Product Description

HOUSE OF D (DVD MOVIE)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34067 in DVD
• Brand: HOUSE OF D (DVD MOVIE)
• Released on: 2005-10-04
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 5.00 pounds
• Running time: 97 minutes

Amazon.com
House of D is a bittersweet, moving story of an American expatriate's painful decision to come to terms with the childhood he fled in early 1970s New York City. David Duchovny wrote and directed this comedy-drama; he also stars as the adult version of the film's hero, Tom Warshaw, an illustrator who has spent most of his life in Paris and decides—on the occasion of his son's birthday—to finally reveal long-withheld facts about his past.

The bulk of the story, told in flashback, portrays 13-year-old Tom (Anton Yelchin) as a quick-witted prince of his neighborhood, a delivery boy who knows every eccentric on his bicycle route and a Catholic school kid fond of playing pranks on his clueless French teacher and soulful principal (Frank Langella). His best friend is the school's mildly retarded, 41-year-old janitor, Pappas (Robin Williams), and his advisor on matters of the heart is Lady (Erykah Badu), a prison inmate whom the fatherless Tom (or Tommy, as he's called in 1973) can neither see nor touch. Tommy's vivacity is an asset at home, where his mother (Tea Leoni), a grieving widow with a mounting addiction to pills, is slipping away from her son's ability to help. Duchovny's screenplay sometimes borders on the precious: A number of scenes are enamored with their own boldness and originality, as if Duchovny has been squirreling away lots of colorfully expressive storytelling details for years, and unloaded them here. But that flaw all but disappears in the glow of House of D's emotional resonance and honesty, not to mention several exceptional performances. Among these is Zelda Williams's work as Tommy's sage-beyond-her-years girlfriend, Melissa, whose name offers a suitable excuse to work a rather lovely Allman Brothers song into the soundtrack. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Clever, fitting, heartwarming....
David Duchovny does a fantastic job of creating a picture of a boy's childhood(Tom) with an addicted mother who is in need of parenting from her son and who is not capable of being the mother he so desperately needs. The humor of being thirteen and the jokes we have all told are caught in the most appropriate of depictions. This story is a wonderful Bildungsroman that creates a realistic and fun view of Thomas as a young boy becoming a man and growing apart from his retarded friend(Pappas) by becoming an older mental age than Pappas can ever be.

The life journey of Thomas is interesting, sad, funny and heartwarming all at once.

Those who are so critical of Duchovny and this film had expectations that were too lofty for anyone to live up to. I have different expectations when I go the movies. I am not there to give amateur critiques of the directing and script. I am there to watch and hopefully be entertained, and this film does not disappoint. Duchovny is subtly funny bordering on hilarious. The depiction of the thirteen-year-old boy in his private school French class is a scene that I will be laughing about forEVER.

This movie is well worth its price. Great Job David Duchovny!

A warm, soulful and funny film
Having just returned from seeing House of D for the 3rd time, I'm writing this review to share my thoughts on it. Is it Casablanca or It's A Wonderful Life? No, not many movies are, particularly these days. House of D is a small but moving film, beautifully filmed and acted, I maintain. With progressive viewings, I found myself remembering more of my own experiences 'coming of age' which gave me even more admiration for Mr. Duchovny's skill in writing this movie believably. Don't get me wrong, it's a small, independent film. Too bad for Hollywood, because it's sweet, funny, thoughtful and soulful. No car chases, disemboweled bad guys, cynical protagonists or sex. No wonder no big company would touch it!

Anton Yelchin and Tea Leoni portray their characters wonderfully. Robin Williams is believable as only he can be and his daughter, Zelda, is spot on.

I believe Mr. Duchovny's direction is good, and I look forward to bigger endeavors in the future, both in front of and behind the cameras.

Go see it. Decide for yourself. I'm very happy I did, and I think you will be too.

Give me the Dad face
This story had ecsaped my attention until recently. I rented it, thinking it had to be decent, given the casting. I was pleasantly surprised upon viewing.

The story is relatable and moving. Anton Yelchin gives a stirring performance as a child dealt a difficult hand, struggling to make his own way. Tea Leoni plays very well the role of a distraught, widowed mother who has been left to care for her son. I feel the role of Pappas (played by Robin Williams) could have been slightly more developed, but he turns in a wonderful performance. David Duchovny wrote and directed the movie, as well as acted as the present day version of the main character.

It's not the most engaging movie, but it is interesting. It has its moments of humor, sadness and happiness. Altogether a good effort by Duchovny.