What Happened Was

What Happened Was... is a 1994 American independent film written for the screen, directed by and starring Tom Noonan.[2] It is an adaptation of Noonan's original stage play of the same name.[3]

What Happened Was...
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTom Noonan
Screenplay byTom Noonan
Based onWhat Happened Was...
by Tom Noonan
Produced byScott Macaulay
Robin O'Hara
StarringKaren Sillas
Tom Noonan
CinematographyJoe DeSalvo
Edited byRichmond Arrley
Music byLudovico Sorret
Production
companies
Distributed byThe Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release dates
26 January 1994 (Sundance)
9 September 1994 (US)
Running time
91 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Premise

The film depicts two people, played by Karen Sillas and Tom Noonan, on a first date; their conversation gradually reveals their lonely lives and hidden personalities.[4][5]

Reception

What Happened Was... has an overall approval rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.[6]

On the Siskel & Ebert show, Gene Siskel gave the film a thumbs up, stating that "For what is really just one long night of conversation, the stakes and the tension couldn't be any higher if these were two characters having a more conventional action scene." Roger Ebert, however, gave the film a thumbs down, calling it "Contrived" and stating that "There is a lot less here than meets the eye."[7] The film is a favourite of filmmaker Charlie Kaufman.[8]

Year-end lists

Accolades

It won the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.[15] Noonan was nominated for Best First Screenplay and Karen Sillas for Best Female Lead at the 10th Independent Spirit Awards.

References
  1. MUBI
  2. The 10 Most Underrated American Independent Films of The 1990s - Page 2 - Taste of Cinema
  3. Levy, Emanuel (28 January 1994). "What Happened Was". Variety.
  4. Roger Ebert
  5. TCM.com
  6. "Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  7. Quiz Show, Milk Money, A Simple Twist of Fate, A Good Man in Africa, What Happened Was…, 1994-Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews
  8. ""Anomalisa" Star Reveals E-Mail Trail Sparked Close Bond To Hollywood Great Charlie Kaufman". Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  9. Anthony, Todd (January 5, 1995). "Hits & Disses". Miami New Times.
  10. Webster, Dan (January 1, 1995). "In Year of Disappointments, Some Movies Still Delivered". The Spokesman-Review (Spokane ed.). p. 2.
  11. Zoller Seitz, Matt (January 12, 1995). "Personal best From a year full of startling and memorable movies, here are our favorites". Dallas Observer.
  12. P. Means, Sean (January 1, 1995). "'Pulp and Circumstance' After the Rise of Quentin Tarantino, Hollywood Would Never Be the Same". The Salt Lake Tribune (Final ed.). p. E1.
  13. Movshovitz, Howie (December 25, 1994). "Memorable Movies of '94 Independents, fringes filled out a lean year". The Denver Post (Rockies ed.). p. E-1.
  14. Simon, Jeff (January 1, 1995). "Movies: Once More, with Feeling". The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  15. 'What Happened Was,' 'Freedom on My Mind' Win Top Honors at Sundance Festival
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