I don't get it whats so bad about this movie? I bet no one would care if they didn't fight it so hard...

sTalking_Goat | September 02, 00:45 CET

From New York Times:

"Shot in black-and-white and largely improvised, the kids speak candidly about women, sex, drugs, and the nuances of relationships -- if by "nuances" one means adultery, masturbation, bisexuality, and whatever shock-topics the moment may have called for."

Film's largely improvised, so I'm guessing the stars don't want their image ruined.

Caroline | September 02, 01:55 CET

I read that. I still don't get it though, its a movie. I could understnad if it was a documentary and Toby was doing coke like off Amber Benson's stomach...Seems like the only people who would see what is obviously supposed to be an art house flick have probably already seen it, don't care to see it, or wouldn't care who said something "shocking" if they do see it.

sTalking_Goat | September 02, 02:16 CET

There is still quite a wave of conservatism sweeping North America, it could be they are afraid of getting turned down for "wholesome" Hollywood productions.

herb | September 02, 02:19 CET

I have a copy of it and mostly I would say that they don't want it released because it's pretty bad. Imagine a group of friends just sitting around talking and having no fewer than 3 huge fights over the course of one night. That's what 'Don's Plum' basically boils down to. There's nothing in that would really ruin the reputations of Mr. DiCaprio and Mr. Maguire. It's just a short film that has "improv" written all over it.

miss_tress | September 02, 02:45 CET

So if that is the case then i wonder why they are making such a big deal about this?

The louder a noise they make the more people will rush out and try get a copy of the film one way or another. Why not just keep quiet? Makes no sense to me.

The only reason that i would now like to see this is for Amber's part in it. Had they not made a fuss i might never have heard she was even in it. Just one more person who will now see what they didn't want seen.

Irony can be ironic sometimes ;)

The Arcane | September 02, 03:18 CET

Yeah, pretty dumb to make such a big deal. I never would have heard of it. Now, knowing that Amber and Jeremy Sisto are in it, I'm going to try to dig up a copy.

marmoset | September 02, 05:11 CET

It might seem like a big deal to you but if they agreed to make the movie with the conditions they say they did then they have every right take legal action to keep the film from getting released in the US.

I look at it this way; I might not have minded my mom taking pictures of me in the bathtub when I was little. But that doesn't mean I want her showing those pictures to everyone she meets now. And if I have to take drastic measures, ie, hiding those pictures in a box in the back of my closet, then that's what I'll have to do.

miss_tress | September 02, 06:22 CET

Jeremy Sisto too? Yup, that's quite a cast. Even if it is a bad improv arthouse flick, it sounds interesting enough. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a pretentious "talky" movie.

Kris | September 02, 06:25 CET

Brilliant move. Haven't heard about it before this. Anyone has a .torrent?

PowerToThePeople | September 02, 11:09 CET

I gather the DVD of this movie got released in Australia. I'd love to watch this movie just for the sheer novelty value alone.

Simon | September 02, 11:16 CET

"I look at it this way; I might not have minded my mom taking pictures of me in the bathtub when I was little. But that doesn't mean I want her showing those pictures to everyone she meets now. And if I have to take drastic measures, ie, hiding those pictures in a box in the back of my closet, then that's what I'll have to do."

The difference there is that you aren't somebody in the public spotlight making a big noise about something that would probably have been ignored for the most part anyway. Had they kept quiet only the most obsessive of their fans would have even bothered with this film.

Now in your bathtub pictures example, if you were famous and started making a big noise about not wanting the world to see these pictures of you in the bathtub, then because of the noise you made it got onto a Whedon forum that Amber Benson appeared in those very pictures, don't you agree that it would be your own fault that more people tried to track them down?

Okay, weird analogy (why would Amber Benson be in pictures of you in the bathtub? hehe) but you see what i'm getting at? Sure they have every right to stop this film's release but the fact they are doing so will result in exactly what they didn't want to happen.

Kinda dumb in my opinion.

The Arcane | September 02, 12:47 CET

I also suspect they're worried this film will tarnish their images. But this writer-director may be trying to capitalize from this film and that's the reason for this lawsuit. Perhaps this person intentionally mislead these stars in believing this film was for a festival circuit and is now using their images to promote this film. If someone used my generosity like that,I want to sue too.

But, as many of you have pointed out, now that the story is in E-online and Whedonesque, everyone will be trying to get a copy of this movie.

[ edited by Madhatter on 2004-09-02 11:55 ]

Madhatter | September 02, 13:26 CET

The Neopagan I think you're missing my point. This movie was made in 1995 when Maguire and DiCaprio were basically unknowns. The first time this movie resurfaced was in 1998, right after 'Titanic' came out. And now in 2004, after two Spider-Man movies the film rears its head again. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this by now. This isn't about someone wanting to get a film out there for the films sake alone. This about someone wanting to make a few bucks based solely on someone elses name and success. And Tobey and Leo have the right to not want that to happen.

And as for the fact about them "making noise" about this only drawing more attention to them. That may be true, but them "making noise" has nothing to do with why we're talking about this here. The only reason we're talking about this now is because Amber Benson is in the movie. And since she has nothing to do with the lawsuit itself, I don't see why she would figure it any of this.

miss_tress | September 02, 19:06 CET

That's the way I read this, miss tress. And if this is true, Amber may have a say in this matter. I wish to make clear that this is just a speculation on the reason of this suit. Another theory tossed into this discussion. DiCaprio and Maguire may not have any issues with the quality of the movie, rather they're more concerned about being exploit.

Madhatter | September 02, 19:40 CET

Miss_tress, i'm not disputing anything you said in that first paragraph. You are clearly correct in everything you say about the exploitation of their success etc. However the right and wrongs of that are not what i'm talking about.

They have both been in the business long enough to know that the more of a fuss you make about something not being seen, the more people will want to see it.

My reason for my mentioning Amber is that the only reason i know this movie now exists is because DiCaprio and Maguire have attempted to keep this from being released, therefore more coverage of it then ever before has happened, therefore Amber's name gets brought up, therefore the Buffy fanbase find out about it and they have a whole new bunch of people interested in seeing this film who would never have heard about it otherwise.

So you see Amber's involvement is significant in that respect as it contributes to their problem now that the information is out there.

They simply should have kept their mouths shut, let the movie be quietly released and then quickly forgotten about. Any additional profits that are now made from the Buffy fanbase, not to mention all the others who will now become aware the movie exists, is down to them.

The Arcane | September 02, 19:54 CET

This problem has two edges. It seems that DiCaprio and Maguire are honestly trying to fight this because they feel it would harm their images, like some celebs do with the National Enquirer when they feel like something is out of hand.

The problem is, the more they fight this, the more publicity this little movie will get, and the more folks will want to see it. They managed to bury it once a few years ago, I remember. It was still news, but nobody really cared all that much. Don't see that happening this time.

If I were in their shoes, I'd be thinking "What to do?"

Willowy | September 02, 19:55 CET

Yes, they are in a "damned if we do or damn if we don't" spot. We're kinda' discussing two different points here. The Neopagan is stressing damage control and is correct. If they laid low, the press may not have caught wind. They are now causing what they tried to prevent. BTW, does anyone know how this was released to the press? Others are discussing the cause of the suit. Everyone is making excellent points on both matters. Much to think about.

Madhatter | September 02, 20:38 CET