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]
Accolades
It won the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.[7]
References
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 |