Cube Critics

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a a movie about an opera soprano at the end of her life and a movie about an entire genre of music at the end of its life.‘Maria’Angelina Jolie delivers a compelling performance in “Maria,” a biopic about legendary soprano Maria Callas. The film centers on the final week of her life, framed as an imagined documentary crew capturing her swan song. As Maria grapples with drug addiction and the loss of her voice — the foundation of her identity — the audience is drawn into her fragile psyche. Flashbacks to her tumultuous romance with Aristotle Onassis and encounters with JFK add depth to the narrative. Though occasionally confusing and slow, the film offers insight into the mind of a performer in crisis. Now in select theaters, it streams on Netflix next week. Maria trailer Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary This documentary dives into the revival of yacht rock, the smooth, jazzy, soulful sound of the 1970s and ‘80s epitomized by artists like

Cube Critics got Glicked this week, catching “Wicked” and “Gladiator II.”“Wicked” is the winter blockbuster everyone’s been anticipating. It’s a vibrant adaptation of the Broadway musical (itself loosely based on a book), telling the story of a young witch finding herself in the Land of Oz. The film is led by the incredible Cynthia Erivo, who carries the movie with a stunning performance, and Ariana Grande, whose presence adds sparkle. The supporting cast shines too, with Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh as a cunning puppet master, and Jeff Goldblum as an entertaining Wizard.“Gladiator II,” meanwhile, pales in comparison to its predecessor. While the performances are strong — Paul Mescal gives a solid lead turn, Pedro Pascal is intriguingly ambiguous and Denzel Washington steals the show as a villain — it struggles with plot depth. Mescal’s character feels underdeveloped, often merely reacting to action scenes, while Denzel electrifies every moment he’s on screen but doesn’t get enough interaction with Mescal t

“Emilia Pérez” is a French film set in Mexico, shot largely on soundstages in France, blending elements of noir, musicals and occasional winking comedy.The story follows a Mexican cartel boss (Karla Sofía Gascón) who transitions to living as a woman, with Zoe Saldaña playing the lawyer who helps her navigate the dangerous logistics of the operation and its aftermath. Gascón, a trans actress, brings authenticity to a role treated with sincerity and compassion, while the film’s humor adds a cheeky charm.The musical elements, though sporadic, are striking, showcasing Saldaña’s dance and theater background. Highlights include an operatic sing-talking style and a gun-loading choreography sequence, though the integration of music could have been more consistent. This is an interesting moment for offbeat musicals (compare with 2021’s “Annette,” in which Adam Driver has a puppet as a child). Hopefully, as they mature they will get a firmer grasp on what makes musicals so powerful. Emilia Perez trailer

“Conclave” is a gripping political thriller set in the Vatican, centered on the high-stakes election of a new pope. Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence, the meticulous and morally driven Dean of the College of Cardinals, overseeing a process where ambition and ideology collide. As factions clash — ranging from hardline traditionalists to liberal reformists — performances by Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and others bring depth to this web of backroom machinations.Less a religious film and more akin to “House of Cards,” “Conclave” explores the power struggles within the Church, revealing how politics and faith intertwine. With stunning, Caravaggio-like visuals and an almost humorless tone, the film dives into a tense, absorbing series of twists as each vote shifts the fortunes of its characters. Conclave trailer

“What We Do in the Shadows” is a vampire mockumentary series airing on FX, based on the 2014 film of the same name by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. The show hilariously explores the mundane and supernatural challenges faced by a group of vampire roommates living in Staten Island.The ensemble cast delivers standout performances, including:Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), a former warlord who is less relentless than his name suggests.Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), a centuries-old vampire couple, with Berry producing some of the strangest pronunciations of the English language to be found on television.Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), an energy vampire who drains people’s energy through banal conversations, is perhaps the most inspired comic creation on the show.Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), the loyal yet underappreciated familiar, undergoes the show’s most complicated character arc involving his Van Helsing ancestry and evolving role within the group.The show also offers memorable gues

