Review of House of D (2004) by Jason K — 13 Apr 2011

It's a coming of age tale as told by David Duchovny, in his directorial debut. He has a good eye for scene set-up, but a tin ear for dialog. It's what kills this period tale about Tom Warshaw (Duchovny), an artist residing in Paris with his French wife, remembering his life in Manhattan in 1973 when he was thirteen, an age his son is now reaching.

That when things turn back to Greenwich Village, where young Tommy (Anton Yelchin, in a quite good performance) is dealing with his nurse mother (Tea Leoni, Duchovny's real-life wife) battling depression after his father passes from cancer.

Tommy finds solace in his visits with a delivery guy named Pappas (Robin Williams, not doing too well). He and Pappas come up with a plan to to buy a bicycle, hiding their cash for the bike right outside the Women's House of Detention, or House of D.

It's there that inmate Lady (Erykah Badu) extols advice to Tommy on how to get drugs, get a girl (Zelda Williams, Robin's daughter) and cope with the plot complications usually reserved for made-for-tv movies.

There is authenticity in the movie, but it's only on the surface. The heart isn't there.