Mark Andrus' first feature film was LATE FOR DINNER (1991). Andrus' screenplay was directed by W.D. Richter. The film starred Peter Berg, Brian Wimmer and Marcia Gay Harden. Its U.S. box office gross was nearly $9 million. LATE FOR DINNER tells the story of two friends (Berg and Wimmer) who are cryogenically frozen in the early 1960s and wake up thirty years later.
In 1998 Andrus was nominated for their original script for AS GOOD AS IT GETS, a character-driven blend of comedy and drama. Andrus wrote the original story, and co-wrote the screenplay with James L. Brooks, with whom he shared the nomination. AS GOOD AS IT GETS received a total of seven Oscar® nominations, including one for Best Picture. It won two Academy Awards: Best Actor, for Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the quirky Melvin Udall, and Best Actress, for Helen Hunt's turn as the waitress he befriends. The popular and critically acclaimed film earned over $147 million at the US box office, and nearly $300 million in worldwide ticket sales. Andrus shared the Writers Guild of America Award with James L. Brooks for their screenplay.
Andrus' next film was LIFE AS A HOUSE (2001), a drama about a man diagnosed with cancer who attempts to repair his shattered relationship with his son before he dies. He uses his last remaining months to build a house, which becomes a metaphor for life. Directed by Irwin Winkler, the film stars Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, Hayden Christensen, Jena Malone, and Mary Steenburgen. LIFE AS A HOUSE has been widely acclaimed by critics. This was Hayden Christensen's first major role in a feature film prior to starring as Anakin Skywalker (the young Darth Vader) in STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES Christensen received a Golden Globe nomination for his LIFE AS A HOUSE performance. LIFE AS A HOUSE earned over $15 million at the U.S. box office.
The following year (2002) Warner Brothers released DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD. The screenplay was written by Andrus, based on the novel by Rebecca Wells. Directed by Callie Khouri, the movie features a stellar all-star cast, including Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn, James Garner, Ashley Judd, Maggie Smith, Fionnula Flanagan, Cherry Jones, Shirley Knight and Angus MacFadyen.
Andrus' most recent screen effort is the script for GEORGIA RULE (2007), directed by Garry Marshall and starring Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan and Felicity Huffman. Generally, critics panned the film, although Andrus was praised for his attempt to add layers to the relationships among the three leading ladies. GEORGIA RULE did not earn back the estimated $20 million it cost to make it.
Nominated for Achievement in Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) 1997: AS GOOD AS IT GETS - Story & Screenplay (Screenplay w. James L. Brooks)
1 nomination