Movies & Us

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?

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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?

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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 [email protected].

In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review the long-awaited Martin Scorsese film, The Irishman. Though it is three-and-a-half hours long, the duo agrees that it is not too long. They discuss how the story unfolded before the audience and Scorsese’s ability to know what questions the audience was forming in our minds and how to answer each of those.

What did you think of The Irishman? How does this movie both enforce and depart from the mob movie genre?

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Light sabers, droids, the force—oh my! In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah are joined by featured guest, Dom, to review The Last Jedi. They dive deep into some of the characters and their growth over the course of the film. They discuss how Rian Johnson chose to break from tradition and what that means for the next installment by JJ Abrams. Each speculates on what they hope and don’t hope to see in the final episode in this trilogy.

What did you think of The Last Jedi? What do you hope to see in The Rise of Skywalker?

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Jen and Sarah ask “Whodunnit?” in this review of Rian Johnson’s newest film, Knives Out. They discuss how this film celebrates the genre while being part of it. The duo also comment on the skillful writing that combines comedy with a deep message, in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment.

What did you think of Knives Out? What do you think makes a good Whodunnit?

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Jen and Sarah tackle Disney’s latest offering, Frozen 2, in this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They break down the film’s convoluted plot line, confusing stakes, inconsistent character development, and the morals contained therein. They share the reaction of the other theater-goers and wonder what this film could’ve done better in order to become a world-wide sensation like its predecessor.

What did you think of Frozen 2? And how did it compare to the first film?

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In this episode of The Strategic Whimsy Experiment, Jen and Sarah review the 2019 film, Parasite, which has captivated audiences around the world. They discuss Bong Joon Ho’s ability to create a gripping story with relatable characters and beautiful visuals that can be enjoyed by many diverse audiences. They also discuss the larger themes of the film and what they took away from their experience watching it.

What did you think of Parasite? Why do you think this film was able to rise to such popularity?

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Jen and Sarah go back in time and review 2001: A Space Odyssey in this episode in The Strategic Whimsy Experiment. They speculate why this film has gained such wide-spread renown over the years and how it became so influential in the scifi genre. They discuss the the themes of the film and marvel at how so many of them are relevant over fifty years later.

What did you think of 2001: A Space Odyssey? What do you think the film is trying to say about life, humanity, and technology?

Contact us with any questions or comments at [email protected].