This week, the Mikes dig into Sam's Song, an early De Niro curio that feels less like a movie and more like a meandering time capsule. We unpack the film's loose, post-college drift, its hazy late-'60s energy, and De Niro's glimpse of charisma before the legend fully formed. Along the way, we debate whether the movie is quietly introspective or simply a "big fat nothing burger," and where it lands on our rating scales. Plus: horoscope detours, existential wandering, and the philosophical difference between a bad movie and a boring one. Wikipedia page for Sam's Song. Films recommended this episode:

• Southland Tales
• Following

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MikeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at [email protected], and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: 70th Episode Spectacular Supplemental Links:

• MikeBackAtYou's film recommendations
• Mikethefab's film recommendations

This week, the Mikes dig into This Boy's Life, a coming-of-age drama about survival, identity, and the quiet brutality of growing up in an abusive household. We break down De Niro's chilling turn as a small, insecure tyrant, Leonardo DiCaprio's breakout performance, and why the film's restrained, workmanlike direction both strengthens and limits its emotional impact. Plus: where this ranks among De Niro's most unsettling roles, age-gap discourse, and introducing The New Pussy Posse™. Wikipedia page for This Boy's Life. Films recommended this episode:

• Moonlight
• True Grit

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MikeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at [email protected], and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro.

Next week: Sam's Song

This week, the Mikes dig into Jacknife, a small-scale character drama about friendship, trauma, and the lingering wounds of Vietnam. We break down De Niro's volatile performance as a haunted veteran, Ed Harris's quiet restraint, and how the film navigates survivor's guilt without tipping fully into melodrama. We debate whether its made-for-TV aesthetics undercut the emotional weight, and talk through the uneasy love triangle at the heart of the story. Plus: Vietnam War nicknames, coffee talk, and an unusual discussion about soups. Wikipedia page for Jacknife. Films recommended this episode:

• Dead Presidents
• Oh, Canada

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MikeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at [email protected], and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: This Boy's Life

This week, the Mikes turn their attention to Red Lights, a twisty supernatural thriller where skeptics and believers collide. We dig into De Niro's enigmatic performance, the stacked cast (including Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy), and why the film's over-the-top seriousness makes it both ridiculous and weirdly watchable. Plus: seance chaos, melodrama on a mythic scale, and why sometimes a movie is more fun when it doesn't make sense. Wikipedia page for Red Lights. Films recommended this episode:

• Unbreakable
• The Silence of the Lambs

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MikeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at [email protected], and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: Jacknife

This week, the Mikes wade into Amsterdam, David O. Russell's star-studded, genre-bending mystery that's equal parts screwball caper and political thriller. We try to untangle the plot, size up a loaded cast that ranges from Margot Robbie to Mike Myers, and dig into the film's muddled tone. Along the way, we debate the effectiveness of the film's fascism satire, get sidetracked by our love of walkable cities, and try to make sense of John David Washington's charisma vacuum. Wikipedia page for Amsterdam. Films recommended this episode:

• Michael Clayton
• The Grand Budapest Hotel

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MIkeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at [email protected], and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: Red Lights

This week, the Mikes dig into Goodfellas, Scorsese's breakneck mob classic about ambition, betrayal, and the price of chasing the American Dream. We break down Ray Liotta's wild ride as Henry Hill, De Niro's effortless menace, and Pesci's unhinged volatility, all wrapped in the film's propulsive style. Plus: unforgettable needle drops, paranoid montages, and a debate about method acting. Wikipedia page for Goodfellas. Films recommended this episode:

• Carlito's Way
• The Wolf of Wall Street

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MIkeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at [email protected], and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: Amsterdam

This week, the Mikes dig into Mad Dog and Glory, a tonal Frankenstein that tries to mash together a gangster movie and a romantic comedy, with mixed results. We break down De Niro's awkwardly gentle performance, Bill Murray's scene‑hijacking mob boss, and why the movie never quite figures out what it wants to be. Plus: the risks of casting against type, why quirk can't save weak character work, and how this movie ends up feeling stranger than it probably intended. Wikipedia page for Mad Dog and Glory. Films recommended this episode:

• Payback
• True Romance

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MIkeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at [email protected], and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: Goodfellas

This week, the Mikes rank all ten Best Picture nominees from the 98th Academy Awards, breaking down what worked, what baffled us, and what absolutely does not deserve the gold statue. We debate surprise favorites, aggressively fine middle-of-the-pack picks, and the films that sparked the most heated disagreement. From intimate character studies to bloated prestige epics, we talk performances, endings, rewatchability, and whether the Academy actually got it right this year. Plus: bold predictions, shifting rankings in real time, and a few takes that may age very poorly by Oscar night. Films reviewed this episode:

• Bugonia
• F1: The Movie
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another
• The Secret Agent
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners
• Train Dreams

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @MIkeBackAtYou and @mikethefab, email them at [email protected], and find them on social media at allmylinks.com/ourherodeniro. Next week: Mad Dog and Glory

This week, the Mikes welcome Caroline back to the pod for a deep dive into The War with Grandpa, De Niro's foray into kid-friendly slapstick. We break down the intergenerational prank war, assess De Niro's comedic chops, and debate whether the film's hijinks and heart really work for adults. Plus: a spirited debate between the Mikes over episode format, and an interview with Caroline exploring how the movie stacks up against the original novel. Wikipedia page for The War with Grandpa. Films recommended this episode:

• Speed Racer
• Lady Bird
• A Town Called Panic

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at [email protected]. Next week: Mad Dog and Glory

This week, the Mikes celebrate their 60th episode by diving into De Niro's three turns as Saturday Night Live host. We break down De Niro's evolving approach to sketch comedy, the highs and lows of his monologues, and what happens when a legendary dramatic actor steps into the chaos of live TV. Plus: a nostalgic look back at the 2000s, more lore about the Mikes, and a spirited debate about the best (and most awkward) sketches across the years. Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at [email protected]. Next week: The War with Grandpa