevant to where we find ourselves as a society. They also dive into ways that Raya and the Last Dragon breaks out of traditional story structures to bring something new and exciting to the screen.
What did you think of Raya and the Last Dragon? How did it measure up to your expectations?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 130 - Pieces of a Woman (2020)

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Pieces of a Woman. They praise the film for its authentic writing and the way it handles a difficult topic. They also share how it subverts expectations at nearly every turn and how this film deserves more award nominations than its received.
What did you think of Pieces of a Woman? How did it live up to or subvert your expectations?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 129 - Cherry (2021)

Jen and Sarah review Cherry in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They break down the inconsistent style, the narrator’s strong voice, and how the film doesn’t really know what it is. Finally, they discuss ways it could have been improved to make the story more meaningful for the viewers.
What did you think of Cherry? Was there anything in this film that worked for you?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 128 - Nomadland (2021) with featured guest: Kevin Nye

Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest, Kevin, to review Nomadland on this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the humanness of this intimate film and how it intentionally breaks stereotypes about the unhoused population. They also look ahead to the film’s Oscar chances and writer and director Chloé Zhao’s upcoming films.
What did you think of Nomadland? What do you think about its Oscar chances this year?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.
Connect more with Kevin on Twitter at @theophanyfilms and @kevinmnye1.

Ep. 127 - Black Swan (2010) with featured guest: B. Ladae

Jen and Sarah are joined by B. Ladae of the But Ma That’s My Favorite Movie podcast to review Black Swan. In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, they discuss their expectations and different interpretations of the film. They also dive into what elements made Black Swan so successful and ponder the film’s real-world implications.
What did you think of Black Swan? Did it live up to your expectations?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.
Connect more with B. Ladae and the But Ma That’s My Favorite Movie podcast at www.butmathatsmyfavoritemovie.com.

Ep. 126 - Promising Young Woman (2020)

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Promising Young Woman. They discuss the film’s incredible style, strong message, and powerful performances. They also wonder how this film, which is about way more than revenge, could expand upon the revenge genre and pave the way for future films to come.
What did you think about Promising Young Woman? Did the ending work for you?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 125 - Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) with featured guest: Carisha Davis

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest, Carisha, to review Judas and the Black Messiah. They discuss Fred Hampton’s story, including what the movie got right and got wrong, and how film can be used to educate people about historical figures they may have never heard of. They also examine the nuanced characters and how they remind us of the complexity of humanity.
What did you think of Judas and the Black Messiah? Had you heard of Fred Hampton before this film?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 124 - Malcolm & Marie (2021) with featured guest: Daisah Riley

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined Daisah to review Malcom & Marie. They discuss how the emotional trauma displayed on the screen affected each of them. They also dissect the unusual nature of the film, both structurally and culturally, and share what they hope to see more from filmmakers in 2021 and beyond.
What did you think of Malcolm & Marie? How did you feel after watching it?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.