Author | Alex Southey

Alex Southey

Freatured Critic

Southey is a Toronto-based writer, interviewer, podcaster, and musician. His words have appeared in MovieMaker Magazine, Daily Hive, Hollywood North Magazine, and his personal blog Play with the Rabbit Ears. Notable interview subjects include Oscar nominee Shiori Ito, and members of Blue Rodeo, July Talk, and Rheostatics. He likes documentaries, pop culture history, standup comedy, and hummus.

Articles by Alex Southey:

September 30, 2025
Chad Powers Review: Glen Powell Is A Bonafide Comedy Star
Sports comedy Chad Powers finds a humour that feels like the best of a mix of what audiences already love, and something fresh.

September 26, 2025
Bau, Artist at War Review
< Bau, Artist at War is a film about artist and Holocaust survivor Joseph Bau, which, unfortunately, doesn't do him justice.

September 25, 2025
Interview: Rise of the Raven Cast and Crew
The cast and production team discuss Hungarian legends, the weight of portraying a real, major figure, and the decision to defy the “Hollywood” tradition of adapting a non-English story with English dialogue.

September 14, 2025
Franz Review: TIFF 2025
Franz is a must-see for fans of director Agnieszka Holland, modern classic literature, Germany, biopics, and historical dramas.

September 13, 2025
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Review: TIFF 2025
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is an exhausting, illuminating, terrifying, philosophical, and intensely authentic film about a desperate mother like no other.

September 11, 2025
Dead Lover Review: TIFF 2025
Whether or not Dead Lover becomes a cult classic is ultimately less important than its immediate, obvious role as the point in time Grace Glowicki took a gigantic artistic leap forward.

September 7, 2025
Rise of the Raven Review: TIFF 2025
Anyone who likes sword and sandals entertainment, wrapped in the noble flag of historical semi-fiction, will love Rise of the Raven . Like Hunaydi himself, it’s a must-see.

August 30, 2025
Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives Review: Now It’s Ruined A Movie, Too
For fantasy sports fans and viewers who don’t get too bent out of shape over (perceived) abundant creative laziness, Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives is worth catching at some point. For everyone else, consider this one an L.

August 15, 2025
Sweet Angel Baby Review: A Masterful Canadiana Drama
Sweet Angel Baby is a modern Canadiana classic that sits with audiences like a sinking stone.

August 7, 2025
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex Review
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex is as artfully packaged and expressed as the subject itself.

July 28, 2025
Happy Gilmore 2 Review: Sandler Finds His Swing Again
Happy Gilmore 2 is a pleasant a surprise, focused on nostalgia for the original film and happy to plum the meta narratives around Adam Sandler.

July 27, 2025
Washington Black Review: A Worthy Adaptation
Washington Black follows a young boy, Wash Black, from Barbados as a slave to freedom in Nova Scotia, with newcomer Ernest Kingsley Jr. and TV legend Sterling K. Brown at the helm.

July 23, 2025
Interview: Comedian Steph Tolev on Her Stand-Up Special Filth Queen
Comedian Steph Tolev arrives fully formed in Filth Queen , her full-length debut special, streaming on Netflix.

July 17, 2025
Eddington Review: There’s No Peace in Ari Aster’s Pandemic Western
Ari Aster’s pandemic-era horror film Eddington offers a chilling parable that imagines internet culture transported to real life.

June 30, 2025
Interview: Wings of Voice Winner Isabella Henao
Wings of Voice Isabella Henao winner chats The Rehearsal , Evanescence, and awkward comedy.

