Cheap What Happened Was... (Video) (Tom Noonan, Karen Sillas) (Tom Noonan) Price

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There is never a "true" comfortable moment on this date. These are two people who haven't dated in awhile and the discomfort is evident on their faces, in their body language, and in some of the bizarre comments that come out of their mouths.

Michael seems to feel the need to say things that demonstrate his superiority over Jackie. Jackie has mistakenly perceived Michael to be confident and is certain that he is in the process of writing a book -- she sees him take notes at work and he even pulls out a little notebook and takes a note during their date. She likes who she thinks he is but Michael isn't one to believe, easily, that he is liked.

The film feels almost like a play -- with the added benefit of closeups of their facial expressions. So much more of the drama occurs there than in their words (at least, until the end). The colors in the film are rich, dark -- solid, primary colors -- mainly blues and reds that soften a bit in intensity as the emotion increases.

Their conversation often takes opposite directions from each other -- Michael saying goofy, offbeat things (some are lies in an attempt to live up to Jackie's errant perception of him) -- and Jackie saying things and moving in ways intended to "seduce" (though awkwardly). And the conversation threads through a meal that Jackie has prepared and the consumption of one bottle after another of increasingly potent drinks. Jackie's comment near the beginning of the date, "I don't drink that much, you know, just sometimes at night -- sometimes on the weekends", makes me laugh (basically, just not when she's at work, I guess). Not that she comes off as an alcoholic -- it's just a funny line. But this is not a comedy.

There are moments in this film that are truly creepy: an eerie scene where Jackie is reading Michael a story that she has written -- almost unbelievable that she would read it to him, considering its content; an apartment across from Jackie's where a man is watching bizarre and racy films; the interior of Jackie's apartment -- almost suffocating in its primary colors, though roomy (too roomy for a secretary living in Manhattan), and she has "secret" rooms hidden behind gauzy drapes . . .

Their conversation rides the waves of innuendo, misunderstanding, defensiveness, Michael hiding behind Jackie's belief that many of his bizarre comments are just jokes, Jackie continually offering Michael more grace in the conversation than he deserves, Michael pretending he doesn't notice Jackie's advances, Jackie expressing herself in more "simple" terms than Michael's, Jackie revealing more and more about herself, and Michael folding deeper into Jackie's false perception of him . . . on and on until the emotion runs too high for one of them and results in a piercing honesty that feels like a "halt".

If your tastes run to "action" in films, this one will not fulfill you. But if you like to watch people, if you enjoy seeing into others' lives, if you think you're the only one who is awkward and uncomfortable . . . if you've forgotten how to connect with others now that you're older . . .

This film is one of my top 20 favorite films. I don't think it had a very wide run in the theatres but I remember seeing it reviewed by Siskel and Ebert and wanting to see it as soon as it was either at the theatre or on video in my town. I'm one of those older people who has forgotten how to "connect" (at least, with men). These two make me feel better.

Startlingly original dissection of first-date discomfort.
It may not seem that the awkwardness of a first date between typically lonely New York City coworkers would hold much interest, but Tom Noonan's film has enough twists and turns to make it memorable. His writing and directing are incisive and original, but his greatest coup was the casting of Karen Sillas as the offbeat law office secretary whose seemingly mundane life masks some uncomfortable secrets. Sillas, an indie film favorite, is one of the best actresses in films today; the power of her performance as it builds in nuance and intensity must be seen to be believed. The movie will definitely make you think twice about having a first date in a 'neutral' (and public) location. Highly recommended. END