“Slow Horses” returns with a fourth season that intertwines espionage thrills with sharp British humor. The series continues to follow a team of disgraced British spies relegated to Slough House, a dumping ground for MI5’s misfits.Leading this motley crew is Jackson Lamb, portrayed with remarkable flair by Gary Oldman. Oldman’s depiction of Lamb as a brilliant yet disheveled and flatulence-prone former top agent is both hilarious and captivating. However, fans might wish for more screen time between Oldman and MI5 higher-up Kristin Scott Thomas, whose onscreen chemistry is electric.This season introduces a new antagonist, ex-CIA operative Frank Harkness, played by Hugo Weaving of “The Matrix” fame. Weaving delivers a chilling performance that adds depth to a conspiracy connecting British and American intelligence services. His character’s machinations tie closely to River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) and his grandfather David Cartwright (Jonathan Pryce). Pryce offers a poignant portrayal of a seasoned spy grappli

Click here.“Rumours” is a Canadian dark comedy horror film directed by Guy Maddin, alongside frequent collaborators Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson. Set during the G7 Summit in Germany, the film satirizes political incompetence as leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the UK and the U.S. convene in a gazebo to draft a provisional statement. What ensues is a descent into absurdity and chaos, surrounded by a bog inhabited by resurrected “bog people” — ancient figures preserved in peat whose bones have dissolved, leaving them awfully wobbly and squishy.Cate Blanchett delivers a standout performance as the German Chancellor, also serving as co-producer. Roy Dupuis portrays the personification of Canada, with each actor embodying their country’s idiosyncrasies — in this film, global leaders are buffoons.The film’s visual style merges soft-focus aesthetics reminiscent of Thomas Kinkade paintings with “Scooby-Doo” and melodramatic soap opera elements. “Rumours” boasts a script that feels improvisational

Adapted from the beloved graphic novel series of the same name by Alice Oseman, “Heartstopper” follows British high schoolers Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring on their journey of self-discovery and young love. The show also features the lives of their friend group as the young adults seek to find their place in the world.  MPR News arts reporter Jacob Aloi and digital editor Kaila White review season three of “Heartstopper,” which is available now on Netflix.  Click here.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cube-critics/id525807831Heartstopper Season Three Synopsis Season three of “Heartstopper,” adapted from volumes four and five of the graphic novels, takes on mental health issues like eating disorders, OCD and anxiety, as well as struggles transgender people experience. This season also grows up a bit from the previous two seasons, with Nick and Charlie inching ever closer to taking their relationship to the next level.  

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle share insights on “Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story,” the latest addition to Ryan Murphy’s anthology series exploring notorious criminal cases.Click here. Jacob Aloi:Jacob introduces the series as part of Ryan Murphy’s extensive catalog that delves into the minds of men who have committed heinous acts, referencing previous works like “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” and the series on Andrew Cunanan. He notes that this installment revisits the 1989 case of brothers Lyle and Eric Menendez, who murdered their parents.He is particularly impressed by Nathan Lane’s portrayal of Dominic Dunne, the Vanity Fair gossip columnist and reporter. Jacob describes Lane’s performance as “delicious” and “wonderful,” adding depth, heart and humanity to the narrative.However, Jacob expresses reservations about the show’s approach to its heavy subject matter. He questions the necessity of more series that potentially romanticize the psyches of individuals who have committed terri

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Aron Woldeslassie watch a spin-off from a Marvel television series and a spin-off of a DC film.Click here. ‘Agatha All Along’“Agatha All Along” is a spin-off from the Marvel Cinematic Universe's TV series “WandaVision.” It follows Kathryn Hahn playing Agatha Harkness, a witch who has had her power stolen and is now on a quest to reclaim that power by going down the Witches Road. This is not a superhero series at all; it’s a witch coven — perfect for a Halloween fall series. It’s about a coven of witches who come together by happenstance to face trials to reclaim something they’ve lost in the past. It has brilliant performances, of course, by the lead, Kathryn Hahn, but you also have people like Patti LuPone, who plays this hilarious, very kooky Italian witch.In “WandaVision” every episode was based on a different era of television. With this, there seems to be a little bit of that as well. So far, each episode has had a bit of a different feel to it and a bit of a different sty

