I went into Don's Plum with the expectation that it was going to be a masterpiece. A film not allowed to be released in the US or Canada, I was ecstatic when I was able to get my hands on a copy. A movie with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kevin Connolly and Toby Maguire; I assumed it would be the greatest film I had seen in a while. The truth is, the movie was a black and white low budget indie. The production quality lacked, but the story line is incredible.
Right off the bat, you realize the reason this movie is banned from release in the US. It is the story of the Pussy Posse, and it is rough. For those of you who do not know what that is, it is the nickname for a gang of child actors in the 90s. Members included Leonardo DiCaprio, Toby Maguire, Kevin Connolly, David Blane, Ethan Suplee and more. They were known for wreaking havoc in New York and Los Angeles social scenes.
The film depicts a group of child actors who are borderline misogynistic and homophobic degenerates. A group that sits around smoking cigarettes, sharing stories about who they have hooked up with, and how cool they are. They treat the waitress terribly, make fun of an obese women, make fun of two homeless addicts, and more. But as negative as it was, there were still positive aspects of this film. They promoted friendship. It was refreshing to have seen these actors in a low budget film. While the story line was hard to keep up with, I felt like it was worth the watch just to see these guys in a low budget film before they blew up and became superstars.
The funny thing is the more I read about the Pussy Posse (including the infamous NY Magazine article that coined that phrase), the more I realize that they were that group of guys in Don's Plum. The film isn't all fiction. The group was notorious for causing chaos in nightclubs, treating waiting staff bad, tipping low and — shocker — being disrespectful to people.
The thing is that people grow and evolve, so while I judge the characters of this movie and compare them to the actors who acted them, I am in no way saying that Leonardo DiCaprio or any member of the Pussy Posse are bad people. Whether or not this was the way they acted, people change, time changes. I think that it is important to recognize that, and with that being said, I think that Leo and Toby should lift the ban on this movie that is over 20 years old and free Don's Plum. Let the world see the film. While it is rough and features moments that make you cringe, it is still art created by a great cast, good producers, and a solid director. Allow America and Canada to be able to see this film, and in return, we will remember that time and people change.
