The New Mexican half of the crew made it out to Colorado this past weekend for In-N-Out, Noah Kahan, and SPENGA. Spin, strength, and yoga workouts because someone gaslit Josh into actually spending money on his health and not just melting into those comfy and cozy AMC signature recliners. We are making progress, people.
That being said, Ted Lasso is three weeks into the final season! How are you feeling?? Anyone else a student of Ted Lasso?
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: The End of Oak Street
Watchlist Worthy: “Miles Teller has never been better” —The Street
ICYMI POD: The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan, & 2026 movies: Talking w/ People at the Theaters
This week’s movie - The End of Oak Street
Letterboxd Description:
Where goes the neighborhood.
After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.
Best Watched With
People who believe they could survive any post-apocalyptic event, and one friend who is humble and aware that they would die first.
End Credit Thoughts
Once again, to be honest, we did not watch the trailer for this movie beforehand (Josh is the worst). We knew Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor were in it, and that dinosaurs were involved. That’s about it. Going in blind was a decision. We soon learned a part of suburbia is transported, not just elsewhere, but elsewhen (is that a word? No. Run with us) with prehistoric monsters, a whole lot of WTF is happening, and way more dino excrement than anticipated—which was none.
What is worse than being mysteriously transported millions and millions of years back in time when apex predators hunt anything and everything that moves? Living in 1982 in the middle of a potential life- and marriage-altering family drama while being mysteriously transported millions and millions of years back in time when apex predators hunt anything and everything that moves. Sure, it was a hell of a time to live in American Surburbia—cruising bikes without cell phones with your friends, fire fits (shout-out wardrobe), dog houses were real, and dogs actually lived in them, and Gigli (2003) was not a movie (sorry for the strays, Martin Brest). But 1982 did not help survival in this case.
1982 was an incredible choice. That world clashing with the age of dinosaurs heightened the suspense and constrained the characters’ options for outrunning, outfighting, and outliving the forces the unfortunate people of Oak Street were up against. Power is out; use a smartphone to find out what’s happening, and use its flashlight to roam the home. Call friends and family and make sure they are okay. Use DoorDash to order food when rations are depleted. Nope, none of this. No one knew what was going on outside, let alone why. Can’t call for help or even depend on the neighbors because in 1982, everyone knew everyone, not only on the street, but in the whole damn neighborhood. And people actually bickered with the people next door AND knew their names. Outdated weapons, outdated technology, and outdated beasts (ironically, that last one super sucked because the dinosaurs are outdated. Dated beasts would be preferable. Give us a pride of lions over feathered raptors and monstrous T-rexes and those giant things that had spikes and horns and boulders on them).
The cinematography was not just for making things look cool and pretty. The close-up shots did more than show panic, fear, care, love, despair, etc. The panning shots, the aerial views, and the tight angles added stress, anxiety, and extreme discomfort. Show us the damn thing making terrifying noises. Get us out of this tight space and stop making us, as viewers, feel claustrophobic. The cinematography wasn’t just for showing us the world, but for immersing us in it. Not seeing terror can be scarier than seeing it sometimes.
Acting was great all around, but kudos to Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway for playing the heads of household on the verge of cracking before the world's devastation. They carried the emotional turmoil into the physical one, dealing with their own shit while committed to keeping their children breathing, which didn’t feel forced. We believed this couple was going through the wringer and cared deeply in a we’ve-been-married-for-a-long-ass-time kind of way. McGregor is great as the overly optimistic husband. And Hathaway. What a year she’s having. The performances made us feel, made us laugh, made us mad (the kids were at an age where, with the best intentions and with great care, they did dumb ass kid things that risked survival), and, overall, made us have a good time watching them perform.
It’s rated PG-13, but don’t be fooled. Way more graphic than expected. It’s never a good time watching dinos feast on flesh, but for a family sci-adventure flick, we were not prepared for the violence and blood. Not a lot of jump scares, but some damn good ones (maybe just Josh).
100 minutes was a perfect runtime for this story. We didn’t get bored. We didn’t want more or less. It was plenty of time to slow down for levity when needed. Oh, we have to mention that there is sexual activity, just not in a way any of us could ever have guessed.
We watched it in a half-filled IMAX, and everyone seemed to be having just as good a time as we were. IMAX sound and screen did add to the experience; however, any theater will do. This one is worth the price of admission.
Want to know more about our individual ratings of movies?
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Paper Tiger (2026) Directed by James Gray
Letterboxd Description:
Two brothers become entangled in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true. As they try to navigate their way through the dangerous world of the Russian mafia, family bonds begin to fray with life-altering consequences.
This movies looks amazing (need a better word for next week’s WW). Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller are big draws already but word on the street is, Miles Teller has never been better. We LOVE Miles.
James Gray at the helm, so this could go either way but the trailer looks extremely promising. We are seated.
Also Directed by James Gray:
The Immigrant (2013)
The Lost City of Z (2016)
Ad Astra (2019)
The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan, & 2026 movies: Talking w/ People at the Theaters #76
🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
The Sweet & Condensed crew—Josh, Eric, and Kelly—take the podcast on the road for a special on-location episode at the AMC Theater in Denver. They hit the lobby before and after a 70mm screening of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film, The Odyssey.
Listen in as they chat with fellow moviegoers and AMC employees about their favorite theater experiences of the year, their expectations for Nolan’s latest, and the age-old debate of 70mm versus IMAX. Plus, the hosts break down their own spoiler-free reactions to The Odyssey, from Travis Scott’s surprise appearance to Tom Holland’s performance.
Tune in next week for | Tony
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