Author | Emma Badame

Emma Badame

Managing Editor / Senior Critic

Emma is a Grade-A pop culture nerd. Aside from garnering her a one-time win on Jeopardy!, she's parlayed that passion into a careerâ interviewing everyone from Emma Thompson to Yorgos Lanthimos. Emma spends her days as a digital content specialist for award-winning features and documentaries, as well as accompanying film Impact Campaigns. Over the years, she has produced extensive coverage of TIFF, Comic-Con, and D23, and has been featured on/in eTalk, CBC News, POV Magazine,The Mary Sue, Cineplex Magazine, Smart Entertainment, MuchMusic, CTV's PopLife, CityTV's Breakfast Television, TALK 1010, and more.

Emma is also a film programmer with the Rendezvous With Madness Film Festival and has served on the Short Film Jury at the AoDR Film Awards. She is also a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic and a member of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ).

If she's not watching movies or TV, she's probably planning another trip to London or watching another British panel show.

Articles by Emma Badame:

March 3, 2025
Interview: Dario Scardapane & Sana Amanat on Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane and producer Sana Amanat on the gritty vibe, the talented stars, and the amazing fans of their sequel.

February 13, 2025
Lee Interviews: Director Ellen Kuras and Producer Kate Solomon on Press, Gender, and History
BAFTA-nominated for Best British Film, Lee director Ellen Kuras and producer Kate Solomon talk about bringing Lee Miller’s story to the big screen.

February 1, 2025
David Mitchell Turns Detective in First Ludwig Trailer
David Mitchell headlines the new (and bingeable) BritBox detective dramedy Ludwig . Watch the first trailer now and tune in when it premieres March 20.

January 29, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: New Trailer and Poster for The Players
Sarah Galea-Davis’s The Players is an evocative study of manipulation and enablement. See the exclusive first teaser trailer and poster now.

January 22, 2025
Hard Truths Review
Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths is a stunning, compassionate portrait of humanity likely to be counted among his very best. Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s performance is unforgettable.

December 13, 2024
Interview: Philippa Boyens on The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Producer Philippa Boyens speaks with That Shelf about telling original Middle-earth stories in a whole new way.

November 22, 2024
EXCLUSIVE: New Trailer and Poster for Aaron Poole’s DADA
Catch the brand new trailer and poster for Canadian actor Aaron Poole’s debut feature, Dada. The film stars James Gilbert and newcomer Ciara Alexys.

November 11, 2024
Gladiator II Review: An Imperfect but Rousing Sequel
For all its minor faults, Ridley Scott’s latest is worth the price of admission for A-game performances from Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and a scene-stealing Denzel Washington.

November 10, 2024
Bird Interview: Nykiya Adams and Jason Buda Breakout in Andrea Arnold’s Latest
Filmmaker Andrea Arnold has developed a well-earned reputation for finding incredible, undiscovered talent and placing them centre stage in her feature films. From Katie Jarvis in Fish Tank to Sasha Lane in American Honey , these new actors have become the beating heart of Arnold’s narratives. The real-life experience they bring and their compelling and […]

October 31, 2024
Dahomey Review
Mati Diop’s Dahomey is an intimate and focused contemplation on culture and the far-reaching consequences of colonialism.

October 11, 2024
EXCLUSIVE: Spirit in the Blood Trailer & Poster Debut
Get an exclusive first look at the trailer for Carly May Borgstrum’s spooky and atmospheric debut Canadian thriller, Spirit in the Blood.

September 20, 2024
TIFF 2024: A Playlist of Memorable Soundtrack Moments
From Robbie Williams to Radiohead and beyond, we round up the memorable needle drops from all the festival films we loved.

August 22, 2024
Deaner ’89: Exclusive Clip
Calling all zeeks, Bettys, and even wastoids! Watch an exclusive clip from director Sam McGlynn’s latest comedy, Deaner ’89 , starring Paul Spence.

July 20, 2024
Twisters Review: Plenty of Spectacle, Not Enough Heart
The proto-sequel desperately tries to replicate the magic of the original but falls woefully short, largely due to a depressingly slight script.

July 16, 2024
The Bear: White, Edebiri and the Rest of the Cast Weigh in on Season 3
”˜Precision’, ”perfection’, ”˜challenging’, and ”˜razzle dazzle’: Jeremy Allen White, Ado Ebebiri, and the rest of the Season 3 cast of #TheBear weigh in on their newest season.

Search for:
Instagram
@thatshelf
THAT SHELF
@thatshelf
Film 🎥 TV 📺 Music 🎶 Podcasts 🎧 Contests 🏆 — News, reviews, interviews! —
View on Instagram

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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).
2 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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).
24 hours ago
View on Instagram |
2/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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
View on Instagram |
5/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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
View on Instagram |
6/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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
View on Instagram |
7/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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
View on Instagram |
8/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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
View on Instagram |
9/9