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “Shaun of the Dead” at 20, one of the few horror comedies that still works as both a horror movie and a comedy.Click here.‘Shaun of the Dead’ — Jacob review“Shaun of the Dead” is a romantic comedy set during a zombie apocalypse movie. Watching it now, 20 years later, as somebody who has watched other films by director Edgar Wright, it was crazy to see some of the things that I’ve always associated with Edgar Wright, kind of seeing their prototypes played out here. His brand of comedy — like the fast pace of our hero going through a mundane day while the world is falling apart around them — was really fun to watch.This movie, to me, is a veritable who’s who of British comedians and huge names within the British film industry. Bill Nighy is in this; Martin Freeman literally has a throwaway walking-by scene. But from what I understand, this was not necessarily the case when it came out 20 years ago. These people have had careers that have gone on from there, but th

MPR News Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle both review ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to the beloved 1988 film by Tim Burton about a troublesome trickster ghost.Click here. ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ — Alex V. Cipolle review“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” brings back several stars, including Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and, of course, Michael Keaton reprising his iconic role as Beetlejuice.Having been obsessed with the original movie since I was a child, I found the film to be a visual delight with plenty of great performances. But it doesn’t quite capture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of the original.Michael Keaton absolutely nails Beetlejuice once again, embodying the role perfectly. Winona Ryder’s Lydia is somewhat defanged compared to her sassy goth persona from the first film, but, as Jacob Aloi points out, her character’s fear is understandable given her traumatic experiences as a former child bride of a trickster demo. Despite this, Ryder still portrays Lydia as a strong mother, especia

MPR News Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a biopic about an American president and another horror movie that Max is going to compare to David Lynch.‘Reagan’“Reagan,” a biopic about former U.S. President Ronald Reagan starring Dennis Quaid, presents an interesting mix of production values — sometimes it feels like a high-budget biopic from the 2000s, such as “W” or “Vice.” At other times, it resembles a Lifetime movie.Quaid’s performance, while strong, is hindered by slightly distracting makeup and a voice that doesn’t quite nail Reagan’s distinctive tone, falling into an uncanny valley.The film largely embraces the “Great Man Theory” of history, focusing on Reagan’s international diplomacy efforts, particularly his role in attempting to end the Cold War and dismantle communism. However, it only briefly touches on more controversial domestic issues like the AIDS epidemic or the War on Drugs. This leaves a gap for viewers seeking a more nuanced portrayal. — Jacob Aloi Reagan trailer

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Melissa Olson discuss a movie about a corporation that has taken over the world and a movie from a galaxy, far far away — but in a language much closer to home.‘Alien: Romlulus’"Alien: Romulus" marks the latest entry in the "Aliens" franchise. As someone new to the franchise, I approached the film with fresh eyes — it’s like a classic slasher film but with a Xenomorph in place of the traditional masked antagonist. The setup involves young adults being pursued through close quarters, a formula that proves effective in delivering suspense and thrills.For fans familiar with the "Aliens" universe, the film may feel somewhat redundant. While it executes the tried-and-true elements effectively — resulting in a satisfying if not groundbreaking experience — it reportedly does not introduce significant innovations.Despite this, the film excels in its technical and artistic aspects. The score enhances the tense atmosphere, and the performances are commendably so

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Aron Woldeslassie discuss an animated version of the Man of Steel and a new Batman series in a superhero-themed episode of Cube Critics. Up, up and away!‘My Adventures With Superman’This week, I dove into the first two episodes of the new season of “My Adventures with Superman,” an animated series that explores Superman’s early days as a budding journalist and an emerging superhero. Season two builds on the foundations laid in the first season, with Clark Kent already donning his iconic suit and dating Lois Lane. This season promises to dive deeper into his dual life, exploring challenges in the newsroom alongside villains he must confront. A standout aspect of this series is its portrayal of Superman’s ideals — truth, justice and the American way — which contrasts with his adversaries, notably the government. Amanda Waller and Task Force X are introduced as early antagonists, setting up intriguing conflicts as Superman navigates his role in a society where the government's ac

