Joe Lipsett, Author at That Shelf

Joe Lipsett

Joe is a film journalist and Rotten Tomatoes approved critic. He co-created TV/Film Fest blog QueerHorrorMovies and writes for Anatomy of a Scream, Grim Magazine and Bloody Disgusting. He is also co-host of Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr, a YA literature adaptation podcast and Horror Queers, a podcast examining queer horror films.

Articles by Joe Lipsett:

July 26, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Skins Series 1, Episodes 7-8
Skins Series 1, Episodes 7-8 are discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

July 19, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: A Monster Calls
A Monster Calls is discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

July 12, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Skins Series 1, Episodes 5-6
Episodes 5-6 of Skins’ first season are discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

July 5, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird is discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

June 28, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Skins Series 1, Episodes 3-4
Skins S01E03 & S01E04 are discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

June 21, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: The 5th Wave
HKHS Pod’s Brenna and Joe discuss Rick Yancey’s 2013 alien invasion book, The 5th Wave, and its 2016 adaptation by director J Blakeson

June 14, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Skins Series 1, Episodes 1-2
HKHS Pod’s Brenna and Joe discuss the first two episodes of Series 1 of UK sensation, Skins, starring Nicholas Hoult.

June 7, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Dare Me
Dare Me is discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

May 31, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Fitting In
Fittin In is discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

May 24, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Aquamarine
Aquamarine is discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

May 17, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Like Real People Do
Like Real People Do is discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

May 10, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Turtles All The Way Down
Turtles all the Way Down is discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

April 26, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Brenna and Joe discuss The Spiderwick Chronicles on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

April 19, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Percy Jackson and the Olympians S01
Percy Jackson is discussed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

April 12, 2024
Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast: Never Been Kissed
Brenna and Joe celebrate the 25th anniversary of Never Been Kissed on Hazel and Katniss and Harry and Starr Podcast!

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

@thatshelf

•

Follow

Street Fighter brings the iconic video game franchise back to the big screen, following estranged brothers Ryu and Ken as they reunite for the World Warrior Tournament. But with M. Bison plotting to harness the fighters’ power for his own sinister purposes, the competition soon becomes a battle for the fate of the world. Packed with spectacular fight sequences, nostalgic references, and a soundtrack that takes audiences straight back to the ’90s, the film delivers a major upgrade over its predecessor. With a perfectly matched cast, genuinely funny dialogue, and faithful recreations of the game’s signature moves, it balances fan service with entertaining action that newcomers can enjoy, too. 📝 Full review by Sarah Gopaul now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
1/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

Whalefall follows Jay Gardiner, a young scuba diver who finds himself trapped inside a sperm whale and facing an increasingly desperate fight for survival. But as he struggles to escape before his oxygen runs out, the experience also forces him to confront unresolved grief and his complicated relationship with his late father. Led by Austin Abrams, the film delivers an intense underwater survival thriller with impressive technical work and a convincing sense of claustrophobia. However, its exploration of grief and family trauma struggles to match the tension of its central premise, relying on familiar character arcs and heavy-handed emotional beats that leave its themes feeling muddled. 📝 Full review by Mel Valentin now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

What does it mean to see and hear yourself represented on screen? In his feature directorial debut, California Schemin’, James McAvoy tells the true story of Scottish rappers Silibil N’ Brains, who found success by pretending to be American. In this interview with That Shelf, McAvoy discusses the importance of staying true to the Scottish identity at the heart of the film, bringing the duo’s story to life, and why everyone deserves to see their own experiences reflected in cinema. 📝 Full interview by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

The Social Reckoning revisits the world of Facebook, following data scientist Frances Haugen and Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz as they investigate the company’s role in spreading harmful content and radicalizing users. Set between 2019 and 2021, the film examines the consequences of prioritizing profit over people in the social media industry. Despite tackling an urgent and relevant subject, Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up struggles to offer fresh insights into the damage caused by social media. While the story raises important questions about corporate responsibility and the power of technology, underdeveloped characters, an awkward central relationship, and uninspired direction prevent the film from reaching its full potential. 📝 Full review by Mel Valentin now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
4/9

@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 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/9

@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).
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/9

@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.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/9

@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
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/9

@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
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

film

A Talent for Murder Review: Mirren Is Sharp as a Dagger

A cat-and-mouse game reminiscent of Sleuth, A Talent for Murder succeeds because of its two capable leads, Helen Mirren and Alden Ehrenreich.
TV

Gary Oldman Follows His Nose with Slow Horses

An interview with Gary Oldman about diving into his dishevelled spy Jackson Lamb on season six of Slow Horses and learning the character as the series evolves.
music

La Bola Negra Review: TIFF 2026

La Bola Negra is a sweeping epic pays tribute to lost lives and loves by connecting the stories of gay men across generations.
podcasts

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 346: 2026 VIFF Wrap Up

The Vancouver International Film Festival just finished, and Contra Zoom Pod talks about some of their favourite films that were screened.