After seeing the film, Marlon Brando wrote Robert Duvall a heartfelt letter congratulating him on making such a moving film.
Robert Duvall had to use four million dollars of his own money to complete the film. When the movie did well at the box-office, the distributors reimbursed him.
Robert Duvall wrote the script in the 1980s, and was turned down by many studios before he financed the film out of his own pocket.
Billy Bob Thornton's small role was a kind turn to Robert Duvall, who had played his father for free in Sling Blade (1996).