"You talkin' to me!? Are you talkin' to me!?" These lines will forever be iconic! To this day, "Taxi Driver" remains to be one of the best films ever made! It's one of Scorcese's best! And De Niro is just so good in it too. So when I had the chance to meet the legendary actor himself, I just had to have him sign my posters of the movie.
I attended a meet-and-greet for De Niro fans one time in Hollywood. It was an exciting day. Part of the event was watching "Raging Bull"—I wish it had been "Taxi Driver" instead—followed by an interview with the big man himself. As usual, the screen legend was his charming and articulate self. For an actor known for playing tough guys, he sure knows how to act like a real gentleman. He had all these amazing insights on working with Scorcese, on fellow actors Al Pacino and Joe Pesci and growing up in a gangster-filled New York during the mid-20th-century.
After that, we got the chance to meet him. I had to wait in line for about an hour or so to get to him but I didn't care. It wasn't every day that I'd be able to meet one of the cinema's greatest actors. Let alone let him sign my movie posters. And when it was finally my turn to chat with him, something amazing happened.
I went up to him while he someone from his staff, an assistant I think, whispered something in his ear. I didn't seem serious, but De Niro seemed slightly annoyed by what he just heard. I, on the other hand, being the awkward guy that I am, quietly said hello even though he was talking to someone else. I knew he didn't hear it and I probably didn't care at the time. However, suddenly, after I mumbled my sorry excuse for a greeting, the screen legend turned to me and asked: "Oh, are you talking to me?" I was floored!
No, he didn't say it the same way he did in the movie. But both he and I, as well as the people behind me, knew that him saying that was a big deal. So we all got a big chuckle out of it. He even expressed how ironic it was that after he said that, I asked him to sign a few copies of the "Taxi Driver" movie posters. He signed them all and I went on my merry way still thinking about one of the best moments of my life.
That phrase, whoever utters it to me next time, will forever hold great memories for me from that moment on!
Please note: Our inventory is limited as we may have only received a few posters in total. Most of our items are obtained from film premieres, studios, and from autographed hounds such as the one in the story above.
