Movies & Us

Ep. 54 - Rushmore (1998)

Leaning into whimsy, Jen and Sarah review the 1998 teen dramedy, Rushmore in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the film’s infusion of fun while dealing with the weighty subjects of identity and discovering who you are. Like every other Wes Anderson film, Rushmore’s highly stylized world overwhelms the senses and gives the audience plenty to take in.
What did you think of Rushmore? How does this rank among other Wes Anderson films?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 53 - mother! (2017)

Jen and Sarah review Darren Aronofsky’s mother! in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. Though marketed as a horror film, the two wonder if this is the correct genre for this particular film. Going act by act, they discuss what the film means and how each piece fits together to lead up to the explosive and surprising ending. Whether you love it or hate it, the two conclude that this is a film best experienced with a hearty discussion after.
What did you think of mother!? Did Aronofsky enhance or damage the horror genre?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 52 - Paterson (2016)

Jen and Sarah review Paterson in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. Heralded by critics and loved by audiences, the duo wonder what the point of this film is and what it is supposed to mean. Getting lost in the various poems and mundanity of it all, they wonder if they were watching a different film than everyone else.
What did you think of Paterson? Did you find it quiet and contemplative or utterly confusing?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 51 - Gemini Man (2019)

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review Ang Lee’s newest film, Gemini Man. They discuss the plot of the film and how they would rewrite it if given the opportunity. Taking note of the prominent Chinese studios that backed this film, they wonder if this will be the beginning of a growing trend in Hollywood.
What did you think of Gemini Man? Do you think this will be more well-received internationally than domestically?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 50 - SWE’s 50th Episode and Guilty Pleasure Film Confessions

On the 50th episode of the The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review their guilty pleasure films, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Expendables. In addition to roasting each other’s choices, they answer the question “Why strategic whimsy?” and share a little about themselves. Finally, they introduce a new series of bonus episodes called Films We Carry With Us, where they will discuss a memorable or important film with a featured guest.
What’s your guilty pleasure film? What’s a film that you carry with you?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 49 - Ad Astra (2019)

Jen and Sarah take to the stars in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment with their review of Ad Astra. They discuss the strength of Brad Pitt’s performance and compare this with other recent films set in space. They also focus on the greater themes contained in this film including reframing masculinity and embracing emotions.
What did you think of Ad Astra? How does this compare to other films in the genre?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 48 - Hustlers (2019) with featured guest: Sydney Daigre

Jen and Sarah, joined by special guest Sydney, review Hustlers in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They discuss the great and not-so-great performances of this star-studded cast, the wide reception the film has received, and the greater themes contained therein.
What did you think of Hustlers? Why do you think this film blew the competition out of the water?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 47 - The Goldfinch (2019)

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review The Goldfinch. The two discuss the film’s poor reception and wonder what could’ve been done to improve this moody drama. They also dive into the marketing of this film and the problems that dramas face with the audience of today.
What did you think of The Goldfinch? Did it live up to your expectations or was it a total flop?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 46 - The Big Sick (2017) with featured guest: Abby Tan

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by featured guest Abby to discuss the 2017 romantic comedy, The Big Sick. They discuss how film can provide valuable insight into other cultures and teach us things about others we wouldn’t have known otherwise. They also talk about the diversity we see in film today and share their hope to see more inclusivity in the coming years.
What did you think of The Big Sick? How does this measure up against other romcoms?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.

Ep. 45 - The Farewell (2019)

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah dive into The Farewell. They discuss the role of family and how we deal with difficult things like loss and grief. The pair talks about the importance of culture in our lives and those moments when we feel stuck between two cultures.
What did you think of The Farewell? Have you seen a film discuss family, grief, and loss in this way before?
Contact us with any questions or comments at strategicwhimsyexperiment@gmail.com.