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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

This week, the Mikes are joined by returning guest Philip (a.k.a. Lips) to dig into Bang the Drum Slowly , a melancholy baseball drama about friendship, mortality, and the quiet bonds formed inside a clubhouse. We break down Robert De Niro's early-career performance as doomed catcher Bruce Pearson, Michael Moriarty's understated narration, and why the film works better as a character study than a traditional sports movie. Along the way, we debate De Niro's Southern accent, unpack the film's surprisingly restrained approach to tragedy, and reflect on what makes baseball such fertile ground for stories about masculinity and loss. Plus: boomerang discourse, Nicorette sponsorship dreams, and how often to replace your toilet brush. Wikipedia page for Bang the Drum Slowly . Films recommended this episode: Eephus Jay Kelly Eight Men 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: Hands of Stone

This week, the Mikes dig into Last Vegas , a glossy, late-career comedy about aging, friendship, and one last shot at feeling young again. We break down Robert De Niro's grieving widower, Michael Douglas's midlife (late-life?) crisis engagement, and how the film juggles four leads while never quite giving any of them enough to do. Along the way, we debate whether the Vegas setting is totally wasted, unpack the film's surprisingly conservative take on aging and relationships, and question why any casino would comp that penthouse. Plus: LMFAO nostalgia, terrifying Stratosphere rides, and one of the strangest celebrity cameos you'll ever see. Wikipedia page for Last Vegas . Films recommended this episode: The Game How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies 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: Bang the Drum Slowly Supplemental links: MikeBackAtYou does SkyJump Las Vegas Mikethefab does X-Scream Las Vegas Picture of mikethefab wearing his glasses chain

This week, the Mikes dig into The Mission , a sweeping historical drama about faith, colonialism, and the moral cost of compromise. We break down Robert De Niro's redemption arc from slave trader to reluctant Jesuit, Jeremy Irons's quietly resolute Father Gabriel, and how the film's stunning cinematography and Ennio Morricone score elevate a story that sometimes struggles with character depth. Plus: waterfall death hypotheticals, oboe appreciation, and a surprisingly deep dive into 18th-century church politics. Wikipedia page for The Mission . Films recommended this episode: Apocalypto Silence 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: Last Vegas

This week, the Mikes discuss Hi, Mom! , a chaotic, satirical follow-up to De Niro's debut Greetings that leans hard into voyeurism, counterculture absurdity, and some truly wild tonal swings. We break down De Niro's performance as the deeply unhinged Jon Rubin, the film's "peep art" premise, and how its first half blends dark comedy with experimental filmmaking before veering into something much stranger. Plus: early De Palma style, morally repugnant protagonists, and debating just how much of this movie is intentionally incoherent. Wikipedia page for Hi, Mom! . Films recommended this episode: Blow Out The Empire Strikes Back (Project 4K80) 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 Mission

This week, the Mikes tackle Freelancers , a grimy, low-rent crime drama that somehow assembles a stacked cast—including 50 Cent and Forest Whitaker—for a story that never quite comes together. We break down Robert De Niro's late-career corrupt cop energy, the film's muddled tone, and how its revenge-driven plot spirals into something both overly serious and unintentionally absurd. Along the way, we dig into the movie's straight-to-video feel, questionable character motivations, and whether there's anything here worth salvaging. Plus: extra-long COVID, remembering TRON: Legacy , and things you shouldn't do behind a dumpster. Wikipedia page for Freelancers . Films recommended this episode: Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning Training Day 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: Hi, Mom!

In this special graduation episode of All Mike'd Up , the Mikes commemorate MikeBackAtYou officially earning his Master of Social Work degree with a sprawling conversation about academia, ambition, burnout, and the weird passage of time. We recap the hooding ceremony, the endless commencement, and the unexpectedly emotional experience of closing out two intense academic years—while also reflecting on work ethic, adulthood, creativity, and why it actually matters to care deeply about the things you do. Plus: uncomfortable folding chairs, why people should stop half-assing their email jobs, and a heartfelt appreciation for 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 .

This week, the Mikes are joined by returning guest Philip (a.k.a. "Lips") to unpack Analyze That , the oddball sequel that sends mob boss Paul Vitti back from prison to the therapist's couch. We break down De Niro's comedic performance, Billy Crystal's increasingly frazzled psychiatrist, and why the movie leans harder into sitcom-style chaos than its predecessor. Along the way, we talk about the sequel's strange tonal shifts, its parade of mob-movie clichés, and whether the concept still works the second time around. Plus: Musical Talk, Ice Cream Talk, and the return of Car Talk. Wikipedia page for Analyze That . Films recommended this episode: Superbad Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Dog Day Afternoon 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: Freelancers