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. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
Review
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. ~ David Abolafia, All Movie Guide
