Movies
The first film produced under Mr. Mudd's banner was Ghost World directed by Terry Zwigoff and based on the novel by graphic artist Daniel Clowes. Ghost World completed principal photography in Los Angeles in May of 2000. United Artists Films released the film in North America on July 20th, 2001 to critical acclaim. Ghost World was on more than 140 "top ten" critics lists that year and Terry Zwigoff & Daniel Clowes received an Oscar nomination in 2002 for best adapted screenplay. Steve Buscemi and Thora Birch were both nominated for Golden Globe awards for their performances.
Mr. Mudd's production of The Dancer Upstairs marked the feature film directorial debut of John Malkovich. The Dancer Upstairs was released domestically by Fox Searchlight in May of 2003. The film is based on the acclaimed novel by Nicholas Shakespeare who has adapted his own work for the screen. Academy Award® nominee Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls) stars as Rejas. The Dancer Upstairs made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2002 and has accumulated accolades ever since as it's opened around the globe. The film was produced in association with Lolafilms.
John Walter and Andrew Moore's How to Draw a Bunny won the Special Jury Prize, 2002 Sundance Film Festival and the Prix de Public at the famed Recontre Film Festival in Paris. How to Draw a Bunny was named as one of the 10 Best documentaries of last year in the Village Voice annual critic's poll and was nominated for a 2003 IFP Spirit Award for Best Documentary. Mr. Mudd serves as Executive Producer of the film. Palm Pictures has acquired US theatrical distribution rights and plans a wide release in the spring of 2004. The film is a kaleidoscopic view of the life and art of Ray Johnson, a Warhol contemporary whose dead pan collages were distributed through the United States Postal Services, but his mysterious death might have been his ultimate work of art.
Set in 17th Century London, ,The Libertine starring Johnny Depp, John Malkovich and Samantha Morton was produced in 2004, and tells the true story of the Earl of Rochester (Depp), famed poet, sexual provocateur and wit. The film garnered seven Britsh Independent Film Award nominations and one win. In the same year, Halfon and partners wrapped production on the eagerly anticipated Art School Confidential, reuniting the Ghost World team of Zwigoff and Clowes. Dan Clowes adapted his comic serial for Terry Zwigoff to direct. The film stars ingenues Max Minghella and Sophia Myles along with veteran actors John Malkovich, Angelica Huston, and Jim Broadbent. Both The Libertine, and Art School Confidential were released domestically in the spring of 2004.
Presently, Fox Searchlight is set to release the Mandate/Mr. Mudd produced picture Juno. Juno stars Ellen Page as the title character, a whip-smart teen confronting an unplanned pregnancy by her classmate Bleeker (Cera). Juno finds her unborn child a perfect set of parents: an affluent suburban couple, Mark and Vanessa (Bateman and Garner), longing to adopt. Luckily, Juno has the support of her parents (Simmons and Janney) as she faces some tough decisions, flirts with adulthood and ultimately figures out where she belongs.
Directed by Jason Reitman. Minneapolis-based journalist and author Diablo Cody penned the script. Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith and John Malkovich produced along with Mason Novick. Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane of Mandate Pictures are the executive producers. Juno premiered as the surprise hit at the Toronto film festival, it won the top prize at the Rome film festival, and has continued to win critical and audience awards at festivals. The comedy was just nominated for 4 separate Spirit awards including Best Picture.