You Talkin’ To Me? 1987

Bronson Green, Jim Youngs, is a struggling New York actor obsessed with Robert De Niro, especially his Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. He watches the film repeatedly in revival theaters and wears a jacket stenciled with “Bickle.” After constant rejection in New York, Bronson moves to Hollywood with his best friend Thatcher Marks, Mykelti Williamson, an aspiring Black model.

Thatcher finds success appearing in milk advertisements, while Bronson faces rejection from casting directors who dismiss him as “too New York” and ethnically unsuitable for contemporary Hollywood roles. He supports himself by driving a taxi. After watching a blonde actor effortlessly win a role meant for him, Bronson bleaches his hair and adopts a laid-back California persona.

His transformation attracts Dana Archer, Faith Ford, a wealthy socialite who witnesses Bronson thwart a robbery at a surf shop—a moment that marks the involvement of a thief, Doug Cox. Her father, Peter Archer, James Noble, produces right-wing religious television programming. Impressed by Bronson’s heroics, Archer hires him as a spokesman for his shows, which promote white supremacist ideology. Despite Archer’s racist views, including chasing a Black couple from his property while shouting slurs, Bronson accepts the position for fame and money.

As Bronson’s involvement deepens, he films racist public service announcements despite his friendship with Thatcher. When Archer discovers Thatcher’s milk billboard, he sends neo-Nazi associates to assault Thatcher, pouring white paint on him and vandalizing his home with “THE WHITE TRUTH.” Bronson must choose between his newfound fame and his values, ultimately intervening to save his friend.