Our Hero De Niro

This week, the Mikes open the mailbag for a chaotic, wide-ranging special dedicated entirely to the citizens of De Niro Nation. We respond to your questions, defend our takes, revisit past episodes, and engage (perhaps too earnestly) with both praise and criticism—including a certain infamous review that inspires the episode's title. Plus: podcast scope vs. De Niro's politics, generational locker room etiquette, backlog debates and workflow philosophy, incredible podcast artwork breakdowns, and entering "I see you trying to fuck on me" into the lexicon. Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MikeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at mike@ourherodeniro.com, check out their website ourherodeniro.com, and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Supplemental link: Zoey's podcast art

This week, the Mikes dig into Sam's Song, an early De Niro curio that feels less like a movie and more like a meandering time capsule. We unpack the film's loose, post-college drift, its hazy late-'60s energy, and De Niro's glimpse of charisma before the legend fully formed. Along the way, we debate whether the movie is quietly introspective or simply a "big fat nothing burger," and where it lands on our rating scales. Plus: horoscope detours, existential wandering, and the philosophical difference between a bad movie and a boring one. Wikipedia page for Sam's Song. Films recommended this episode: Southland Tales Following Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MikeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com, and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: 70th Episode Spectacular Supplemental Links: MikeBackAtYou's film recommendations Mikethefab's film recommendations

This week, the Mikes dig into Jacknife, a small-scale character drama about friendship, trauma, and the lingering wounds of Vietnam. We break down De Niro's volatile performance as a haunted veteran, Ed Harris's quiet restraint, and how the film navigates survivor's guilt without tipping fully into melodrama. We debate whether its made-for-TV aesthetics undercut the emotional weight, and talk through the uneasy love triangle at the heart of the story. Plus: Vietnam War nicknames, coffee talk, and an unusual discussion about soups. Wikipedia page for Jacknife. Films recommended this episode: Dead Presidents Oh, Canada Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MikeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com, and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: This Boy's Life

This week, the Mikes wade into Amsterdam, David O. Russell's star-studded, genre-bending mystery that's equal parts screwball caper and political thriller. We try to untangle the plot, size up a loaded cast that ranges from Margot Robbie to Mike Myers, and dig into the film's muddled tone. Along the way, we debate the effectiveness of the film's fascism satire, get sidetracked by our love of walkable cities, and try to make sense of John David Washington's charisma vacuum. Wikipedia page for Amsterdam. Films recommended this episode: Michael Clayton The Grand Budapest Hotel Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MIkeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com, and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: Red Lights

This week, the Mikes dig into Mad Dog and Glory, a tonal Frankenstein that tries to mash together a gangster movie and a romantic comedy, with mixed results. We break down De Niro's awkwardly gentle performance, Bill Murray's scene‑hijacking mob boss, and why the movie never quite figures out what it wants to be. Plus: the risks of casting against type, why quirk can't save weak character work, and how this movie ends up feeling stranger than it probably intended. Wikipedia page for Mad Dog and Glory. Films recommended this episode: Payback True Romance Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MIkeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com, and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: Goodfellas

This week, the Mikes welcome Caroline back to the pod for a deep dive into The War with Grandpa, De Niro's foray into kid-friendly slapstick. We break down the intergenerational prank war, assess De Niro's comedic chops, and debate whether the film's hijinks and heart really work for adults. Plus: a spirited debate between the Mikes over episode format, and an interview with Caroline exploring how the movie stacks up against the original novel. Wikipedia page for The War with Grandpa. Films recommended this episode: Speed Racer Lady Bird A Town Called Panic Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com. Next week: Mad Dog and Glory

This week, the Mikes dig into Heat, Michael Mann's legendary crime epic about obsession, professionalism, and the thin line between cop and criminal. We break down De Niro's icy cool, Pacino's volcanic energy, and the iconic heist sequence that changed action movies forever. Plus: the film's electric LA atmosphere, why every supporting character feels essential, and and the secret art of never getting attached to anything you can't walk out on in thirty seconds flat. Wikipedia page for Heat. Films recommended this episode: Alien 3 (Assembly Cut) Manhunter Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com. Next week: 60th Episode Spectacular Supplemental links: L.A. Takedown on Youtube Heat 2

