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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.

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  • 33 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 20 min
  • English

Episodes 33

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  • Yesterday · 1 hr 17 min

    Heist (2015)

    This week, the Mikes dig into Heist, a straight-to-VOD action thriller about a desperate casino employee, a sick daughter, a botched robbery, and a hijacked city bus full of hostages. We break down De Niro's sleazy turn as vaping crime boss Mr. Pope, Jeffrey Dean Morgan's sturdy leading-man work, and why a movie this generic still manages to deliver some modest B-movie momentum. Plus: Criss Angel-coded card tricks, Walking Dead repressed memories, and the first-ever appearance of De Niro digital smoke. Wikipedia page for Heist. Films recommended this episode: Heist (2001) Reservoir Dogs 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. Next week: Mikethefab's birthday pick

  • October 27 · 1 hr 38 min

    Stardust (2007)

    This week, the Mikes dig into Stardust, Matthew Vaughn's romantic fantasy adventure about fallen stars, scheming princes, powerful witches, and one extremely charming sky pirate. We break down De Niro's delightful turn as Captain Shakespeare, Claire Danes and Charlie Cox's fairy-tale romance, and why a movie this whimsical still left one Mike wishing every fantasy story were secretly post-apocalyptic sci-fi. Plus: Neil Gaiman cancellation discourse, Michelle Pfeiffer appreciation hour, and the logistics of guarding a four-foot wall between worlds. Wikipedia page for Stardust. Films recommended this episode: Kingsman: The Secret Service Howl's Moving Castle 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. Next week: Heist

  • October 20 · 1 hr 38 min

    Jackie Brown (1997)

    This week, the Mikes dig into Jackie Brown, Quentin Tarantino's cool, restrained crime drama about aging, survival, second chances, and one very carefully engineered half-million-dollar score. We break down Pam Grier's magnetic lead performance, Robert Forster's quietly devastating turn as Max Cherry, and De Niro's wonderfully schlubby work as Louis Gara, while debating whether this might be Tarantino's most mature and emotionally grounded film. Plus: Wikipedia account discourse, Ordell's untouchable car-stereo levels, and Robert De Niro ripping bongs in a handlebar mustache. Wikipedia page for Jackie Brown. Films recommended this episode: Out of Sight Inglorious Basterds 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. Next week: Stardust Supplemental link: That picture of Quentin Tarantino

  • October 13 · 1 hr 41 min

    About My Father (2023)

    This week, the Mikes dig into About My Father, a late-period De Niro comedy built around Sebastian Maniscalco's Italian-American family persona and one very awkward weekend with the future in-laws. We break down De Niro's warm, engaged performance as Salvo, the film's undercooked culture-clash setup, and why a movie about father-son tension doesn't quite create enough tension to make the comedy land. Plus: micropenis philosophy, helicopter refusal discourse, and whether a Nissan Altima counts as a luxury sedan. Wikipedia page for About My Father. Films recommended this episode: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home The Farewell 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. Next week: Jackie Brown Supplemental links: Dang! What's up with all these books? Eggs Tyrone

  • October 6 · 1 hr 7 min

    The Last Tycoon (1976)

    This week, the Mikes dig into The Last Tycoon, Elia Kazan's prestige-heavy adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished Hollywood novel about power, grief, and the machinery behind old studio filmmaking. We break down De Niro's coolly reserved performance as Monroe Stahr, the film's gorgeous production design and score, and why a movie with this much talent can still feel so dramatically lifeless. Plus: boy wonder discourse, the case for expensive glasses, and an impromptu review of Inception. Wikipedia page for The Last Tycoon. Films recommended this episode: On the Waterfront The Gambler 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. Next week: About My Father Supplemental link: Chase's review of On the Waterfront

  • September 29 · 1 hr 45 min

    Meet the Fockers (2004)

    This week, the Mikes return to the Fockerverse with Meet the Fockers, the blockbuster sequel that brings Jack Byrnes face-to-face with Greg's extremely affectionate, extremely boundary-free parents. We break down De Niro's increasingly paranoid Jack, Ben Stiller's familiar spiral of lies and panic, and how Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand bring real comic energy to a sequel that never quite matches the original. Plus: Greg Focker being punished by God, whether baby talk is actually bad, and the dream of an abstract De Niro gallery installation. Wikipedia page for Meet the Fockers. Films recommended this episode: The Royal Tenenbaums Pleasantville 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. Next week: The Last Tycoon

  • September 22 · 1 hr 43 min

    Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) [90th Episode Spectacular]

