Don's Plum (2001)

A group of Los Angeles teenagers meet every week at their local diner to discuss their latest misadventures in their miserable lives.

Director:

R.D. Robb

Writers:

Bethany Ashton Wolf (as Bethany Ashton), Tawd Beckman

Stars:

Scott Bloom, Kevin Connolly, Tobey Maguire

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Scott Bloom	...	Brad
Kevin Connolly	...	Jeremy
Tobey Maguire	...	Ian
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Derek
Jenny Lewis	...	Sara
Meadow Sisto	...	Juliet
Marissa Ribisi	...	Tracy
Amber Benson	...	Amy
Andre Berryman	...	Band
John Brooks	...	Band
Jeremy Sisto	...	Bernard
Jeffrey Connor	...	Band
Toledo Diamond	...	Acid Jazz Artist
Walter Davis	...	Band
Paula Verise	...	Solo Artist

Storyline

A group of Los Angeles teenagers meet every week at their local diner to discuss their latest misadventures in their miserable lives.

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Plot Keywords:

teenager | diner | low budget film | saturday night | talking to oneself in a mirror | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA Denmark Sweden

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 2001 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Saturday Night Club

Filming Locations:

16153 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Polo Pictures Entertainment, Trust Film Svenska, Zentropa Entertainments

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dale Wheatley (producer/director/"Little Bum") uploaded the film for free streaming at the site www.freedonsplum.com in December 2015, along with an open letter to Di Caprio, challenging his version of events that led to the film being banned in the US and Canada.

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Goofs

Near the end before Derek kicks over the table in the bar he is mouthing words but we don't get to hear what he is saying.

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Quotes

Sara: [to Derek , who has just exposed a deep secret] You better fucking chew on that fear, 'cuz it isn't going away until you swallow it.

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Connections

References The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

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Soundtracks

Always
Written by Jenny Lewis and Blake Soper
Performed by Rilo Kiley

User Reviews

Hypnotic naturalism and cigarette smoke

If you like naturalistic films, then this film is for you. If you are mesmerised by smoke rising from your cigarette, then this film is for you. Hell, if you appreciate independent film, then there is no point in excluding this one.

Headed by a talented young cast including some of the most famous male actors of Generation X, do not expect the typical mindless American mash that fills up the majority of the shelving space in our video stores. Notably, Leonardo Di Caprio and Tobey Maguire accomplish creating characters that are polar to the characters the audience has come so use to seeing them play. These are in no way the finest performances of the cast so far, but the characters are sharp, interesting and well executed.

Don's Plum contains a hypnotic plot that is completely absent of seen-before action sequences and predictable twists. It is a simple story of a group of friends, the issues that they have had, are having and will have in time to come. The themes brought up throughout the film are relevant to every posse - homosexuality, comradeship, loyalty, ethics, morals, tolerance etc. Most importantly, the viewer is encouraged to arrive at a point of self reflection, as the characters so frequently do in the toilet mirror throughout the film.

Shot in black and white, the emotion of the actors is intensified almost dissolving the other physical elements of the film into insignificance. The acting is unconstrained, even impulsive at times, blurring the line between the character and the actor playing them. The use of sound and music is cleverly executed, with silence and the effect it can have when arriving upon a group of people, playing a major role. The other elements in the film are nowhere near a breakthrough, but are overall appropriate.

If you want to feel motivated to stay in touch with friends or if a favourite of yours is in the cast, get off the couch and watch it. Even if these don't apply to you, there is no harm in checking it out to roast some appreciation of the cast and crew's efforts in a unblemished independent film.

Don't press stop as soon as the credits appear...