Cube Critics

Cube Critics talk about “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” and “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Kyra Miles discuss an absurdist cartoon comedy for adults and a Regency simp pretending to be a player.

Cube Critics watch a movie that is a love letter to stunt performers and a film about a kidnapping where — oops, the kidnapped child is a vampire.

Cube Critics Regina Medina and Max Sparber discuss a miniseries about the killing of Lincoln and a psychedelic action film set in India. The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above. ‘Manhunt’ “Manhunt,” streaming on Apple TV+, is an engaging historical drama series that captures the intense pursuit of John Wilkes Booth following his assassination of Preside...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle discuss dystopian media. The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above. ‘Fallout’ “Fallout” is a new TV series on Amazon Prime, inspired by the beloved video game series of the same name. While I wasn’t deeply immersed in the Fallout games growing up — mostly watching friends play — I loved this series. “Fallout” un...

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Alex V. Cipolle discuss a film about a Minnesota legend and … they really don’t know what. The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above. Click here. ‘The Claw’ This documentary should be distinguished from another recently reviewed title, “The Iron Claw,” a tragic look at a southern wrestling family. This is the Minnesota Nice ve...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a return to a 1980s franchise and an Estonian hard rock martial arts comedy. Click here. The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above. ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is a vintage continuation of the beloved franchise, directly following the 2021 sequel, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” Th...

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Alex V. Cipolle discuss documentaries featured at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival , “No One Asked You” and “The Fishing Hat Bandit.” Plus a web- and podcast-only extra roundtable of other MSPIFF films, featuring Alex V. Cipolle, Caitlyn Speier and Jacob Aloi. The following are capsule reviews edited from the the audio heard using the player above....

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle review “Dream Scenario” and “Kung Fu Panda 4.” The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. MPR News senior arts reporter and critic Alex V. Cipolle : “Dream Scenario.” MPR News arts reporter Jacob Aloi: (Simultaneously) “Kung Fu Panda 4.” Both : 3.2.1. Cipolle: Mystic. Aloi: (Simultaneously) Dus...

Cube Critics Matt Mikus and Aron Woldeslassie review “Damsel” and “Love Lies Bleeding.” The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. Click here. MPR News associate producer Aron Woldeslassie: Matt, I gotta ask: How did you end up surviving the two-day snowstorm? MPR News digital producer Matt Mikus: Eating lots of very warm food. Also had...

Cube Critics Regina Medina and Alex V. Cipolle review “Shōgun” and “The Regime.” The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. Click here. MPR News senior arts reporter and critic Alex V. Cipolle: Why did you want to watch this show in the first place? Like, what what drew you into it? MPR News correspondent   Regina Medina: It wasn’t even...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Kyra Miles disagree about Netflix’s live-action “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. Click here. MPR News reporter Jacob Aloi: You can say “half-assed,” “you can say “kick-ass,” you can say “worked my ass off,” you just can’t say [BEEP] like, or refer to your [BEEP]. And wit...

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Aron Woldeslassie discuss the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and a new comedy special from Jenny Slate. The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cube-critics/id525807831?mt=2 MPR News senior reporter and critic Alex V. Cipolle: Richard Lewis recently passed....

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Aron Woldeslassie discuss a quirky Ethan Coen film, “Drive-Away Dolls” and a unique adaptation of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” as a series; plus, performer Bill Irwin’s deep dive into Samuel Beckett’s legacy, connecting vaudeville to the playwright’s profound influence. The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. Subs...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Sam Stroozas discuss “Madame Web” and “The Iron Claw.” The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts ,  Google Podcasts  or  RSS . MPR News Art Reporter Jacob Aloi: This movie was so horrible, like I can’t even like begin to describe how much I hated this movie, and I paid money to se...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “Finding Her Beat” and “Marmalade.” Plus a Cube Critics extra: An interview with taiko drummer Jennifer Weir. The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. MPR News Arts Editor Max Sparber: Jacob, what did you see? MPR News Arts Reporter Jacob Aloi: Okay, hang on, wait! Max Sparber! And with t...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “Argylle” and “Meat Raffle.” Plus a Cube Critics extra: An interview with “Meat Raffle” filmmaker Aimee Chenal. The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. MPR Arts Reporter Jacob Aloi: I’m Jacob Aloi MPR Arts Editor Max Sparber: And I’m Max Sparber. Aloi: And you’re listening to Cube Critic...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Lukas Levin discuss their differing opinions about the Disney+ series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. MPR Producer Lukas Levin: The main difference between this and Harry Potter is that Harry Potter maintains a lot of whimsy. MPR Arts Reporter Jacob Aloi: So, Lukas...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “Echo” and “Wild At Heart.” Plus a Cube Critics extra: An interview with the Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Gary Batton. The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. MPR News Arts Editor Max Sparber: Howdy Howdy. MPR News Arts Reporter Jacob Aloi: I don’t know what we should do for...

Cube Critic Alex V. Cipolle discusses the new season of “True Detective”; guest critic Regina Medina discusses “Slow Horses.” The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity. MPR News Senior Arts Reporter and Critic Alex V. Cipolle: You can basically smell him through the screen. MPR News Correspondent Regina Medina: Yes. Cipolle : Not the bes...

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above. MPR News producer Matt Alvarez enters. MPR News arts reporter Jacob Aloi: Matt Alvarez. Now take your time. MPR News arts editor Max Sparber: No hurry. Aloi: We’re just kind of chillin’. Sparber: Chillaxing. Aloi: I want to be so clear: Never say that again. So, Max Sparber, this week I saw “American Fiction” starring Jeff...

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Nina Moini look at documentaries about cults: “Escaping Twin Flames,” “Desperately Seeking Soulmate” and “Love Has Won.”

MPR News Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Kyra Miles review “Anyone But You” and “The Color Purple.”

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Aron Woldeslassie discuss season five of “Fargo” and the film “Maestro”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber review "The Boy and the Heron" and "Godzilla Minus One."