Don's Plum is a 2001 low-budget black and whiteindie film drama directed by R. D. Robb, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Kevin Connolly. The drama was filmed in 1995–1996, and written by Robb with Bethany Ashton, Tawd Beckman, David Stutman and Dale Wheatley. The film takes place over the course of one night in which a group of young adults discuss life while eating at a diner. DiCaprio and Maguire were paid $575 per day to appear in the film. They later sued to stop the movie from being released., the film is still blocked from release in the U.S. and Canada. Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley provided the soundtrack for the film. His bandmate Jenny Lewis has a role as Sara. It is the second film on-screen collaboration between Maguire and DiCaprio, the first film This Boy's Life, released in 1993, and the third film The Great Gatsby, released in 2013.
Plot
Don's Plum is centered around a friend group of young twenty year olds who meet at a restaurant called "Don's Plum" every Saturday night. The four male friends usually each bring a girl with them to all hang out. Drama ensues, including verbal and physical altercations between the friends and other members in the restaurant. There is very little concrete plot, with more of a "friends hanging out" movie.
Lawsuits
On April 1, 1998, producer David Stutman filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, case no. B C1894C0, against Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire for Declaratory Relief, Interference with Prospective Economic Advantage, Breach of Contract, Slander of Title, and Injunctive Relief. It was later agreed between DiCaprio, Maguire, Stutman, Wheatley and Jerry Meadors that the film would only be released outside the U.S. and Canada. The lawsuit also required that some scenes had to be trimmed or removed.
Free streaming
In September 2014, Dale Wheatley published an open letter to DiCaprio on the website freedonsplum.com, giving his take on the history of the film and the ensuing legal issues. Wheatley also uploaded the film to the website so that it could be streamed for free. It was removed in January 2016 after a third-party notification by DiCaprio and Maguire claiming infringement. Wheatley made the following statement to Fox News: "It saddens me deeply that in 2016 we witness the senseless oppression of film and art by one of America's most beloved actors". "While the world celebrates — and certainly Americans celebrate — his great achievements in cinema, he chooses to use an iron fist to suppress the work of many other artists including him in a film made 20 years ago." The film can be watched on YouTube.
Reception
It premiered on February 10, 2001, in Berlin. Time Out New York writer Mike D'Angelo called it, "the best film in Berlin". Variety Magazine called it an "unpleasant and tedious ensemble."