    This week, the Mikes celebrate their 90th episode by crossing into an alternate universe for The Pacino Pals and digging into Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet's pressure-cooker drama about desperate salesmen, terrible leads, and the corrosive pursuit of the close. We break down Al Pacino's magnetic turn as Ricky Roma, Jack Lemmon's tragic performance as Shelley "The Machine" Levene, and whether the film's stage-bound structure enhances or limits its incredible dialogue. Plus: our worst sales bosses, the invention of Mikethefab Syndrome, and Alec Baldwin launching an impromptu Car Talk. Wikipedia page for Glengarry Glen Ross. Films recommended this episode: Margin Call Doubt 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. Next week: Meet the Fockers

  • September 18 · 26 min

    All Mike'd Up – The Beginner's Guide to Our Hero De Niro

    In this special episode of All Mike'd Up, the Mikes put together a beginner's guide to Our Hero De Niro for anyone wondering where the hell to start. We revisit the origins of the podcast, explain why we're watching De Niro's filmography in random order, and spotlight five regular episodes that show off different sides of the show—from The King of Comedy and Goodfellas to The War with Grandpa, What Just Happened, and Heat. Plus: favorite clips, serious film criticism colliding with dick-and-poop humor, and a wildcard return to the legendary Pizza Takes. 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: Blog post with episode links

  • September 15 · 1 hr 11 min

    The King of Comedy (1982)

    This week, the Mikes dig into The King of Comedy, Martin Scorsese's darkly funny and deeply unsettling satire about fame, obsession, and the desperate need to be seen. We break down Robert De Niro's incredible performance as Rupert Pupkin, Jerry Lewis's underrated turn as a late-night television icon, and why a film that bombed in 1982 feels more relevant than ever in the age of influencers and viral celebrity. Plus: anti-comedy before anti-comedy existed, the fine line between ambition and delusion, and whether Rupert's big break is a triumph or a tragedy. Wikipedia page for The King of Comedy. Films recommended this episode: Nightcrawler The Last Waltz 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. Next week: 90th Episode Spectacular

  • September 8 · 1 hr 35 min

    The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) [MikeBackAtYou Birthday Pick]

    This week, the Mikes celebrate MikeBackAtYou's birthday by breaking the randomizer and digging into The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Justin Lin's cult-favorite detour into JDM car culture, drifting, and high-school exile in Japan. We break down the film's incredible soundtrack, practical racing sequences, and why this once-dismissed sequel now feels like one of the most distinctive entries in the entire franchise. Plus: Christopher Nolan knowing ball, vacation-posting etiquette, and the eternal truth that Han rules. Wikipedia page for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Films recommended this episode: Better Luck Tomorrow The Driver 21 Jump Street 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. Next week: The King of Comedy YouTube: How Did Tokyo Become The Largest City On Earth?

  • September 1 · 1 hr 38 min

    The Whisper Man (2026)

    This week, the Mikes dig into The Whisper Man, a brand-new Netflix thriller about grief, generational trauma, child abductions, and yet another very large De Niro-adjacent house full of bad vibes. We break down De Niro's subdued performance, the film's rushed father-son drama, and why its serial-killer mystery, supernatural flourishes, and prestige-streaming aesthetic never quite come together. Plus: acceptable child combat moves, comparisons to other De Niro horror films, and the Mikes' Family Guy doppelgängers. Wikipedia page for The Whisper Man. Films recommended this episode: Prisoners Midnight Mass 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. Next week: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

  • August 25 · 1 hr 13 min

    Being Flynn (2012)

    This week, the Mikes dig into Being Flynn, a bleak father-son drama about homelessness, addiction, writing, and the damage left behind by an absent parent. We break down De Niro's committed turn as a grandiose, self-mythologizing writer, Paul Dano's haunted performance as his estranged son, and why the film's heavy subject matter never quite hits as hard as it should. Plus: memoir title discourse, narration as a crutch, and the correct pronunciation of Paul Dano. Wikipedia page for Being Flynn. Films recommended this episode: Daddy Longlegs There Will Be Blood 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. Next week: The Whisper Man

  • August 18 · 1 hr 50 min

    Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

    This week, the Mikes finally dig into Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell's acclaimed romantic dramedy about mental health, family dysfunction, Eagles superstition, and finding connection in the aftermath of crisis. We break down De Niro's Oscar-nominated turn as Pat Sr., Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence's volatile chemistry, and whether the film's crowd-pleasing rom-com shape softens the darker, messier story underneath. Plus: book adaptation outrage, David O. Russell skepticism, and the emotional stakes of a five-out-of-ten dance routine. Wikipedia page for Silver Linings Playbook. Films recommended this episode: Punch-Drunk Love Whiplash 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. Next week: Being Flynn

