Watch True Identity

True Identity is a 1991 comedy film directed by Charles Lane, starring Lenny Henry, Frank Langella, and Charles Lane himself. The movie follows the story of Miles Pope, an African-American actor who is tired of being typecast as a criminal in Hollywood. In an effort to break away from this stereotype, he decides to disguise himself as a white man and take on a new identity to audition for a Shakespearean play.

The film is set in New York City, and the opening sequence shows Miles Pope (Lenny Henry) in a car with his friend, Tommy (T.K. Carter). They are on their way to an audition when they get pulled over by the police for a minor traffic violation. Despite the fact that they have done nothing wrong, the police officer is aggressive towards them and arrests Miles for no reason. This incident sets the tone for the movie, as it highlights the racial prejudice and discrimination that black people face in America.

After the incident, Miles decides that he has had enough of being typecast as a criminal and begins to think about what he can do to change his career. He realizes that if he were to change his appearance, he may be able to get more serious roles. This leads him to come up with the idea of creating a new persona, a white man named Randall Stevens. He uses makeup, a wig, and a white suit to transform himself into Randall, and then auditions for an upcoming Shakespearean play under that name.

Despite his nerves and doubts, Miles (now Randall) impresses the producers and lands the lead role in the play. From this point on, the movie follows the adventures of Randall as he navigates his new life as a successful white man. He moves into a fancy hotel, meets a beautiful woman, and even has to attend a Klan meeting. However, as he becomes more and more entrenched in his new persona, he realizes that he has lost his sense of self and is no longer sure who he really is.

Meanwhile, outside of his new life, Miles' friends and family are struggling to find him. They know that he has disappeared but have no idea where he could be. This leads to some comical scenes where they search the city for him, following various leads and trying to piece together his whereabouts.

As the play approaches its opening night, Miles (as Randall) begins to feel the pressure of his double life. He has to keep up appearances both on and off stage, and the stress begins to take its toll on him. He starts to make mistakes and trips up in his lies, leading to some awkward and embarrassing moments.

Throughout the movie, there are several themes at play, including racial identity, personal identity, and the pressures of fame. The film is funny and entertaining, but also tackles some serious issues and is thought-provoking in places. The performances are strong, with Lenny Henry delivering an excellent portrayal of Miles/Randall. Frank Langella is also great as a Shakespearean director who takes a liking to Randall, and Charles Lane is hilarious as Miles' friend Tommy.

In conclusion, True Identity is a highly enjoyable film that is well worth watching. It combines humor, drama, and social commentary to create a unique and memorable story. Despite being made almost three decades ago, the issues it deals with are still relevant today, and it is a film that will make you think while also making you laugh.

True Identity is a 1991 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1.