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PODCAST

Our Hero De Niro

Mike and Mike (No Relation)

Join Mike and Mike (no relation) as they embark on a cinematic adventure through Robert De Niro"s legendary—and occasionally questionable—filmography, one randomly selected movie at a time. From iconic classics to "What were they thinking?" moments, each episode is packed with recaps, lively discussions, and fresh takes on the works of one of cinema"s greatest actors.

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

01:13:49

One Hundred and One Nights (1995)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/12/09

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

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01:18:40

What Just Happened (2008)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/12/02

This week, the Mikes take on What Just Happened, Barry Levinson's sharp-edged Hollywood satire about a producer (De Niro) whose life is unraveling faster than his latest movie. We break down De Niro's world-weary performance, the movie's real-life cameos, and the absurdities of test screenings, bad scripts, and on-set meltdowns. We also introduce "Car Talk," our brand-new segment on the cars of De Niro Nation. From the symbolism of De Niro's Porsche to our own misadventures in used car shopping,

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01:01:33

Born to Win (1971)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/11/25

This week, the Mikes trudge through Born to Win, a 1971 New York "crime thriller" that can't decide if it's a gritty character study, a screwball comedy, or just a parade of bad decisions. We break down George Segal's wandering antihero, Karen Black's chaotic love interest, and a very young Robert De Niro as a cop with great hair and about three scenes. We debate whether the movie's jumbled tone ever really works, and swap war stories about watching it on Pluto TV versus public domain rips. Plus:

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01:42:29

Great Expectations (1998), w/ Caroline Lamarque

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/11/18

We're joined by special guest Caroline to unpack Alfonso Cuarón's visually lush, wildly stylized take on Dickens. Ethan Hawke broods, Gwyneth Paltrow floats, and De Niro lurks in the shadows of 90s Florida—while we debate whether any of it actually works as a story. We break down the film's hypnotic direction, discuss why the character motivations are so confusing, and argue over whether this is a bold reinvention or a beautiful mess. By the end, we're not sure if we watched a coming-of-age

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01:59:00

Ponyo (2008) [Mikethefab Birthday Pick]

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/11/11

We dive under the sea for Mikethefab's birthday with Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo—an enchanting, aquatic fairy tale about childhood wonder, magical chaos, and the world's bravest little goldfish. We explore what makes Ponyo such a singular Studio Ghibli experience, debate whether its dream logic delights or frustrates, and revisit the question of how children's animation speaks to grown-ups. Along the way, we interview Mike's daughter Nora for her expert take on the film, and answer listener mail from

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01:34:35

The Comedian (2016)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/11/04

Robert De Niro trades mobsters for punchlines in Taylor Hackford's The Comedian—a movie about an aging insult comic who just can't stop burning every bridge in his life, no matter how many second chances he gets. We break down De Niro's passionate but polarizing performance, debate whether the film's crass, mean-spirited tone is intentional or just misguided, and try to figure out if there's anything redeeming about a story where bad behavior keeps getting rewarded. Along the way, we get lost in

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01:24:50

Stone (2010)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/10/28

We lock in for Stone, a bleak, small-budget crime thriller starring Robert De Niro, Edward Norton (in cornrows), and Milla Jovovich. This week, we try to make sense of a film that aims for brooding ambiguity but mostly delivers muddled themes, flat visuals, and characters that are more confusing than compelling. We break down the strange tonal mix and wrestle with the movie's attempts at "big ideas" about guilt, religion, and personal change. Plus: "God's tuning fork," local connections to the film,

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01:27:12

Stanley & Iris (1990)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/10/21

This week, the Mikes dig into Stanley & Iris, a quietly compassionate drama about two ordinary people navigating hardship, loneliness, and unexpected friendship. We break down De Niro’s understated performance, Fonda’s grounded presence, and how the movie’s gentle approach to big themes both charms and frustrates. Plus: early-90s nostalgia, the perils of teenage pregnancy, and developing the new seduction playbook. Wikipedia page for Stanley & Iris. Films recommended this episode: Lars and the

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01:32:07

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/10/14

In this episode, we take on Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, dissecting its epic scope, staggering performances, and the haunting true story behind the Osage murders. We unpack Leonardo DiCaprio’s unsettling turn, Lily Gladstone’s standout presence, and Robert De Niro’s chilling performance as William Hale. Plus: Digging into Scorsese’s historical approach, the film’s themes of complicity and power, and how it measures up against his past work. Wikipedia page for Killers of the

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29:17

All Mike’d Up – Reviewing ‘Tron: Ares’ and ‘The...

