What Happened Was...

Director: Tom Noonan Tom Noonan

Overview

Two vaguely acquainted co-workers meet for a first date. This is the deceptively simple premise of What Happened Was..., the directorial debut of actor and playwright Tom Noonan. Noonan also portrays Michael, a paralegal; Karen Sillas plays Jackie, an executive assistant at the same New York law firm. The film limits itself to their first encounter outside the office, a dinner date at Jackie's apartment, and allows the evening to unfold at a natural, unforced pace. Michael and Jackie are humorously awkward at first, nervously focusing their conversations on the office; in these early sections, the film plays as a sly, humorous dissection of modern mating rituals. But as the evening continues, Michael and Jackie begin to open up. As they reveal more about themselves, it becomes clear that they both have secrets; though the conversation remains relatively mundane, something ominous is lurking beneath the surface. By the end of the evening, the film takes a turn towards serious drama, as Michael and Jackie reveal more about themselves than they ever intended.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/22/2021
UPC:	0850010804347
Original Release:	1994
Rating:	R
Source:	Oscilloscope
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:31:00
Sales rank:	49,264

Special Features

New, restored digital transfer of What Happened Was.... ; New conversation between Director Tom Noonan and Producer Scott Macaulay; New interview with actor Karen Sillas; Theatrical Trailer; With an exclusive essay by film critic Sheila O'Malley

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tom Noonan	Michael
Karen Sillas	Jackie

Technical Credits

Tom Noonan

Tom Noonan	Director,Screenwriter
Ted Hope	Executive Producer
Scott Macaulay	Producer
Robin O'Hara	Producer
James Schamus	Executive Producer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- What Happened Was...
255. Chapters
1. Opening Credits [9:25]
2. "You're Early" [5:41]
3. "Guess this is a lull" [5:22]
4. "A Cryonic Dinner" [3:44]
5. "You Shouldn't Encourage Me" [5:02]
6. "The Business of Justice" [7:21]
7. "A Kid's Whole Lifetime" [4:08]
8. "A Sense of History" [3:38]
9. "Librettos" [5:51]
10. "What's the Title?" [2:54]
11. "Car Crashes and Topless Bars" [10:34]
12. Published [6:59]
13. Surprise and Retreat [7:27]
14. Coming Clean [7:01]
15. "What Am I Gonna Do Now?" [3:40]
16. End Credits [1:59]
1. Chapter 1 [26:14]
2. Chapter 2 [:01]
0. Chapters
1. Chapter 1 [11:44]
2. Chapter 2 [:01]
1. Chapter 1 [1:03]
2. Chapter 2 [:01]
0. Chapters
1. Chapter 1 [1:38]
2. Chapter 2 [:01]
0. Chapters
1. Chapter 1 [1:48]
2. Chapter 2 [:01]

Menu

Disc #1 -- What Happened Was...
   Play Film
   Set Up
      English SDH for Hearing Impaired: On/Off
         English SDH for Hearing Impaired: On
         English SDH for Hearing Impaired: Off
   Extra Features
      New Conversation with Director Tom Noonan and Producer Scott Macaulay. Recorded in February 2021
      New Interview with Actor Karen Sillas. Recorded in February 2021
      Theatrical Trailer (2021)
   Oscilloscope Releases
      River Of Grass
      The Hours And Times

Editorial Reviews

This unique two-person drama about individuals who get to know each other a little too well on a first date stars Karen Sillas and Tom Noonan as Jackie and Michael, two co-workers who seem to be a complete mismatch for one another. She's a bundle of jittery confidence; he's bookish and reticent, constantly jotting down his thoughts in a notebook. Their date, at her apartment, plays out in real time, with each stripping away the other's defenses and uncovering the dark souls beneath. Noonan, who also wrote and directed the film, takes advantage of his single set and basic plot setup to create a rich fabric of character. The audience gets to know Jackie and Michael deeply; personal enjoyment of the film will likely depend on how well the viewer relates to them and their situation. The loneliness of life in the big city is exquisitely portrayed by both actors, wavering between the euphoria of making a connection and the terror of opening oneself up to another. What Happened Was... is not an easy go; it is frustrating and challenging, very deliberate in its pacing -- for example, a story that Jackie reads goes on far too long. But for those willing to stick with it, there are numerous rewards -- much like a first date itself.

All Movie Guide - David Abolafia