House of D (2004)

10% of critics liked it
(102 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(9,344 ratings)

Actor David Duchovny made his debut as a director and screenwriter with this coming-of-age drama, in which a grown man looks back at his adolescence. It's 1973, and Tommy (Anton Yelchin) is a 13-year-old boy living in New York's Greenwich Village with his mother (Téa Leoni), who is still coming to… More Actor David Duchovny made his debut as a director and screenwriter with this coming-of-age drama, in which a grown man looks back at his adolescence. It's 1973, and Tommy (Anton Yelchin) is a 13-year-old boy living in New York's Greenwich Village with his mother (Téa Leoni), who is still coming to terms with the death of her husband. Tommy's best friend is Pappass (Robin Williams), a mentally challenged man who is in his thirties, but is at the same emotional age as Tommy; Pappass delivers meat for a local butcher, and Tommy helps him out. Tommy has discovered women, and has a crush on Melissa (Zelda Williams), a cute girl in his class, but Pappass isn't much interested in the opposite sex, and can offer little advice on the subject. Tommy's lone confidante on this issue is Lady Bernadette (Erykah Badu), a woman locked up in the nearby Women's House of Detention who offers advice shouted from her window. When Pappass begins to realize that Tommy is falling for Melissa, he's convinced he's losing his best friend, and in a moment of anger he steals a bicycle. Tommy tries to protect Pappas by claiming he was the thief, leading to a series of serious repercussions. Years later, Tommy (now played by Duchovny) is a grown man who leaves his home in Paris, France, to pay a visit to the old neighborhood and come to terms with the life he left behind. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: David Duchovny
Written By: David Duchovny
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: May 7, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Oct 4, 2005
Studio: Lions Gate Films

Critic Reviews

Nelson Pressley, Washington Post
It's a fable that's too fabulous by half.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Because dark secrets always summon flashbacks, the telling of Tom's plunges us back to Greenwich Village, circa 1973. Sideburns sprout, classic rock proliferates and lapels run amok. Then the horror really begins.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
A sweet but inept coming-of-age tale.
Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail
In need of a tighter narrative and, more importantly, a raison d'être.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
As soon as Williams enters, simpering, this is a character that we wish would die a horrid death, or at least disappear. That's a problem Duchovny can't overcome.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
House of D dawdles along as the sort of 1970s-inflicted coming of age reminiscence that feels like the unprocessed ramblings of its creator.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Off-putting drama of growing up male in the 1970s.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Nothing wrong with working out borderline incestuous fixation issues. But a film still has to be more than your very own shrink, and reach out to the audience and rise above psychodrama interplay more suited to the therapist couch.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Nothing wrong with working out borderline incestuous fixation issues. But a film still has to be more than your very own shrink, and reach out to the audience and rise above psychodrama interplay more suited to the therapist couch.
Shirley Sealy, Film Journal International
While his script is good, even poetic at times, it certainly cannot be called an outstanding effort.
Stefan Ulstein, Christianity Today
House of D is a delightful coming of age drama/comedy that deals with weighty matters of the soul.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
Not only does Robin Williams play a retarded man with fake teeth, but he also gets to wear old-age makeup. It's the schmaltz trifecta!
Greg Maki, Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
... In this house, "D" is for dull.
Jordan Hiller, Bangitout.com
David Duchovny's first stab at writing and directing takes him to a place close to his heart - the New York of his youth.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Maybe not a "D," but this coming-of-age yarn from writer-director-actor David Duchovny certainly rates no better than a "C."
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
Were it not for the cast attached to this project, I doubt it would ever see the inside of a movie-house.
Larry Ratliff, San Antonio Express-News
Duchovny cares dearly for these characters. ... Unfortunately, he's little more than a novice when it comes to keeping clichés out of the storytelling process.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
As synthetic and embarrassing as the knit lace-up shirt the 12-year-old hero wears to his first boy-girl dance.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Somewhere in between a good first effort and a fascinating train wreck.
Collin Souter, eFilmCritic.com
There exists a difference between stylized dialogue and trite, hackneyed dialogue.

