Winona Ryder cut her eyelashes for her part the city council woman, after writer David Simon sweet-mannered said they made her look too endearing.
Director Paul Haggis agreed to work on the project without reading the scripts because he admired David Simon's work a great deal.
Shot in 75 days (72 of principal photography and 3 of second unit).
One of the bar scenes with Oscar Isaac and Winona Ryder was filmed on location at Burke's Bar & Restaurant in Yonkers. Burke's however did not open until 2001.
The poodle lady's "poodles" are actually bichon frises.