What Happened Was
What Happened Was... is a 1994 American independent film written for the screen, directed by and starring Tom Noonan. It is an adaptation of Noonan's original stage play of the same name.[2]
| What Happened Was... | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Tom Noonan |
| Produced by | Scott Macaulay Robin O'Hara |
| Screenplay by | Tom Noonan |
| Based on | What Happened Was... by Tom Noonan |
| Starring | Karen Sillas Tom Noonan |
| Music by | Ludovico Sorret |
| Cinematography | Joe DeSalvo |
| Edited by | Richmond Arrley |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
Release date | 26 January 1994 (Sundance) 9 September 1994 (US) |
Running time | 91 minutes [1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
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.[3][4]
Reception
What Happened Was... has an overall approval rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.[5]
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." [6] The film is a favourite of filmmaker Charlie Kaufman.[7]
Year-end lists
- 10th – Todd Anthony, Miami New Times[8]
- Top 9 (not ranked) – Dan Webster, The Spokesman-Review[9]
- Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Jimmy Fowler, Dallas Observer[10]
- "The second 10" (not ranked) – Sean P. Means, The Salt Lake Tribune[11]
- Honorable mention – Howie Movshovitz, The Denver Post[12]
- Honorable mention – Jeff Simon, The Buffalo News[13]
Accolades
It won the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.[14] Noonan was nominated for Best First Screenplay and Karen Sillas for Best Female Lead at the 10th Independent Spirit Awards.
References
- MUBI
- Variety
- Roger Ebert
- TCM.com
- "Rotten Tomatoes". Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- 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
External links
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ruby in Paradise tied with Public Access |
Sundance Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic 1994 |
Succeeded by The Brothers McMullen |