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Six seasons into Slow Horses, Gary Oldman continues to find new layers in Jackson Lamb, the sharp-tongued, dishevelled spy at the centre of the series. In conversation with That Shelf at TIFF, Oldman reflects on playing Lamb over multiple seasons, the character’s history and hidden vulnerabilities, and the parallels between Lamb and another of his iconic spies, George Smiley. He also shares how adapting Mick Herron’s novels allows him to keep discovering new details about a character who carries years of history and baggage. 📝 Full interview by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
1 day ago
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Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother follows Latif, a devout Muslim and hitman whose life takes a turn after his wife’s death leaves him caring for their three children. With his infant refusing formula and their supply of breast milk running out, Latif must navigate a dangerous world of crime and violence while trying to provide for his family. Mahershala Ali delivers an extraordinary performance in this striking blend of crime thriller, dark comedy, and religious parable. Bassam Tariq explores faith, fatherhood, hypocrisy, and forgiveness without losing sight of the tenderness at the film’s heart. Despite some uneven pacing near the end, it’s a bold, moving, and unforgettable film that stands apart from anything else this year. 📝 Full review by Lyle Kruger now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 days ago
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Eva Marie Saint, one of the last silver-screen icons, has passed away at 102. She burst onto the scene with a magnificent supporting role opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront — a role that earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She went on to memorable parts in North by Northwest, Raintree Country, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Summer and Smoke, Exodus, and The Rainmaker. Her more recent roles included parts in Winter's Tale, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Superman Returns. Originally from Newark, she auditioned for Elia Kazan and was accepted into the Actors Studio, becoming one of a new generation of strong, method actors. One of the last of her Hollywood generation, she leaves us with an impressive career and legacy of over 6 decades! RIP.
6 days ago
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ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO SEE #THESOCIALRECKONING! Inspired by true events and the whistleblower who started the social media reckoning we’re seeing play out today, this Aaron Sorkin original screenplay is a companion piece to the hit film The Social Network and a true David and Goliath story. Frances Haugen (Madison), a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz (White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network’s most guarded secrets. Follow the instructions below, and you'll be entered to win tickets to see the film when it hits theatres on October 9th, courtesy of @sonypictures, @thetarogroup and That Shelf! 📱 Follow That Shelf, 📱 Like this post, 📱 Tell us your favourite based-on-a-true-story movie, and, 📱 Tag the friend you'll bring with you to the movie! @TheSocialReckoning debuts exclusively in movie theatres on October 9, 2026. Giveaway closes on October 7 at 11:59 ET. Open to Canadian residents only. One entry per person. #giveaway #canadacontest #movietickets
1 week ago
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CONTEST: ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO BRAZIL FILM FEST That Shelf, and @brazilfilmfest want to send you and a friend to see the best of Brazilian cinema in Toronto! 🗓️ Film 1 - Malês (Oct 9, 11 am) 🗓️ Film 2 - Zico, the Samurai of Quintino (Oct 9, 2 pm) 🗓️ Film 3 - The Noise of the Night (Oct 9, 4:45 pM) 🗓️ Film 4 - If I Were You 3 (Oct 10, 11:15 am) 🗓️ Film 5 - The Crime Genius (Oct 11, 11 am) Here's how to enter: 🇧🇷 Follow us and @brazilfilmfest 🇧🇷 Like this post 🇧🇷 Tell us which film you'd like to attend, and 🇧🇷 Tag a friend October 9–11, 2026 📍 TIFF Lightbox | Toronto 🎟️ Tickets & festival details: brazilfilmfest.ca Giveaway closes on October 7. Open to Canadian residents only. Winners will be contacted via DM. 🗓️ Film 1 - Malês (Oct 9, 11 am) Malês is a powerful story of resilience and courage set against the vibrant backdrop of Salvador in 1835. Torn from their homeland in Africa during their wedding ceremony, two young Muslims are enslaved in Brazil. Separated by a cruel fate, they struggle to survive and find one another again as they become caught up in the largest enslaved uprising in Brazilian history: the Malê Revolt. 🗓️ Film 2 - Zico, the Samurai of Quintino (Oct 9, 2 pm) An original portrait of the life and career of Arthur Antunes Coimbra—better known as Zico. The Samurai of Quintino explores the many dimensions of one of football's greatest legends, revealing the unique personality behind the icon. Drawing on Zico's personal archive—made public for the first time—the documentary weaves together stories from his remarkable journey with Flamengo, the Brazilian National Team, and Japan. Featuring Ronaldo Nazário, Maestro Júnior, friends, and family, the film offers an intimate look at the man behind the legend, leading to a surprising encounter with the "Spirit of Zico": an identity as fascinating as it is paradoxical, forged in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, yet shaped by values and discipline that found their perfect match in Japan. 🗓️ Film 3 - The Noise of the Night (Oct 9, 4:45 PM) Sônia is a woman who has spent her life burying the wounds of her childhood, feeling unseen and forgotten by her husband
1 week ago
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Verity follows struggling writer Lowen, who is hired to finish the latest book in bestselling author Verity Crawford’s series after an accident leaves her unable to communicate. But while staying at Verity’s home, Lowen discovers a disturbing manuscript that forces her to question everything she knows about the author, her family, and the truth behind what happened. With Anne Hathaway clearly having fun in the title role, Verity embraces the pulpy spirit of ’90s psychological thrillers while balancing darker themes with a playful sense of humour. Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett add strong performances, but it’s Hathaway’s larger-than-life presence and the film’s twists that make this a fun, unpredictable ride. 📝 Full review by Rachel West now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
1 week ago
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6/9

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Primetime takes a dark look at the rise of To Catch a Predator, following disgraced journalist Chris Hansen and the sensationalist television empire built around his “gotcha” investigations. Through the eyes of the people working behind the scenes, the film explores the blurred lines between journalism, entertainment, morality, and the pursuit of ratings. Robert Pattinson delivers a complex performance as Hansen, capturing both his commanding television persona and the contradictions beneath it. With its gritty late-2000s aesthetic and echoes of Network, Primetime becomes a sharp moral fable about the damage caused when sensationalism, ambition, and the desire for authority take priority over empathy and justice. 📝 Full review by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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7/9

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Forgotten Island follows best friends Jo and Raissa as their final night together before graduation takes an unexpected turn, transporting them to the mythical island of Nakali. There, they face memory-stealing creatures, magical obstacles, and the possibility that returning home could mean losing the memories of their friendship. Fast, chaotic, and packed with Filipino mythology and pop culture influences, the film embraces its sensory overload rather than slowing down. Its kinetic animation, vibrant visual style, and spirited voice cast make for an exhilarating adventure, while at its heart is a moving story about friendship, growing up, and holding on to the memories that shape us. 📝 Full review by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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TRAILER PREMIERE! Catch the trailer for Toronto filmmaker @ajuniorgabriel s debut doc, #TheSickling. Badejo chronicles his personal and emotional journey with sickle cell disease–one of the world’s most misunderstood genetic diseases. Through intimate family moments, conversations with medical experts and fellow sickle cell warriors, and raw footage of Gabriel himself, the film reveals the massive invisible weight of chronic illness, the prevalence of systemic medical racism, and the personal cost of survival itself. The film opens in Toronto on October 3 @hotdocs_ and in Montreal on October 5 at @cinemadumusee, then airs on CBC later that month. Check out this exclusive look at the trailer now.
2 weeks ago
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9/9