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 by | Tom Noonan |
| Screenplay by | Tom Noonan |
| Based on | What Happened Was... by Tom Noonan |
| Produced by | Scott Macaulay Robin O'Hara |
| Starring | Karen Sillas Tom Noonan |
| Cinematography | Joe DeSalvo |
| Edited by | Richmond Arrley |
| Music by | Ludovico Sorret (Noonan's pseudonym) |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 91 minutes [1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Premise
editThe 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
editWhat 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
edit- 10th – Todd Anthony, Miami New Times[9]
- Top 9 (not ranked) – Dan Webster, The Spokesman-Review[10]
- Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Jimmy Fowler, Dallas Observer[11]
- "The second 10" (not ranked) – Sean P. Means, The Salt Lake Tribune[12]
- Honorable mention – Howie Movshovitz, The Denver Post[13]
- Honorable mention – Jeff Simon, The Buffalo News[14]
Accolades
editIt 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.
Planned sequel
editNoonan wrote a sequel, which he pitched to both Netflix and Amazon Prime, but it never came to fruition. Noonan and Silas were to have reprised their roles, and the film would have also co-starred Louis C.K., Charlie Kaufman and Vin Diesel.[16]
References
edit- ^ MUBI
- ^ The 10 Most Underrated American Independent Films of The 1990s - Page 2 - Taste of Cinema
- ^ Levy, Emanuel (28 January 1994). "What Happened Was". Variety.
- ^ Roger Ebert
- ^ TCM.com
- ^ "Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ^ Quiz Show, Milk Money, A Simple Twist of Fate, A Good Man in Africa, What Happened Was…, 1994-Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews
- ^ ""Anomalisa" Star Reveals E-Mail Trail Sparked Close Bond To Hollywood Great Charlie Kaufman". Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ Anthony, Todd (January 5, 1995). "Hits & Disses". Miami New Times.
- ^ Webster, Dan (January 1, 1995). "In Year of Disappointments, Some Movies Still Delivered". The Spokesman-Review (Spokane ed.). p. 2.
- ^ Zoller Seitz, Matt (January 12, 1995). "Personal best From a year full of startling and memorable movies, here are our favorites". Dallas Observer.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Movshovitz, Howie (December 25, 1994). "Memorable Movies of '94 Independents, fringes filled out a lean year". The Denver Post (Rockies ed.). p. E-1.
- ^ Simon, Jeff (January 1, 1995). "Movies: Once More, with Feeling". The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ 'What Happened Was,' 'Freedom on My Mind' Win Top Honors at Sundance Festival
- ^ Kois, Dan (27 January 2021). "Tom Noonan on What Happened Was … and the Sequel That Still Might be". Slate.