The Mikes tackle Ronin, John Frankenheimer's slick Euro-thriller about mercenaries, double-crosses, and the ultimate briefcase MacGuffin. We get into De Niro's icy calm, the pulse-pounding car chases, and what makes this one of the tightest action films of the '90s. Plus: international intrigue, the art of the ambiguous ending, and why Sean Bean should never be trusted with a mission. Wikipedia page for Ronin. Films recommended this episode: The Day of the Jackal Baby Driver Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com. Next week: Hide and Seek Supplemental link: Quirk Chungus

This week on All Mike'd Up, the Mikes are joined by friend of the pod Philip (a.k.a. "Lips") for a chaotic new segment—Pizza Takes. What started as a throwaway bit about controversial pizza opinions spirals into an all-out debate over whether "all pizza is the same," the ethics of pink sauce, and the fine art of choosing the right size pie. We break down Philip's notorious take, argue about toppings, and end up with free pizza thanks to a classic podcast bickering session. Email us your own pizza opinions at ourherodeniro@gmail.com and help settle the score.

This week, the Mikes dive into City by the Sea, a somber crime drama that finds De Niro playing a haunted detective wrestling with the sins of both his past and his present. We unpack the film's gritty Long Beach setting, its exploration of fractured father-son relationships, and De Niro's layered performance as a man caught between duty and regret. Along the way, we debate the film's true-crime roots, discuss why the third act goes full melodrama, and wonder if this forgotten early-2000s thriller deserves a second look. Plus: discussions about cancel culture, child abandonment, and local malls. Wikipedia page for City by the Sea. Films recommended this episode: Blue Ruin Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com. Next week: Analyze This Supplemental link: The Mall at Greece Ridge Mikethefab after being hit by a football

In this episode of All Mike'd Up, the Mikes share their mostly spoiler-free thoughts on Avatar: Fire and Ash and Marty Supreme. The first half is a therapy session about the Avatar franchise's endless spectacle—commiserating over 3D glasses, video game visuals, and the unique fatigue that comes with three-hour blockbusters. The guys discuss whether any of these films offer more than three-and-a-half stars, debate the design choices behind the Na'vi, and reflect on the strange evolution of event filmmaking in 2025. Then it's on to Marty Supreme, with comparisons to Uncut Gems, a ranking of Safdie favorites, and a deep dive into what makes the ending so memorable—without giving too much away. There's talk of needle drops, long-lens cinematography, and character actors, plus a surprisingly heartfelt look at aging, nostalgia, and what it means to be a main character. Expect plenty of takes, tangents, and enough existential reflection to get you through your next three-hour movie.

This week, the Mikes dig into Falling In Love, a restrained romantic drama about two married New Yorkers whose chance encounter sparks a slow-burn affair. We break down De Niro's everyman turn, Streep's reserved vulnerability, and how the movie's winter-in-the-city melancholy is both its biggest strength and its most frustrating weakness. Plus: Christmas nostalgia, department store meet-cutes, and debating whether emotional restraint is romantic or just cold. Wikipedia page for Falling In Love. Films recommended this episode: Sideways The Holdovers Past Lives Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com. Next week: New Year's Eve

This week, the Mikes dig into One Hundred and One Nights, Agnès Varda's kaleidoscopic tribute to cinema history, where film references, cameos, and absurdist humor collide in a French countryside mansion. We break down the movie's campy love letter approach, the visual pleasures of its dreamy vignettes, and De Niro's blink-and-you-miss-him French cameo. Plus: grappling with foreign film blind spots, Letterboxd country stats, and the eternal question—does anyone actually know how to pronounce Marcello Mastroianni? Wikipedia page for One Hundred and One Nights. Films recommended this episode: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai The Truman Show Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com. Next week: 50th Episode Spectacular Supplemental link: Caroline's movie venn diagram