This week, the Mikes take on What Just Happened, Barry Levinson's sharp-edged Hollywood satire about a producer (De Niro) whose life is unraveling faster than his latest movie. We break down De Niro's world-weary performance, the movie's real-life cameos, and the absurdities of test screenings, bad scripts, and on-set meltdowns.

 

We also introduce "Car Talk," our brand-new segment on the cars of De Niro Nation. From the symbolism of De Niro's Porsche to our own misadventures in used car shopping, we examine why car choice is the ultimate window into midlife, masculinity, and social aspiration. If you've ever tried to manifest an outdoorsy lifestyle by buying the wrong car, this one's for you.

 

Wikipedia page for What Just Happened.

 

Films recommended this episode:

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Next week: One Hundred and One Nights