 The screenplay was written by James Toback from research material by Dean Jennings' 1967 book "We Only Kill Each Other".The film received acclaim from critics, including Roger Ebert, and was nominated for ten Oscars at the 64th Academy Awards, winning two for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Costume Design.A director's cut was released on DVD, containing an additional 13 minutes not seen in the theatrical version.