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

Nov 4, 2020
Nov 4, 2020
52 min
Jen and Sarah review Sofia Coppola’s newest movie, On the Rocks, in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss its lackluster characters and thin plot lines and wonder if the film was banking on Bill Murray’s dynamic personality to fill in the gaps. They also dive into different ways to interpret the film’s ending to create a more meaningful resolution.
What did you think of On the Rocks? Was it the whimsical caper you were looking for or did you want something more?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Oct 29, 2020
Oct 29, 2020
1hr 15 min
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by LeTesha to review The Hate U Give. They discuss the ambitious nature of the film to cover a number of important topics such as code-switching, cultural narratives, structural injustice, the need for a strong support system, and more. Weaving in their personal experiences, they share how stories such as this one can be powerful in changing ingrained perspectives and long-held beliefs.
What did you think of The Hate U Give? How did this film challenge you perspective?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.
Connect with LeTesha at leteshawheeler.com and follow her on Instagram @leteshawheeler. Pick up her book Half Breed: Finding Unity in a Divided World on Amazon!

Oct 21, 2020
Oct 21, 2020
59 min
Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest Carisha to review The Trial of the Chicago 7. They dive into the film’s strategic choices to highlight parts of history that have long been glossed over. They also discuss how this dialogue-rich story is an important movie for this moment in time.
What did you think of The Trial of the Chicago 7? How does this compare with other Sorkin films?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Oct 14, 2020
Oct 14, 2020
1hr 4 min
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review I’m Thinking of Ending Things. The speculate what Charlie Kaufman’s latest film means and how its Netflix release affects the viewing experience. They discuss the nature and importance of art in our society and how these stories shape our lives.
What did you think of I’m Thinking of Ending Things? How does this compare with other Kaufman films?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Oct 7, 2020
Oct 7, 2020
1hr 9 min
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by Abby to discuss The Social Dilemma. They break down the information shared in Netflix’s latest documentary and discuss the role of social media in our society. They wonder about the future of technology and contemplate potential next steps that can be taken.
What did you think of The Social Dilemma? Has watching this documentary influenced how you view social media?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Sep 30, 2020
Sep 30, 2020
53 min
Jen and Sarah review 2012’s Safety Not Guaranteed in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They compare the film’s overall tone and message with its whimsical ending and wonder how the film could’ve felt more cohesive. They also discuss how society has changed since 2012 and which characters didn’t age very well.
What did you think of Safety Not Guaranteed? How does this compare with other time travel films?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Sep 23, 2020
Sep 23, 2020
48 min
Jen and Sarah are joined by special guest Sydney to review A Quiet Place in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the ways this film differentiates itself from the horror genre, including the strong emotional cues and the character development. They also speculate about the film’s sequel and share whether they are looking forward to spending more time with these characters.
What did you think of A Quiet Place? Are you excited to see A Quiet Place 2?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Sep 16, 2020
Sep 16, 2020
1hr 8 min
Jen and Sarah review Boys State in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the different takeaways from the documentary and what this film says about our society as a whole. The speculate about what Girls State might look like and wonder how these events change from state to state and year to year.
What did you think of Boys State? Would you want to watch a Girls State documentary?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Sep 10, 2020
Sep 10, 2020
1hr 7 min
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by a special guest, Yeon Soo, to discuss Disney’s Mulan. They compare and contrast this remake with the original film and discuss some of the new additions to the story. They also share some theories about why characters were added or removed and how those creative choices affected the film’s message as a whole.
What did you think of Mulan? How does it compare with the original?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Sep 2, 2020
Sep 2, 2020
1hr 7 min
In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by a special guest, Erin, to discuss The Shining. They share their thoughts on the characters and casting in this classic horror film. And they even share some theories about the plot’s twists and turns.
What did you think of The Shining? What do you think it’s all about?
Follow us on Instagram @strategicwhimsyexperiment and on Twitter @strategicwhimsy.
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.








