Mullet (film)

Mullet
Mullet
	2001 VHS cover
Directed by	David Caesar
Written by	David Caesar
Produced by	Vincent Sheehan
Starring	Ben Mendelsohn; Susie Porter
Cinematography	Bob Humphreys
Music by	Paul Healy
Release date	28 June 2001 (Australia);
Running time	89 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	$1 million
Box office	$1.5 million approx.

Mullet is an Australian film released in 2001, written and directed by David Caesar, and starring Ben Mendelsohn, Susie Porter and Andrew Gilbert.

Plot summary

In the film, Eddie returns to his home town on the south coast of New South Wales. Having left for the city without explanation 3 years ago, he tries to pick up the pieces of his life and fit back into the lives of those he left, including his ex-girlfriend Tully and brother Pete. The title of the film comes from Eddie's nickname and from his attempts to make a living poaching mullet.

The film succeeds in a very human portrayal of the difficulties in living on the fringe of a close-knit community. The drama of the developing relationships is supported by very dry comedy (archetypical Australian humour) and detailed but understated design.

Cast

Actor	Character
Ben Mendelsohn	Eddie 'Mullet' Maloney
Susie Porter	Tully
Andrew Gilbert	Peter Maloney
Belinda McClory	Kay
Tony Barry	Col Maloney
Kris McQuade	Gwen
Peta Brady	Robbie
Wayne Blair	James
Paul Kelman	Gary
Steve Le Marquand	Jones
Aaron Blabey	Terry
Jim Webb	Big Bloke
Nash Edgerton	Winger
Bryan Brown	Publican (voice)

Production

The film is based on a short story written by Caesar, who grew up on the South Coast of New South Wales. It was shot mostly in Kiama over four weeks in June 2000, with a budget of approximately A$1 million. From conception to completion, the process of making Mullet took eight years.^[4]^[5]

Filming locations include Chapman Oval at Blowhole Point, the fish shop at Kiama Harbour, Kiama Police Station and Seven Mile Beach. Originally, Sheehan had intended to shoot interiors in Sydney, but found the cost of doing so was prohibitive within the film's budget.

Cameos include Bryan Brown as the voice of the never-seen publican, Steve Starling as a mullet wrangler and Australian rugby league player Mick Cronin on the steps of his Cronin’s Hotel in the town of Gerringong. The Kiama Knights rugby league club were also involved in production.^[6]

Awards and nominations

AFI Awards, 2001

Nominated: Best Actor
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor
Nominated: Best Supporting Actress
Nominated: Best Director
Nominated: Best Original Screenplay

Australian Screen Sound Guild, 2001

Won: Best Achievement in Sound for a Feature Film – Dialogue & ADR Editing

Australian Writers' Guild, 2001

Won: Awgie Award – Feature Film – Original

Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards, 2001

Won: Best Screenplay – Original
Won: Best Supporting Actor – Male
Nominated: Best Actor – Male
Nominated: Best Director
Nominated: Best Film
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor – Female

Shanghai International Film Festival, 2001

Won: Best Director

Box office

Mullet grossed approximately $1.5 million at the box office in Australia.^[7]^[8]

References

^ Mullet website, “It can take a long time to get a movie up in Australia Archived 31 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine”. Retrieved January 2008
^ Murdoch University Culture & Communication Reading Room – Megan Johnson, 2004, Mullet Archived 25 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 2004. Retrieved January 2008
^ "Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
^ Mullet website, “It can take a long time to get a movie up in Australia Archived 31 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine”. Retrieved January 2008
^ Stratton, David (15 May 2001). "Mullet". Variety. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^ Sheehan, Vincent. "On location in Coollawarra". Porchlight Films. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
^ Murdoch University Culture & Communication Reading Room – Megan Johnson, 2004, Mullet Archived 25 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 2004. Retrieved January 2008
^ "Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2010.

External links

Review by John Flaus: An Impressionist Work: Mullet, senses of cinema, 2001. Retrieved January 2008
Official website
Mullet at the National Film and Sound Archive
Mullet at IMDb
Mullet at Oz Movies

[1] Mullet website, “It can take a long time to get a movie up in Australia Archived 31 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine”. Retrieved January 2008

[2] Murdoch University Culture & Communication Reading Room – Megan Johnson, 2004, Mullet Archived 25 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 2004. Retrieved January 2008

[3] "Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2010.

[4] Mullet website, “It can take a long time to get a movie up in Australia Archived 31 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine”. Retrieved January 2008

[5] Stratton, David (15 May 2001). "Mullet". Variety. Retrieved 1 December 2023.

[6] Sheehan, Vincent. "On location in Coollawarra". Porchlight Films. Retrieved 5 March 2014.

[7] Murdoch University Culture & Communication Reading Room – Megan Johnson, 2004, Mullet Archived 25 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 2004. Retrieved January 2008

[8] "Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2010.

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