What Happened Was...

A daring movie with few equals: a journey into the heart of darkness of the date from hell. Two seemingly quiet, reserved folks teeming with disturbing secrets and half-truths reveal themselves to us and each other in an increasingly frightening crescendo. Deception, life, the skeletons of a nightmare closet. Gripping, a bit over-long, perhaps, but well worth the time. As of this writing I have rented and seen the film 4 times and each time I've learned something about myself, about my world and about vanity, trauma and deception.

An astonishing, captivating film. One of the toughest tricks to pull off is making film people talk like real people; director/writer Noonan does it o.k. This film generates a prickling, enjoyable sense of unease in the viewer, which gives way to discomfort and then alarm; and then on to awkwardness and the hope for reconciliation.

The only other Noonan film I've seen, apart from his cameo in the enjoyable hokum `Heat,' is `The Wife,' which I feel is less successful. One of the small cast of that film is Wallace Shawm, star of `My Dinner with Andre,' which has been mentioned her by another reviewer. As he says, `What Happened Was' is on similar territory to `Andre,' but it's much more somber and doesn't give that `redeeming' feeling at its end. Demanding and rewarding.

Tom Noonan's excellent play describes two lonely, damaged people trying to connect, and in the process dark secrets emerge. The only hope for these people is that however difficult, by confronting the demons their respective pasts hold for them, a chance of an honest relationship becomes possible. Kudos to Noonan for keeping the delicious tension new relationships have by his treatment of the ending.

Stay with it. It's worth the time.

I watched this movie the other night and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, you must be in the proper mood to enjoy a movie such as this. This movie centers around 2 lonely characters, man and woman, on a 'first' date at the woman's apartment. This movie is not too funny nor is it fast paced. The movie simply tries to flesh out each person's character for 90 minutes. This movie also led to some candid discussion between my fiancé and I, especially about the man's 'troubles' at the end of the film. We also discussed if there would be a 'second' date between them. The movie is steeped in realism and is shot very well. Worth a look if you're in the proper mood for a slow but interesting, character development story. 6 out of 10.

This movie may not appeal to all people (as I see from another comment) but was a great, biting, black movie with A+ dialogue. It brings you into the lives of two people, who are not all they appear to be. Tom Noonan is a brilliant screen writer. It is a one-room setting, like a play, but reels you in regardless (like Lifeboat). If you don't appreciate dialogue and the idiosyncrasies of human nature, you will not appreciate this movie.