The End of Oak Street - The Art of Storytelling

Not lost in this digital era of filmmaking is the art of storytelling. Like a fine artist painting in oil on canvas, The End of Oak Street director David Robert Mitchell keeps the viewer enthralled with every brushstroke and vibrant color as they come together to tell a story painted on the canvas of the silver screen. He keeps the viewer as enthralled by the story's creation as they are when the film ends. The journey is far better than the destination.

Not lost in this digital era of filmmaking is the art of storytelling. Like a fine artist painting in oil on canvas, The End of Oak Street director David Robert Mitchell keeps the viewer enthralled with every brushstroke and vibrant color as they come together to tell a story painted on the canvas of the silver screen. He keeps the viewer as enthralled by the story's creation as they are when the film ends. The journey is far better than the destination.

A family of four fighting to stay alive as they are trapped in a cosmic event that turns back the hand of time. An unknown place where creatures ravaged everything. Dominance and savagery confirm the Platt family's rank on the food chain. Ann Hathaway and Ewan McGregor lead this family in this quixotic sci-fi quest.  

Reminiscent of Super 8, which was directed by this film’s co-producer J.J. Abrams, The End of Oak Street intertwines extraordinary circumstances with the pains and struggles of everyday life in 1982. The Platt family has problems like everyone else. The husband and wife are having marital issues. Greg (McGregor) delivers pizzas, afraid to tell his wife he has lost his job. He feels that nothing is good enough. His wife, Denise (Hathaway), craves more than being a housewife and motherhood. She secretly writes her novel in the basement that seems to be an autobiography about her life as a woman aching to leave, grasping for something new and extraordinary.

The film assesses the proverb, “Be careful what you wish for,” as Greg is tested and must be good enough for his family's survival. He is the catalyst. Ensuring that there is hope at every turn. Overcoming impossible odds forced him to put his family's lives directly in his hands. While Denise's desire for something new and extraordinary is fulfilled, it is not in the way she expected. But it does give her perspective and an appreciation of what she has.

In the periphery are their kids, Audrey (Maisy Stella) and Brian (Christian Convery), who are dealing with problems of their own. From Audrey’s coming of age as she sees the world differently and realizes she is not like other girls in the neighborhood, to her younger brother Brian’s quest to be liked by everyone. A foolish prank displaying bully-like antics puts him in the crosshairs of a real bully who is determined to avenge his younger brother’s dismay at Brian’s hand.

With Hathaway and McGregor leading the way, the cast is strong, giving the audience a relatable spectrum of neighborhood characters, from the notorious, always-angry neighbor portrayed by the talented, consistently entertaining P.J. Byrne to the mysterious new girl next door, whom all the neighborhood boys admire. Sadly, The End of Oak Street loses some of its luster in pursuit of a harmonious ending. A pivotal moment in the movie that creates an interesting dynamic both in the storyline and among the characters is lost. But admittedly, the film has the shock factor and is full of adventure, sadness, and joy. Mitchell takes the audience on a 1-hour-and-30-minute journey that puts The End of Oak Street on the “Best of List” as one of the best PG-13 thrillers in recent memory. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oB9AxspVow&t=1s