loader from loading.io

The Comedian (2016)

Our Hero De Niro

Release Date: 11/04/2025

Ronin (1998) show art Ronin (1998)

Our Hero De Niro

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 .   Films recommended this episode:     Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd  and  and email them at    Next week:  ...

info_outline
A Bronx Tale (1993) show art A Bronx Tale (1993)

Our Hero De Niro

This week, the Mikes head to the Bronx for De Niro’s directorial debut—a coming-of-age tale about loyalty, family, and the tough choices that shape a young man’s life. We break down Chazz Palminteri’s scene-stealing turn as Sonny, De Niro’s restrained performance as Lorenzo, and how the film balances neighborhood grit with nostalgia. Plus: father-son dynamics, the art of the door test, and the enduring question—should you trust the wiseguys at your corner bar?   Wikipedia page for .   Films recommended this episode:   Follow Mike and Mike on...

info_outline
All Mike’d Up – Pizza Takes show art All Mike’d Up – Pizza Takes

Our Hero De Niro

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  and help settle the score.

info_outline
Analyze This (1999), with Philip (a.k.a. Analyze This (1999), with Philip (a.k.a. "Lips")

Our Hero De Niro

This week, the Mikes are joined by their friend (and real-life therapist) Philip, aka “Lips,” for a spirited dive into Analyze This, Harold Ramis’s oddball 1999 mob comedy. We break down De Niro’s sendup of his tough-guy persona, Billy Crystal’s exasperated straight man, and why this mafia-meets-therapy premise feels both inspired and a little uneven. Plus: the real-life therapist verdict on cinematic therapy,  boner talk, and omertà versus HIPAA.   Wikipedia page for .   Films recommended this episode:   Follow Mike and Mike on...

info_outline
City by the Sea (2002) show art City by the Sea (2002)

Our Hero De Niro

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...

info_outline
2025: A Year in Movies show art 2025: A Year in Movies

Our Hero De Niro

In this special episode, we take a look back at the films that shaped our 2025 movie year—not just the new releases, but everything we watched, discovered, and debated over the past twelve months. From first-time viewings of classics like Chinatown and Back to the Future to rewatches, hidden gems, and the movies that had us completely divided, we walk through our personal superlatives: Best Ending, Most Overrated, and the “aggressively fine” entries that defined the middle of the pack. Along the way, we spotlight standout performances, dissect memorable moments, and reminisce about the...

info_outline
All Mike’d Up – Reviewing ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ and ‘Marty Supreme’ show art All Mike’d Up – Reviewing ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ and ‘Marty Supreme’

Our Hero De Niro

In this episode of All Mike’d Up, the Mikes share their mostly spoiler-free thoughts on  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 , with comparisons to Uncut Gems, a...

info_outline
New Year’s Eve (2011) show art New Year’s Eve (2011)

Our Hero De Niro

This week, the Mikes tackle New Year's Eve, the star-studded holiday ensemble that crams a dizzying number of plotlines into one glitzy Times Square countdown. We break down De Niro’s limited but heartfelt role, compare the chaos of intertwining stories, and debate the film’s place among other holiday rom-coms. Plus: reflections on overstuffed casts, manufactured sentiment, and the strange appeal of annual event movies.   Plus: ranking all eight plot lines, and reminiscing about the music of Bon Jovi.   Wikipedia page for .   Films recommended this episode: Follow...

info_outline
Falling In Love (1984) show art Falling In Love (1984)

Our Hero De Niro

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 .   Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on...

info_outline
The Roberts 🏆 [50th Episode Spectacular] show art The Roberts 🏆 [50th Episode Spectacular]

Our Hero De Niro

This week, the Mikes roll out the red carpet for The Roberts, our first annual award show dedicated to the highs, lows, and wildest moments of De Niro’s filmography. We reflect on a year of weekly deep dives, debating our favorite films, biggest disappointments, and the performance that left us in awe. The ceremony is packed with categories like Best Co-Star Chemistry, Weirdest Plot Twist, and Most Quotable Line—plus, plenty of lovingly petty arguments, inside jokes, and a few touching moments as we look back on what the podcast means to us.   Follow Mike and Mike on...

info_outline
 
More Episodes
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 tangents about viral memes, USA Network aesthetics, and our shared distaste for bad fake driving shots.
 
Wikipedia page for The Comedian.
 
Films recommended this episode:
Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at ourherodeniro@gmail.com.
 
Next week: Mikethefab’s Mystery Birthday Pick