The moment when someone makes a joke in conversation to another person, catching them off guard, not getting a laugh in return, then immediately says to explain, “I was joking.” It’s a cringeworthy moment, two people not having a connection or not being able to read each other. This moment happens continually during The Awkward Date Movie that is What happened was… (1994) directed and written by character actor Tom Noonan, based on his stage play. Noonan is a recognisable long-working character actor best known for playing psychotic villains in Manhunter, Robocop 2 and Last Action Hero; it was the money earned from that last movie that helped fund his directorial debut and was shot while he was playing ‘The Reaper’. Taking place in an apartment over one night, What happened was… tracks a date between two office co-workers, Jackie (Karen Sillas) whose apartment it is, rushing around listening to Til Tuesday’s ‘Voices Carry’ while microwaving a meal made on the weekend for dinner, and Michael (Noonan), arriving after work, tie rolled up yet hanging out of his jacket pocket. I don’t want to spoil much more of how it unfolds, how the characters slowly reveal themselves, both their relationship dynamic in the office, the class differences in their backgrounds, their eventual interests and dreams. There’s a curious, singular tone here as well. I laughed a lot but it’s not quite a comedy. Even in the world of neurotic cringe awkward comedy, it’s not the same as something like Curb Your Enthusiasm. Its tense and paralysing, and continually touches on a crushing sense of loneliness and a desire to connect that can never seem to occur. I was blown away by how deep I was into the emotion of the movie by its end. The cinematography and lighting help to keep the movie visually dynamic even though we are stuck in that apartment and there’s no relief in the form of flashbacks or cross cutting elsewhere. It’s part of the reason why it works – there is no escape for the audience. Both actors are amazing, inhabiting their characters freely, continually guarded even as they give themselves away. I streamed What happened was… on Criterion Channel, but the new remastered version is also available to rent/purchase on iTunes. Recommended.
VHS Tracking 