I spent a lot of time with family over the last week. Some of that time was spent at the "family cabin." What "family cabin" is complete without the mountain of DVDs from the past 3 decades? In between hiking, ATV rides, and fishing trips, we usually find ourselves doing just what we do when we're at home - sitting on our butts watching TV. But, unless your family is willing to pay for cable, satellite or internet to magically make its way to your remote cabin in the woods, chances are you are stuck sifting through the giant stack of DVDs.

I recently discovered 3 movies, that have the story take place in Montana, but aren't actually filmed in Montana.

1) Knockaround Guys (2001)

According to Wikipedia the synopsis is:

Matty Demaret (Barry Pepper) is the son of a mob boss, but he is used as little more than an errand boy. His relative and friend Chris (Andrew Davoli) shares this urge to be part of something bigger, and Matty finally convinces his father to give him a job, with the help of his father's right-hand man Teddy (John Malkovich). Matty and Chris get their friend Johnny Marbles (Seth Green) to fly up to retrieve a bag full of money for Matty's father Benny "Chains" Demaret (Dennis Hopper), as there have been mysterious shortages in their money lately. Matty, Chris, and their friend Taylor (Vin Diesel) fly to the small town of Wibaux, Montana to help Marbles search for the missing money.

It was filmed in locations in the U.S. and Canada including the small town of Delia, Alberta.

2) Shallow Hal (2001)

According to Wikipedia the Shallow Hal is:

A 2001 American romantic comedy film starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black about a shallow man who, after hypnosis, begins to see people's inner beauty reflected in their outward appearance. The motion picture was directed by the Farrelly brothers and filmed in and around Charlotte as well as Sterling and Princeton, Massachusetts at Wachusett Mountain

Even though it clearly was not filmed in Montana. You can also tell just by the landscape in the movie, that the Farrelly Brothers didn't even attempt to make the location look anything near to anywhere in Montana.

BUT...In the scene where Jack Black meets Tony Robbins in the elevator. Jack (aka Hal) turns to Tony and says "So, what brings you to Montana?"

3) Cut Bank (2014)

According to Wikipedia:

Cut Bank (also known as Hell Town) is a 2014 American thriller film directed by Matt Shakman and written by Roberto Patino. Starring Liam Hemsworth, Billy Bob Thornton, John Malkovich, Teresa Palmer, and Michael Stuhlbarg.

The synopsis:

As reclusive taxidermist Derby Milton looks out a window at his mailbox, local mail carrier Georgie Wits gathers up items for his route, including a decorative lunchbox addressed to Milton. Meanwhile, in a rapeseed field, Dwayne McLaren and his girlfriend Cassandra Steeley film a promotional spot for the town of Cut Bank, Montana in preparation for Cassandra's upcoming performance in a local beauty pageant. As Dwayne films Cassandra, Georgie's mail truck comes into view. Georgie exits the truck and is approached by a large man who shoots him.

The movie was filmed in Edmonton, Alberta