Acting for Two: Johnny Depp performed dual roles in this film, starring as Frank Tupelo and Alexander Pearce.
Fake Brit: American actress Angelina Jolie plays a British character in this film, with the accent to match.
Vacation, Dear Boy: Angelina Jolie admitted, in an interview with Vogue Magazine, that the only reason she agreed to do this movie, was because she knew it would be a "quick shoot" in Venice, Italy.
Wag the Director: On the strength of his previous movie, The Lives of Others, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck was granted a large amount of control in casting decisions and the screenplay for his big-budget Hollywood debut. However, when shooting began, his famous lead actors took control, and in the end, he had very little creative input.