Our Hero De Niro

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.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), with Caroline Lamarque 05/13/2025

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), with Caroline Lamarque In this episode of Our Hero De Niro, Mike and Mike are joined by special guest Caroline for a chaotic literary dive into Kenneth Branagh’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein—a lavish, dizzyingly shot adaptation starring Robert De Niro as the world’s most eloquent monster. The trio unpacks the film’s tonal whiplash, Rube Goldberg resurrection machines, and De Niro’s first full-frontal appearance. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/36394655

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000) 05/06/2025

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000) This week, the Mikes tackle The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Robert De Niro’s passion project turned historic box office bomb. They debate the film’s baffling tone, questionable CGI, and surprisingly stacked cast. One Mike is charmed while the other is not. It’s an episode that’s for the birds. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: Supplemental Link: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/36278185

Joy (2015) 04/29/2025

Joy (2015) In this week’s episode, the Mikes mop up the mess that is Joy, David O. Russell’s quirky biopic starring Jennifer Lawrence as the inventor of the self-wringing Miracle Mop. They question whether the film’s tone ever catches up to its content, reflect on why I Heart Huckabees succeeds where Joy stumbles, and spiral into a rant about the 2015 Point Break remake. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: Supplemental Link: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/36182080

Marvin’s Room (1996) 04/22/2025

Marvin’s Room (1996) In this episode of Our Hero De Niro, Mike and Mike take on Marvin’s Room, a schmaltzy 90s drama with an all-star cast—Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro as the goofy Dr. Wally. The Mikes unpack the film’s, big actor moments, Lifetime movie aesthetic, and whether or not it made them cry. Wikipedia page for . Film recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/36083220

The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (1971) 04/15/2025

The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (1971) On this episode, Mike and Mike discuss 1971’s The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight, a mafia slapstick starring Jerry Orbach, Leigh Taylor-Young, and a young Robert De Niro as a kleptomaniac cyclist-turned-fake-priest. The hosts discuss mafia nicknames, lion abuse, and the film’s baffling attempt at satire. Wikipedia page for . Film recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: Supplemental link: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35985125

The Score (2001) 04/08/2025

The Score (2001) This week, Mike and Mike watch The Score (2001), a heist film starring Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Angela Bassett, and Marlon Brando in his final role. The Mikes dive into Frank Oz’s directorial career, debate the film’s ending, and assess whether this forgotten caper deserves more love. Wikipedia page for . Film recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35985075

Meet the Parents (2000) 04/01/2025

Meet the Parents (2000) In this episode of Our Hero De Niro, Mike and Mike relive the comedic chaos of Meet the Parents (2000). They unpack De Niro’s expert face-acting, Stiller’s ever-worsening luck, and the movie’s most absurd moments. Along the way, they question Greg Focker’s life choices and how they'd react in his situation. Wikipedia page for . Film recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35771920

The Alto Knights (2025) 03/25/2025

The Alto Knights (2025) We dive into The Alto Knights, where Robert De Niro pulls double duty as feuding mobsters Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. From clunky narration to chaotic editing, we unpack this curious late-career entry and reflect on dual De Niros and the modern theatergoing experience. Wikipedia page for . Film recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35830505

Godsend (2004) 03/18/2025

Godsend (2004) This week, we tackle Godsend, a psychological horror-thriller that somehow manages to be neither. Starring Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn, and Robert De Niro as a shady fertility doctor, the film follows a grieving couple who clone their dead son—only to discover something is deeply wrong with their 'miracle' child. We break down the absurd twists, baffling logic, and failed attempts at horror in this early-2000s misfire. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at . Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35592325

Cop Land (1997) 03/11/2025

Cop Land (1997) In this episode of Our Hero De Niro, we dive into James Mangold’s 1997 crime drama Cop Land, a film that’s more of a Sylvester Stallone showcase than a Robert De Niro vehicle. We break down the movie’s tight storytelling, its stacked cast of ‘90s heavyweights, and its neo-Western themes, while also discussing Stallone’s surprising performance as a quiet, overlooked sheriff in a town full of corrupt cops. We analyze the film’s commentary on police corruption, its use of violence, and whether its brisk runtime does justice to the story. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35411445

