This film features both James Gandolfini and Michael Rispoli playing mob/ underworld figures. Three years later, Gandolfini and Rispoli would appear together in HBO's acclaimed mafia series Les Soprano (1999) with each actor portraying the boss of the DiMeo crime family at varying times. When casting the series Sopranos' creator David Chase almost gave the lead role of Tony Soprano to Rispoli before finally giving it to Gandolfini.
David Cronenberg was asked by his agent to direct this film instead of Crash (1996), which the agent feared would negatively impact David's career.
The original cinematographer, Gordon Willis, quit two weeks into filming and was replaced by Jamie Anderson. Willis did not get along with director Brian Gibson, who he felt did not respect him or his abilities, and was fed up with constantly waiting for Gibson to decide how scenes should be shot.
The film's production secretary, Gary R. Wordham, also played the flirting intern at the hospital. His name is also on the passport that the Teacher uses when he flies to Guatemala.
Anne Heche's breakthrough role that some say was the film that opened doors for her. Shortly after, she starred in several films opposite A-list actors such as Des hommes d'influence (1997) with Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman; Volcano (1997) with Tommy Lee Jones; Donnie Brasco (1997) with Johnny Depp and Al Pacino; Loin du paradis (1998) with Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Phoenix; and 6 jours, 7 nuits (1998) with Harrison Ford. Many years later she starred in Toy boy (2009), in which she played the love interest of Ashton Kutcher, who at that time was married to her friend Demi Moore.