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/10/10

In this episode of All Mike'd Up, the Mikes double-feature The Smashing Machine and Tron: Ares, trading immediate post-movie reactions and Letterboxd scores. They spar over whether Safdie’s wrestling biopic is a slow-burn character study or just another sports movie cliché, debating The Rock’s prosthetics, the film’s subdued drama, and how well the documentary-style visuals actually work. Switching to Tron: Ares, they talk IMAX spectacle, the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, and the franchise’s chronic

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02:23:46

Tenet (2020) [40th Episode Spectacular]

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/10/07

We flip the switch on Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, a time-bending thriller that’s as audacious as it is divisive. For our 40th episode spectacular, we step away from De Niro to tackle one of our favorite modern blockbusters—a film we’ve defended since day one. We dig into Tenet’s ambitious sci-fi mechanics, its dense but economical storytelling, and how Nolan builds meaning through spectacle. Along the way, we highlight Hoyte van Hoytema’s crisp IMAX visuals, Ludwig Göransson’s propulsive score, and

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01:28:36

Grudge Match (2013)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/09/30

On this episode, the Mikes break down Grudge Match, a sports comedy pitting Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone against each other as retired boxers dragged into a publicity-fueled rematch. They analyze the movie’s attempts to balance heartfelt moments with slapstick, touching on whether the film earns its sentimentality or leans too heavily on its leads’ legendary status. Plus: the Mikes’ hypothetical walk-up songs, Gas Station TV, and the “Spot a Running Dodge Dart” challenge. Wikipedia page

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01:23:36

Killer Elite (2011)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/09/23

This week on Our Hero De Niro, the Mikes break down Killer Elite, the globe-trotting action thriller where Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Robert De Niro get tangled in a messy web of assassins, vendettas, and questionable politics. They discuss the film’s convoluted plot, De Niro’s limited but welcome screen time, and whether the action set pieces justify the runtime. Plus: chair fights, the limits of “based on a true story,” and the return of the Blue-Ass Movie. Wikipedia page for Killer Elite

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01:12:19

New York, New York (1977)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/09/16

In this episode of Our Hero De Niro, the Mikes take on New York, New York, Martin Scorsese’s bold attempt to blend gritty postwar realism with old-Hollywood musical style. They dig into De Niro’s performance as the charming but infuriating saxophonist Jimmy Doyle, the film’s uneasy tone, and whether the visual grandeur justifies the runtime. Plus: Liza Minelli discourse, Scorsese's attitude during production, and whether or not the Mikes are jazz men. Wikipedia page for New York, New York.

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30:40

All Mike’d Up – Raging Reactions & Matrix Musings

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/09/12

In the second episode of All Mike’d Up, the Mikes dedicate the show to listener mail—reading and responding to letters from several friends of the pod. The discussion covers everything from movie rating philosophy and steak portion sizes to toxic masculinity and the challenges of translating Japanese film genres to the West. Along the way, they debate anonymity on the internet, nerd out over Paul Schrader’s Mishima, and digress into personal Letterboxd rankings and the “vibes” factor in movie

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01:52:26

The Matrix (1999) [MikeBackAtYou Birthday Pick]

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/09/09

For mikebackatyou’s birthday, the Mikes break their randomizer rule and revisit The Matrix—the 1999 sci-fi revolution that changed how we watch movies. They unpack the film’s iconic action sequences, bullet time effects, and the Wachowskis’ fusion of philosophy and pop spectacle. Plus: The film’s influence on action cinema, the iconic soundtrack, and what makes The Matrix endlessly rewatchable. Wikipedia page for The Matrix. Films recommended this episode: Ghost in The Shell 2001: A Space

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01:57:43

Raging Bull (1980)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/09/02

This week on Our Hero De Niro, the Mikes take on Raging Bull—Martin Scorsese’s brutal, black-and-white character study of boxer Jake LaMotta, played by Robert De Niro in one of his most iconic performances. They dig into the film’s punishing tone, disorienting boxing cinematography, and the way it portrays violence as both performance and punishment. Plus: Paul Schrader appreciation, libertarian time machines, and a new challenge for the citizens of De Niro Nation. Wikipedia page for Raging Bull

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01:54:43

Mean Streets (1973), with Andrew Crites

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/08/26

This week on Our Hero De Niro, Mike and Mike are joined by their friend Andrew for a deep dive into Mean Streets, Scorsese’s raw, Catholic guilt–soaked breakthrough and Robert De Niro’s first iconic role as the chaotic Johnny Boy. Together, they discuss the film’s wandering structure, evocative street-level style, and what it means to live with sin when absolution isn’t coming. Plus: the nature of expressionism, needle drop overload, and Tyler Perry vs. Ernest Films. Wikipedia page for Mean Streets

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25:49

All Mike’d Up – Shark Tale Listener Mail

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/08/22

In the first episode of All Mike’d Up, Mike and Mike ditch De Niro and settle into a looser, anything-goes conversation. They read listener emails from friends of the pod, cover Shark Week memories, and discuss proper theme park bathroom etiquette. It’s the podcast-within-a-podcast that's part catching up and part comedy free-for-all. Supplemental Link: Mikethefab's Seattle sushi dinner

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01:48:00

Guilty by Suspicion (1991)

Our Hero De Niro ·

2025/08/19

This week on Our Hero De Niro, the Mikes dive into Guilty by Suspicion, a sobering drama about the Hollywood blacklist era, starring Robert De Niro as a principled director navigating loyalty, fear, and career collapse during the Red Scare. They examine the film’s historical framing, De Niro’s restrained performance, and how the story avoids big courtroom theatrics in favor of quieter moral tension. Plus: Breaking Bad montages, the war on TikTok brain rot, and whether or not the Mikes would flip

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52 results

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