We lock in for Stone, a bleak, small-budget crime thriller starring Robert De Niro, Edward Norton (in cornrows), and Milla Jovovich. This week, we try to make sense of a film that aims for brooding ambiguity but mostly delivers muddled themes, flat visuals, and characters that are more confusing than compelling. We break down the strange tonal mix and wrestle with the movie's attempts at "big ideas" about guilt, religion, and personal change. Plus: "God's tuning fork," local connections to the film, and the world's worst parole officer. Wikipedia page for Stone. Films recommended this episode:

• Nocturnal Animals
• American Beauty

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at [email protected]. Next week: The Comedian Supplemental Link:

• MikeBackAtYou's "90s Hip Hop Classics" Playlist