News, Opinion, & Multimedia for Tamalpais High School

The Tam News

News, Opinion, & Multimedia for Tamalpais High School

The Tam News

News, Opinion, & Multimedia for Tamalpais High School

The Tam News

Silver Linings Playbook Review: Much Better Than That Terrible Title

“Silver Linings Playbook” Review: Much Better Than That Terrible Title

By Wesley Emblidge Jan 18, 2013

Note: This review has been republished for the wide release of the film. Original article follows. I always find a film impressive if it can manage to change my mind about something I usually...

“Gangster Squad” Review: A Waste of Fedoras

“Gangster Squad” Review: A Waste of Fedoras

By Wesley Emblidge Jan 13, 2013

I love a good crime-noir film; stuff like “The Third Man” or “The Maltese Falcon” have the perfect mix of all the things I want out of a movie. We don’t see much of those kinds of movies...

Zero Dark Thirty Review: A Great Film and a Piece of Journalism

“Zero Dark Thirty” Review: A Great Film and a Piece of Journalism

By Wesley Emblidge Jan 4, 2013

Time and time again films are released under the guise that they are “based on a true story” or something of the sort, but rarely do those films feel authentic. There have been some awful, contrived...

Promised Land Review: Solid Character Drama With A Political Backdrop

“Promised Land” Review: Solid Character Drama With A Political Backdrop

By Wesley Emblidge and Wesley Emblidge Dec 27, 2012

Any film centered on a political issue has the challenge of taking a stance on it. Either you’re biased, choosing one side to take, or you refuse to take a side, using the politics as a backdrop...

Les Miserables Review: Tom Hooper Attempts To Destroy His Own Movie

“Les Miserables” Review: Tom Hooper Attempts To Destroy His Own Movie

By Wesley Emblidge Dec 25, 2012

Most bad films are, at their core, just poorly written. Even a great cast and director can’t save a mediocre script, but a good script can usually save a mediocre cast or director. However it seems...

Django Unchained Review: Tarantinos Western Takes Down Slavery

“Django Unchained” Review: Tarantino’s Western Takes Down Slavery

By Wesley Emblidge Dec 23, 2012

One of my favorite movie-going experiences this year was seeing “Pulp Fiction” again on the big screen, and it was a reminder of what a great filmmaker Quentin Tarantino is. Now, I’ve gotten...

Not Fade Away Review: Buy the soundtrack, not a ticket

“Not Fade Away” Review: Buy the soundtrack, not a ticket

By Wesley Emblidge Dec 21, 2012

Nostalgia is a tool that must be done very carefully when used in film. If it’s too heavily relied on, it can alienate the audience that isn’t from the referenced era. However most films are able...

On the Road Review: Just as Boring as the Book

“On the Road” Review: Just as Boring as the Book

By Wesley Emblidge Dec 19, 2012

I feel like I should disclose something to preface to this review: I didn’t particularly like Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” when I read it. I liked the writing style, and thought Kerouac’s...

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review: A Successful, If Lesser, Return to Middle Earth

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” Review: A Successful, If Lesser, Return to Middle Earth

By Wesley Emblidge Dec 14, 2012

I was tired when I sat down for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” but excited nonetheless. The “Lord of the Rings” trilogy created one of the best-defined and most expansive universes in...

Deadfall Review: Too Mediocre to Be Bad or Good

“Deadfall” Review: Too Mediocre to Be Bad or Good

By Wesley Emblidge Dec 6, 2012

Some movies aren’t bad, they aren’t good, they just kind of...exist. There aren’t any big flaws within them, but not enough good elements either. “Deadfall” is certainly one of those movies,...

“Killing Them Softly” Review: In America, You’re On Your Own

“Killing Them Softly” Review: In America, You’re On Your Own

By Wesley Emblidge Dec 2, 2012

“Goodfellas” was the first Scorsese movie I ever saw, and to this day, it remains my favorite. If I was to guess, I’d say that writer/director Andrew Dominik (the wonderful “Chopper” and...

“Life of Pi” Review: Ang Lees Massive Technical Achievement

“Life of Pi” Review: Ang Lee’s Massive Technical Achievement

By Wesley Emblidge Nov 21, 2012

There are a number of films coming out this year based on books that many considered unadaptable. “On the Road,” one of the less ambitious of the adaptations, failed to translate into film. “Cloud...

Load More Stories