  • August 11 · 46 min

    Jennifer on My Mind (1971)

    This week, the Mikes dig into Jennifer on My Mind, a strange early-70s counterculture drama about a wealthy drifter, a self-destructive heroin addict, and a romance that seems doomed from the very beginning. We break down the film's bizarre tonal swings, Robert De Niro's blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance, and why this forgotten curiosity never finds anything meaningful to say about addiction, grief, or alienation. Plus: disgusting Venetian canal water, the return of Manic Pixie Dream Girl discourse, and the world's worst body disposal plan. Wikipedia page for Jennifer on My Mind. Films recommended this episode: Across 110th Street Frances Ha 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. Next week: Silver Linings Playbook Supplemental link: Watch Jennifer on My Mind on YouTube

  • August 4 · 1 hr 19 min

    Flawless (1999)

    This week, the Mikes dig into Flawless, a late-90s dramedy about a stroke-stricken former security guard and a drag performer who form an unlikely bond through singing lessons in a crumbling Hell's Kitchen apartment building. We break down Philip Seymour Hoffman's electrifying performance, De Niro's surprisingly nuanced portrayal of recovery and prejudice, and why the film's heartfelt message gets buried beneath a baffling mix of crime thriller, social commentary, and campy melodrama. Plus: self-defense discourse, pickleball slander, and the ethics of euthanasia. Wikipedia page for Flawless. Films recommended this episode: Synecdoche, New York Gran Torino 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. Next week: Jennifer on My Mind

  • July 28 · 1 hr 33 min

    Mistress (1992)

    This week, the Mikes dig into Mistress, a little-seen Hollywood satire about a struggling filmmaker trying to get his passion project off the ground while a parade of producers, financiers, and romantic entanglements threaten to derail it. We break down the film's surprisingly stacked cast, De Niro's scene-stealing supporting turn, and why a movie about artistic compromise ends up feeling far more compromised than its characters realize. Plus: HBO's Arliss, the return of Car Talk, and an unexpectedly passionate conversation about the worst day of the week. Wikipedia page for Mistress. Films recommended this episode: Barton Fink The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou 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. Next week: Flawless

  • July 21 · 1 hr 31 min

    Machete (2010)

    This week, the Mikes dig into Machete, Robert Rodriguez's gleefully grimy exploitation throwback about corrupt politicians, border vigilantism, and one very angry Danny Trejo. We break down Robert De Niro's cartoonishly evil senator, the film's surprisingly pointed immigration politics, and whether Rodriguez's grindhouse style is lovingly committed or just plain messy. Plus: hybrid car propaganda, the ethics of intestines-as-grappling-hooks, and why this movie accidentally became more relevant with time. Wikipedia page for Machete. Films recommended this episode: Black Dynamite RRR 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: Mistress

  • July 14 · 1 hr 29 min

    Superlative Summit [80th Episode Spectacular]

    This week, the Mikes celebrate their 80th episode with Superlative Summit, a special awards-style detour through the De Niro characters they've covered so far. We break down the biggest weirdos, saddest men, most fragile egos, and most barbecue-advice-coded performances in the greater De Niro cinematic universe. Plus: reflecting on 80 episodes of De Niro scholarship, fragile masculinity discourse, and listener mail from the citizens of De Niro Nation. 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. Next week: Machete

  • July 7 · 1 hr 38 min

    Land Shark (2017) [Shark Week Spectacular]

    This week, the Mikes return to shark-infested waters for Land Shark, a special Shark Week act of penance after their infamous Shark Tale episode. We break down Mark Polonia's ultra-low-budget schlockfest, the paper-mache majesty of the land shark itself, and whether a movie this cheap can still have enough personality to justify its existence. Plus: the philosophy of bad-movie nights, surprisingly educational shark facts, and what driving a black BMW says about a person. Letterboxd page for Land Shark. Films recommended this episode: Dolemite is My Name ThanksKilling 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: 80th Episode Spectacular Supplemental link: Watch Land Shark on YouTube

  • June 30 · 1 hr 24 min

    Hands of Stone (2016)

    This week, the Mikes step into the ring with Hands of Stone, a biopic that tries to capture the rise of boxing legend Roberto Durán—and maybe a few too many other things along the way. We break down the film's rushed pacing, strong-but-underdeveloped performances, and how its "highlight reel" structure both helps and hurts the story. Plus: awkward editing choices, the challenge of covering an entire life in two hours, and whether the movie ever really lands its emotional punches. Wikipedia page for Hands of Stone. Films recommended this episode: The Wrestler Knives Out 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. Next week: Land Shark Supplemental link: Mark McGrath is called "Sugar Gay"

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