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 local malls. Wikipedia page for City by the Sea. Films recommended this episode:

• Blue Ruin
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at [email protected]. Next week: Analyze This Supplemental link:

• The Mall at Greece Ridge
• Mikethefab after being hit by a football