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a mediocre adaptation of a video game and a horror film about aliens who don’t like city noises. They’re just like Max!Click here.‘Borderlands’“Borderlands,” adapted from the popular dystopian video game series, transitions to the big screen with mixed results. Cate Blanchett stars as Lilith, delivering a standout performance that showcases her formidable presence and action chops. Blanchett’s portrayal is a high point in the film, offering a refreshing look at a woman over 40 leading a science fiction fantasy narrative.However, beyond Blanchett’s performance, “Borderlands” suffers from a lackluster execution that doesn’t capture the essence or the appeal of its video game origin. The plot meanders through a clichéd storyline involving treasure hunters, a malevolent trillionaire and the race to secure a powerful artifact. The visuals are loud and the dialogue often falls flat, exacerbated by poorly executed ADR.Fans of the video game series and newcomers alike h

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a gay dating show from Japan and a horror film about the trans experience.Click here.The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.‘The Boyfriend’“The Boyfriend” on Netflix offers a delightful slice of queer joy through its reality TV format, featuring queer, gay and bisexual Japanese men operating a coffee truck while living together in a shared house. “The Boyfriend” shows us the day-to-day dynamics of friendship and romance among its cast, interspersed with commentary from a panel that includes serious critics, quirky observers and a drag queen.However, viewers might find the dubbed version less appealing due to its limited voiceover cast. The original Japanese version with subtitles is recommended.— Jacob Aloi The Boyfriend trailer ‘I Saw the TV Glow’“I Saw the TV Glow” is a hauntingly introspective horror film from filmmaker Jans Schoenbrun — if you’re looking for queer joy, this ain’t it.

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Regina Medina discuss a comic book movie that is by fans for fans and super insider and a noir-ish mystery comedy.The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.Click here. ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’“Deadpool and Wolverine” marks a notable entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, being both the third installment in the Deadpool series and also its debut within the MCU following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. This brings Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), into a broader cinematic context alongside Hugh Jackman’s iconic Wolverine.Here, the duo traverses the multiverse in a quest to save Deadpool’s timeline, a plot rich with the trademark humor and fourth-wall-breaking antics expected from the “Merc with a Mouth.” The film pays homage to the ‘90s and early 2000s Marvel movies like the original “Daredevil” and the “X-Men” series.It’s a must-watch for fans of the comic books and those who hold a special place for the superhero films of the early 2000

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Mandy Thalhuber discuss a historical fiction that was confusing and a movie about weather-obsessed individuals doing anything they possibly could to die.The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.Click here.‘Fly Me to the Moon’“Fly Me to the Moon,” a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of the Apollo 11 mission, stars Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum as a NASA public relations specialist and a scientist. The film attempts to weave historical fiction with romance by introducing a subplot where characters prepare to fake the moon landing should the real mission fail. 'Unfortunately, Johansson and Tatum lack the chemistry needed to make their on-screen relationship believable, a shortfall accentuated by revelations that Chris Evans was initially slated for the scientist role — a casting choice that might have offered more credibility.Directed with an eye toward blending significant historical events with lighthearted romance, the

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber discuss two serial killer movies set in the ’80s and ’90s and featuring women haunted by their pasts.The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.Click here.‘MaXXXine’“MaXXXine” marks the third installment in director Ti West’s X series, following “X” and its prequel “Pearl.” Set in 1980s Los Angeles, the film sees the return of Mia Goth as the ambitious adult film star Maxine Minx, who is on the brink of mainstream success with her lead role in the horror movie “Puritan 2.” However, her rise to stardom is overshadowed by a series of murders linked to her past.The film brilliantly captures the sleazy aesthetic of the ’80s without slipping into misogyny, blending campy, pulpy vibes with an array of gory, over-the-top deaths. "MaXXXine" also offers a nostalgic tour of Hollywood, featuring memorable scenes on the iconic set of "Psycho," providing a peek into the Bates Motel and the rarely seen interior of the