Movies & Us

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Pixar’s Soul. Though an animated film, it is filled with themes tailor-made for adults such as finding your purpose, recovering from shame, and the finality of death. They discuss each of these topics, while also commenting on the artistic talent depicted in this film.
What did you think of Soul? What do you think about the choice of using an animated film to communicate these themes?
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To celebrate the new year, Jen and Sarah reflect on the films they watched in 2020. In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, they share their Top 10 films that shaped the year and notice some interesting themes that emerge.
Jen’s List
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Hamilton (2020)
The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
Fences (2016)
Honey Boy (2019)
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
For Sama (2019)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Mank (2020)
The Platform (2019)
Sarah’s List
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Frances Ha (2012)
First Reformed (2017)
40 Year Old Version (2020)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Mank (2020)
The Platform (2019)
Hamilton (2020)
Midsommar (2019)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
What were your favorite films of the year? What are you looking forward to in 2021?
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In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by Sydney to review Wonder Woman 1984. They dive into the odd casting choices and the unnecessarily confusing plot. They also speculate about the morals of the film and what it’s trying to teach us. Finally, they talk about the business decision to premiere the film in both theaters and HBO Max and the future of the DC Extended Universe.
What did you think of Wonder Woman 1984? What do you hope to see in a third Wonder Woman movie?
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Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest, Carisha, to review Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, they discuss the powerful performances, truthful characters, and the film’s dedication to the original play. They also share the ways this film encapsulates both American history and our current moment.
What did you think of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom? How do you think it’s message applies to our current moment?
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In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah roast the Netflix film, Holidate. Though it remained on Netflix’s Top 10 for many weeks, the film is full of problems. They discuss the poor writing and storytelling that reinforces unhealthy views about romantic relationships. And they also wonder how such an emotionally out-of-tune film could be made today.
What did you think of Holidate? Have you seen any rom-coms this year that you’d recommend instead?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review David Fincher’s long-awaited film, Mank. They discuss the fast-paced script and creative way of telling this famed screenwriter’s story. They also dive into the stunning performances by this talented cast and speculate about this film’s Oscar chances.
What did you think of Mank? How do you think it might fare at the 93rd Academy Awards?
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In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest, Alex, to review Hillbilly Elegy. They discuss the problematic nature of the characters and the difficult-to-follow style of storytelling in Ron Howard’s latest film. They also comment on the success of the book, the film’s departure from the source material, and speculate how this story could’ve been told in a more engaging way.
What did you think of Hillbilly Elegy? Do you consider it “Oscar bait”?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.
To hear more from Alex, check out her podcast, Alex Reviews at https://anchor.fm/alex-reviews/.

Jen and Sarah review The Queen’s Gambit in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They wonder what factors led to this Netflix limited series taking the world by storm, having been featured in Netflix’s Top 10 for over a month. They also dive into the main characters, dissecting how each one contributed to or detracted from the plot. Finally, they speculate if The Queen’s Gambit provides a blueprint for future series.
What did you think of The Queen’s Gambit? Did you connect with Beth and the other characters?
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In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Woody Harrelson’s directorial debut, Lost in London. They discuss the film’s story problems along with its impressive technical achievement. They wonder how this film’s creative release led to its favorable reviews and speculate if future filmmakers will attempt such an audacious project.
What did you think of Lost in London? Did its unique release add or detract from the film itself?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review From Russia With Love in honor of the late Sir Sean Connery. They discuss this iconic Bond performance and how it compares with later versions of this character. They also dissect the brilliant cinematography that enhances the spycraft of the suave hero.
What did you think of From Russia With Love? How does this rank among the other Bond films you’ve seen?
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Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.