In this episode of Our Hero De Niro, the Mikes dig into The Good Shepherd, a somber, sprawling CIA origin story directed by Robert De Niro and starring Matt Damon as a buttoned-up spymaster slowly consumed by secrecy and sacrifice. They explore the film's bleak tone, dense plot, and De Niro's quiet hand as a director, while considering what the film reveals about institutional loyalty, paranoia, and post-9/11 storytelling. Wikipedia page for The Good Shepherd. Films recommended this episode:

• The Insider
• The Martian

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at [email protected]. Next week: Midnight Run