Zero Day (2025) - Part 2 03/04/2025

Zero Day (2025) - Part 2 In the conclusion of our Zero Day coverage, we unpack the show's wild pivots, last-minute conspiracies, and whether it sticks the landing (spoiler: it doesn’t). We dive into how the series squanders its premise with muddled messaging and half-baked political intrigue. We also break down the show's frustrating reluctance to take a stance, its unceremonious character exits, and whether all the buildup leads to anything meaningful in the end. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35511085

Zero Day (2025) - Part 1 02/25/2025

Zero Day (2025) - Part 1 In this episode, we break from our usual format to discuss the first half of Zero Day, Netflix’s new limited series starring Robert De Niro. We dive into the show’s slow pacing, political themes, and De Niro’s performance as a former U.S. president navigating cyberterrorism, domestic threats, and his own unraveling mind. Along the way, we examine the series’ muddled messaging and whether its six-hour runtime is justified. Wikipedia page for . TV shows recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at Next week: Zero Day - Part 2 /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35410950

Dirty Grandpa (2016) 02/18/2025

Dirty Grandpa (2016) In the longest episode of Our Hero De Niro yet, the Mikes take on Dirty Grandpa, a raunchy road trip comedy starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron. They break down the film’s relentless shock humor, bizarre character choices, and surprising box office success despite critical panning. Tracking every laugh (or lack thereof), they debate whether the movie works as a comedy, discuss De Niro’s commitment to the role, and question the logic—or absence of it—behind the film’s wildest moments. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at . Next week: (Part 1) /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35179940

15 Minutes (2001) 02/11/2025

15 Minutes (2001) In the film 15 Minutes, Robert De Niro portrays a media-savvy detective who is on the hunt for fame-hungry criminals who turn murder into entertainment. While the film aims to critique sensationalism, it unintentionally touches on issues related to immigration—though this isn’t always deliberate. Balancing exaggerated satire and a stylized early 2000s buddy cop thriller, we explore whether 15 Minutes offers meaningful commentary on media and justice or simply exploits the culture it seeks to criticize. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at . Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35123455

Savage Salvation (2022), with Ashley Graber 02/04/2025

Savage Salvation (2022), with Ashley Graber For the first time on Our Hero De Niro, we have a special guest—Mike’s cousin Ashley! She helps us make sense of the 2022 "thriller" Savage Salvation. Does this film offer any commentary on America's opioid epidemic, or is it just a tax write-off? How does Robert De Niro look with a mustache? And who is director Randall Emmett, anyway? Join us as the three of us try to unravel it all while attempting to salvage what's our sanity. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at . Next week: Supplemental links: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/35123180

Righteous Kill (2008) 01/28/2025

Righteous Kill (2008) What happens when two of cinema's greatest actors reunite after a decade, only to find themselves in a film that doesn’t match their caliber? You get Righteous Kill. This episode kicks off our exploration of Al Pacino’s work, marking the first of four films featuring the legendary actor. Plus, it’s likely the only time we’ll be discussing the unique on-screen presence of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: (okay, this is a TV show) Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at . Next week: Supplemental links: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/34877165

The Untouchables (1987) 01/21/2025

The Untouchables (1987) It's a battle of good vs. evil, law enforcement vs. gangsters, and Costner vs. De Niro in this week's episode, where Mike and Mike review Brian De Palma's crime film set during Prohibition, The Untouchables. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at . Next week: /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/34726665

Ezra (2023) 01/14/2025

Ezra (2023) Mike and Mike watch Robert De Niro's newest screen credit in the 2023 comedy-drama film Ezra, in which Bobby Cannavale abducts his son across state lines. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at . Next week: Supplemental link(s): /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/34715865

Greetings (1968) 01/07/2025

Greetings (1968) In the inaugural episode of Our Hero De Niro, Mike and Mike review Robert De Niro's first credited role in Brian De Palma's 1968 black comedy film, Greetings. Wikipedia page for . Films recommended this episode: Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd and and email them at . Next week: Supplemental link(s): /episode/index/show/5fd051b1-4af1-48c8-84e6-8eab52083102/id/34715850

Our Hero De Niro

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