Read all 21 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

A awesome film. When I first picked up this film from a pawnshop I put it on my watch someday stack. Well a few weeks ago it came to the top of the pile and I still put watching this movie off. Boy am I sorry. David Duchovny score big on his first attempt to write a movie. The story… More
A awesome film. When I first picked up this film from a pawnshop I put it on my watch someday stack. Well a few weeks ago it came to the top of the pile and I still put watching this movie off. Boy am I sorry. David Duchovny score big on his first attempt to write a movie. The story really hit home. Pretty much David who plays Tom Warshaw, tells his story of when he turned 13. Nothing can be said about the cast that would do it justice. Anton Yelchin who played Tommy did a stellar performance. Erykah Badu who played Lady was a true life character. And of course Robin Williams fits the role of a mentally handicap person not a hard role for him to play. What amazed me was The Title House of D, and The Writer David Duchovny having the initials DD. 5 stars no less.
Leigh R

So sweet. I highly recommend this movie.
Dannielle A

Very heartfelt, realistic movie. I just fell in love with the character of the little boy. All the characters were memorable. I just don't really see the main point that ties the whole thing together though. I think maybe I'm missing something. If a movie can make you laugh… More
Very heartfelt, realistic movie. I just fell in love with the character of the little boy. All the characters were memorable. I just don't really see the main point that ties the whole thing together though. I think maybe I'm missing something. If a movie can make you laugh out loud and get choked up, it deserves at least three stars. Bravo!
Sunil J

Not very original.
Kevin M

I really appreciate Duchovny for having spearheaded this family project, directing and acting as the adult male lead. There isn't any violence, action, or perverse scenes since this is a 13-year-old's coming-of-age story. Williams, Leoni, Badu, and Duchovny all provide… More
I really appreciate Duchovny for having spearheaded this family project, directing and acting as the adult male lead. There isn't any violence, action, or perverse scenes since this is a 13-year-old's coming-of-age story. Williams, Leoni, Badu, and Duchovny all provide heartworming performances that make the plot very interesting to follow - start to finish. It's very saddening to see so many hardships amount in the young boy's life, yet the film concludes with everything in its right place. I even noticed the film was filmed in my own beautiful homecity, Toronto (appears as New York).

Cast

            Anton Yelchin as Tommy

            Téa Leoni as Mrs. Warshaw

            David Duchovny as Tom Warshaw

            Robin Williams as Pappass

            Erykah Badu as Lady Bernadette

            Magali Amadei as Coralie Warshaw

            Harold Cartier as Odell Warshaw

            Mark Margolis as Mr. Pappass

            Zelda Williams as Melissa

            Alice Drummond as Mrs. Brevoort

            Willie Garson as Ticket Agent

            Frank Langella as Reverend Duncan

            Adam Le Fevre as Monty

            Leslie Lyles as Sondra

            Bernie Sheredy as Sasha

            Stephen Spinella as Ticket Seller

            Michael Chapman as Doorman

            Lisby Larson as Mrs. Loggia

            Lester Cohen as Irate Trotskyite

            Andrée Damant as French Woman in Window

            Orlando Jones as Superfly

            Jonah Meyerson as Kid  #2

            Claire Lautier as Madam Chatquipet

            Erica N. Tazel as Reader

            Olga Sosnovska as Simone

            Francesca Buccellato as Mrs. Robinson

            Roksolana Toporowych as Miss Johnson

            Gideon Jacons as Gerard

            Mark Richard Keith as Pitcher

            James Ockimey as Another Kid

            Jill Shackner as Lead Girl in Gym

            Etienne Drabier as French Man in Window

            Chantal Guarrigues as French Wife in Window

            Mary A. Fortune as Nurse #1
See full cast