Movies & Us

Jen and Sarah take on the Oscars in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. In their first ever Oscars wager, they share who they hope will win and who they think will walk away victorious in six categories. They discuss the strength of the nominees and some worthy films that were denied nominations.
What do you think of this year’s Oscar nominees? What films do you wish were nominated but weren’t?
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In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Little Women. They discuss the strong female characters and the actresses that brought them to life and applaud Greta Gerwig for taking on this ambitious project. Zooming out, they talk about what this film set in the 1800s means for us today.
What did you think of Little Women? How did this retelling compare to previous versions?
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In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Joker. They speculate on what this film is trying to say and gush over Joaquin Phoenix’s stunning transformation and performance. With 11 Academy Award Nominations, including Best Picture, they also speculate what a sweep of the Oscar’s could mean for future movie-goers when they look back on the year 2019.
What did you think about Joker? What message do you believe this film is trying to convey?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jen and Sarah review Sam Mendes’s 1917 in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the daring cinematography and how the decision to make the film seem like one continuous shot impacted the story as a whole. They also dissect the characters central to the plot and the strategic (or not so strategic) use of star power in this film.
What did you think of 1917? Do you feel that the continuous shot added or detracted from the story?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jen and Sarah review Ford v Ferrari in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the film’s use of sound to keep the adrenaline pumping in a film that otherwise would’ve felt slow and plodding. They also dive into the characters on the screen and their development (or lack thereof) over the course of the film. Finally, they comment on how conflicted they felt during the film and how different elements of the story seemed to work against each other.
What did you think of Ford v Ferrari? Was this the racing movie that you were hoping for?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review the critically-acclaimed Netflix film, The Two Popes. They discuss how the style of filming affected how they experienced the story and the powerful performances of the two legendary actors on screen. Diving deeply into the story and overarching theme, they wonder if some adjustments could’ve been made to enhance the message, making this movie more powerful.
What did you think of The Two Popes? Did you feel manipulated by the film or did you gladly go along for the ride?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jen and Sarah review Jojo Rabbit in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They comment on the whimsy and beauty infused throughout a film centering on one of the worst moments in the history of humankind. They discuss Taika Waititi’s bold choice to make this film and his ability to weave humor and drama together seamlessly to convey the important message of overcoming intolerance.
What did you think of Jojo Rabbit? Where does this rank among other satires you’ve seen?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Jen and Sarah review Marriage Story in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss how the humanness of each of the characters, the powerful performances, and the inmate way the film was shot come together for a riveting film about the messiness of relationships. In an age and movie landscape that’s more focused on falling in love, the story of a couple’s divorce was an exciting departure.
What did you think of Marriage Story? Did you see it as a hopeful tragedy?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

In their favorite yearly tradition, Jen and Sarah review the top 10 films they watched in 2019. They discuss how the movies they selected reveal much about themselves and the events of the year in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment.
Jen’s list:
1. No Country for Old Men
2. BlackKKlansman
3. Ballad of Buster Scruggs
4. Capernaum
5. Columbus
6. Mad Max Fury Road
7. Parasite
8. Roma
9. Snowpiercer
10. Eighth Grade
Sarah’s list:
1. Parasite
2. BlackKKlansman
3. The Farewell
4. The Irishman
5. Gravity
6. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
7. Marriage Story
8. Sorry to Bother You
9. mother!
10. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by special guests Abby and Dom to review the latest film in the Star Wars saga, The Rise of Skywalker. With diverse opinions on the film and the franchise as a whole, the group examines many of the creative choices that were made. They question the evolution of The Force, Rey’s family history, and future projects in the Star Wars universe.
What did you think of The Rise of Skywalker? What do you hope to see next in the Star Wars universe?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.