I enjoyed this movie but I had an opportunity to meet some key behind the scenes people that helped develop this movie and what they have told me makes me always "blink". Still like the movie though. First is, I had some business dealings with the majority of the landowners in Osage, Pawnee and Noble Counties in Oklahoma. The family owned large parcels in the mentioned counties and the movie company did a deal with them to film a majority of the outdoor scenes on said property. Apparently it was easier dealing with one family entity than multiply farms. Anyhow. The filming took place in the fall when all the fields and such are brown. Not green like Tornado season. So...they hired crop dusters to come in and paint the fields green. No problem right. Big problem. The movie people couldn't get any tractors, or combines to come in and run and film because the paint wouldn't dry. Cool and wet fall. Finally they agreed to a contract with the family to use their equipment and pay for cleaning/replacement. As far as I know 10 years ago they were still fighting over costs because the movie company never paid. Lots more things like that. When you watch the movie it's funny to see green fields but then no leaves on the trees. Just a quirk.
The biggest thing though is everyone in the area said Helen Hunt was the biggest B**** they had ever met. This was unanimous across the board with everyone I spoke with. They said every other person in the movie was so kind and neat. They would hold bbq's and such for the cast in the evenings and all cast members would attend and "party" and enjoy everything. Bill Paxton was the sweetest guy and actually sent post cards and letters years after to the family matriarch. Helen Hunt always had security around her and was heard multiple times talking about how stupid these farm people in Oklahoma or wherever she was were. She hated the outdoors and hated flyover country.
Anyhow. That's my story