Sandra Bullock is one of Hollywood’s most underrated actresses. We all know her blockbuster films, but she has also been in several not-so-popular movies like Hope Floats (1998). The romantic drama film follows a Chicago housewife who discovers her husband has been having an extramarital affair with her best friend. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was Hope Floats filmed.
Sandra Bullock was the highest-paid actress in the world in 2010 and 2014. The Academy Award-winning actress was also declared one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. Bullock is not only an actor but is also a producer. She began her acting career in the late 80s and has played various roles in various movies. Having said that, the romantic drama film also stars several other renowned actors like Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands, Roddy McDowall, Mae Whitman, and Rosanna Arquette.
Now, without making you wait any longer, let me discuss where was Hope Floats filmed. The romantic drama movie was filmed in Texas, United States of America.
Helmed by Forest Whitaker, Hope Floats had its wide theatrical release in the United States on 29 May 1998. The romantic drama film was made available on digital platforms on 1 March 2013. It is produced by Elizabeth Joan Hooper, Mary McLaglen, Reba Merrill, and Lynda Obst. However, let’s find out more about the filming locations.
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Where Was Hope Floats Filmed?
Forest Whitaker, the director of the romantic drama film, besides being a filmmaker, is also an established and prominent actor. He has been in several critically acclaimed movies and highly rated TV shows. He has won several accolades, including an Oscar, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Whitaker’s Hope Floats garnered mixed reviews from critics. But some of them praised Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr’s on-screen chemistry.
The romantic drama film did quite well commercially, earning over $81 million against a budget of $30 million. It received an audience score of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 6 on IMDb. However, let’s not waste any more time and jump into the details of where was Hope Floats filmed.
Texas, United States Of America
Forest Whitaker’s romantic drama movie was entirely filmed in Texas. The production team traveled to different towns and cities to shoot the film. The majority of the filming took place in Smithville and also in other places like Austin, Elgin, and Bastrop.
The exterior scenes of Birdee’s house in the movie were filmed in Smithville, Texas. It is located just outside Austin and served as the ideal place to shoot the movie. The town has a population of 3,000 and is best known for its typical Texas culture. It is home to the famous Bastrop County Historical Society Museum and several other local attractions.
Several scenes were also filmed in the city of Schulenburg in Texas. Remember the diner where Birdee worked as a waitress? All the diner scenes were shot in a restaurant called Schulenberg Bistro. The Cherry Hill dance hall in the movie is the Watterson Hall in Bastrop County, Texas. The Smithville I.S.D was used as a stand-in for the Smithville Elementary School in the town of Smithville.
I have to say that one of the most beautiful scenes in the movie is the one in which Birdee and Bernice sit on a dock while watching the sunset over the lake. The lake is called Lake Bastrop, which is situated in Bastrop County, Texas.
During the movie’s production process, there have been a few errors. For example, in the scene where Birdee and Justin go to the country dance club, they switch on the jukebox, but in the background, we can still see the band playing. In another scene, when Justin takes Birdee to see the house he’s building, we see a big microphone in the center of the screen as he goes ahead and opens the door.
Birdee’s Smithville house in the movie is a real house built in 1908. It is called the McCollum-Chapman-Trousdale House.
Plot Of Hope Floats (1998) | Love Finds Its Way!
The story of Hope Floats revolves around Birdee Pruitt, played by Sandra Bullock. Birdee is a Chicago housewife who lives with her husband Bill, played by Michael Paré, and daughter Bernice, played by Mae Witman. Birdee gets a chance to go on a national talk show where she learns about Bill’s extramarital affair with her best friend, Connie, played by Rosanna Arquette.
Birdee was taken aback by what she found out and was shocked. Out of extreme anger and sadness, she returns to her hometown in Texas with Bernice. Everybody in her hometown knows about what her husband did, and some of them try to make fun of her as well. After a few days, Birdee comes across Justin Matisse, played by Harry Connick Jr., an old friend of hers. He tries to make her feel better and asks her to forget about what happened so that she can focus on her future.
Final Words
Now you are aware of all the filming locations of Hope Floats. If you ever feel like checking out the different filming spots, then make sure to visit the locations I mentioned. The movie is one of Sandra Bullock’s underrated gems, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you better hurry up and get on with it. Also, if you wish to read more filming location articles, keep visiting the Viebly website.
Which Are The Top 5 Sandra Bullock Films?
The Blind Side, Gravity, Miss Congeniality, While You Were Sleeping and The Proposal are the top 5 Sandra Bullock films.
What Is The Tagline Of Hope Floats?
The tagline of Hope Floats is “When life fell apart, love fell into place”.
Who Wrote The Movie Hope Floats?
Steven Rogers and Brandine Spuckler wrote the film Hope Floats.
Is Hope Floats Available In Any Other Language?
No, Hope Floats is not available in any other language apart from English.
Which Are The Movies Directed By Forest Whitaker?
First Daughter, Waiting To Exhale, Strapped, and Getting To Happy are the movies directed by Forest Whitaker.
Where To Stream Hope Floats?
You can stream Hope Floats on Vudu and Apple TV.
