Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin
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The state capital of Texas is perhaps best known for its live music, culinary scene and successful university. However, in the last couple of decades it has also become known as something of a hotspot for movie-making. The city’s popular SXSW Festival, as well as its convenient position between the entertainment hubs of New York and LA, have seen more and more productions arrive over the years. We’ve put together a guide to some interesting places you can visit, most of which are fun in their own right, but made extra special with a touch of Hollywood glamour.

By Victoria Luxford

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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Texas Chili Parlor (Death Proof/Grindhouse, 2007) – We begin with a racy location from a very racy film. Death Proof, Quentin Tarantino’s half of the overlooked 2007 double bill Grindhouse, features a typically edgy scene where Arlene (Vanessa Ferlito) gives villain Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) a lap dance. Set to a killer soundtrack and filmed in the style of old grindhouse movies, it’s a memorable scene – and the bar in which it was filmed is open to customers. Texas Chili Parlor is a Tex-Mex restaurant with as gritty a tone as the movie it appears in (a handwritten sign warns “NO FRIES. NO FOOFOO DRINKS”). Some of the props (such as the jukebox) were brought in, but the neon signs and beer labels across the walls make it unmistakable from the celluloid portrayal.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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Top Notch Restaurant (Dazed and Confused, 1993) – The director who put Austin on the big screen the most times has to be Richard Linklater, who has featured his home town in a number of his movies, including the Oscar-winning Boyhood and his breakout film Slacker. It’s 1993’s nostalgic drama Dazed and Confused, however, that gets our pick. The car park of the Top Notch Restaurant to the north of Austin is where we meet one of the city’s most famous sons, Matthew McConaughey, in his breakout role as party guy Wooderson. As he pulls into the car park, he utters his most famous phrase, “alright, alright, alright”. McConaughey is still a resident, as well as a professor at the city’s University of Texas. So who knows, you may even hear him utter it in person!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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Omni Downtown Hotel (Spy Kids, 2001) – The Omni Downtown is an impressive glass structure, housing a hotel and a number of businesses around a breathtaking atrium. It’s no wonder, then, that director Robert Rodriguez chose this for a meeting of spies in his 2001 family smash. In the early part of the film, when mother Ingrid (Carla Gugino) is recalling how she traced fellow spy-turned-husband Gregario (Antonio Banderas), the pair meet face to face for the first time in the hotel’s gorgeous glass elevator, which spans all of the hotel’s 20 floors. What easier way to feel like a spy, and recreate a movie moment?

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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St. Mary’s Church, E. 10^th Street (Machete, 2010) – After you’ve had an espionage encounter, how about a heroic selfie? A short walk from the hotel is St Mary’s Church, which was used for one memorable exterior shot in Rodriguez’s action-comedy Machete (an R-rated spin-off of the Spy Kids films). With the church remaining unchanged, it won’t be hard to imitate the pose of Danny Trejo’s ruthless vigilante – though we can’t promise you’ll look as intimidating.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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Mount Bonnell Park (Blood Simple, 1984) – The Coen Brothers’ debut feature propelled them into the spotlight and the legendary career they have enjoyed over the last 35 years. It was also largely filmed in Austin. Certain key buildings, such as the bar Julian (Dan Hedaya) owns, have been renovated or destroyed, but the location where Julian hires a detective (M. Emmet Walsh) to investigate and possibly kill his wife (Frances McDormand) is located in Mount Bonnell Park overlooking Lake Austin. The perfect place to conspire, or just admire the view!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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Manor, Texas (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, 1993) – This might require a short drive, but about 12 miles (20 km) outside of the city – but still in the wider metropolitan area – is the town of Manor. A quiet, unassuming place, it is best recognised by film fans as one of the locations for ‘90s hit What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? The drama, starring Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed in Manor as well as neighbouring Pflugerville and Austin itself. Many of the buildings are private residences, although we would recommend Manor to spot the water tower that plays a part in the movie.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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4120 Freidrich Ln (Office Space, 1999) – Normally we’d discourage you from visiting private residences or places of work, however we feel the exterior of this office building is worthy of some walk-by sightseeing. Mike Judge’s rebellion against cubicle culture was filmed in and around Austin, and while some of the businesses featured have since closed down, the building that housed the fictional Initech is still there. Hopefully, the real office workers are somewhat happier than their movie counterparts.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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The Continental Club (Boyhood, 2014) – Our second Richard Linklater movie, this time from his history-making drama that was filmed over 12 years and chronicled the literal coming of age of a young boy. A staple of the local music scene since the 1950s, The Continental Club features in a scene where Mason Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) visits his sister in the city. The vibrance and authenticity of the film’s locations are what helped it to become an Oscar winner. Interestingly, Linklater had also used the location over a decade earlier for his breakthrough film, 1991’s Slacker.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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Austin Club, East 9^th Street (True Grit, 2010) – Dating back to the 19^th century, Austin Club has an old-world look that was perfect for the Coen Bros’ Western remake True Grit, starring Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges. Bridges appears in the scene featuring the building, as the older version of Steinfeld’s character seeks him out at a Wild West show. The glorious structure, with its front-facing balconies and dramatic lighting, will be instantly recognisable to anyone looking for an impressive setting.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin.
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Texas State Capitol Building (The Tree of Life, 2011) – Speaking of impressive settings, we couldn’t leave Austin without recommending the seat of government for the state of Texas. Housed in an incredible building that has to be witnessed to be believed, the State Capitol Building towers over the surrounding gardens and features ornate corridors of power. The exterior has featured in many films, but we chose Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life for a scene where Brad Pitt wanders through the interior as he fights a legal battle. Even if you’re not familiar with the early 2010’s arthouse hit, the building is a must-see for any visitor.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin

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