Mullet (film)

2001 Australian film by David Caesar

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 (2001-06-28) (Australia)

Running time

| 89 minutes
Country| Australia
Language| English
Budget| $1 million[1]
Box office| $1.5 million approx.[2][3]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

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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

[edit]

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

## See also

[edit]

* Cinema of Australia

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

* 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