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Yes, we've seen trailers for it. Yes, we've read about it in magazines. Yes, we've seen David Duchovny do the talk show rounds. But Gothamist always knew we were never going to see his writing-and-directorial debut, The House of D, because, well, the idea of seeing Robin Williams play a mentally disabled janitor felt masochistic unless we were seriously medicated. And we think many people would agree with us - the people who cringe when we see Williams approach an awards show podium, when we are watching Access Hollywood, when somehow it's Jakob the Liar on cable. And today, A.O. Scott echoes everyone's fears with the first two lines of his review in the NY Times:
The reasons to avoid David Duchovny's unwatchable coming-of-age drama can best be summarized in a simple declarative sentence. Robin Williams plays a retarded janitor.Our only problem is that David Duchovny seems like a genuinely funny guy (the deadpan, funny episodes of The X-Files were always the best in our book and he's always a brilliant talk show guest). And Gothamist liked that we learned that The House of D means the Women's House of Detention that used to be West 10th Street and Sixth Avenue in all the press he's been doing. But, still, given someone at the studio thought, "Yes! Robin Williams as a retarded janitor! Yes!" reminds us we can never count on Hollywood.
And, yes, the House of Detention was where the 10th Street garden is now - aka where Miranda and Steve got married on Sex and the City!
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David Duchovny's guest spot on Life With Bonnie was absolutely hilarious.
Thank you, oh thank you, Gothamist for saying what I've been thinking all these years. Robin Williams has been giving me a rash since 1978. I'm fast with my remote, but never faster than when I see that rubbery mug appear on screen. Can't he be stopped?
And by the way, Lance Armstong likes to go bike riding with him....I KNOW! Can you imagine?
Isn't it telling that two of Williams' most critically acclaimed movies were NOT comedies (Insomnia and One Hour Photo), even though we're supposed to continue to think of him as a comedic actor? He's like a clown -- works better as a horror motif than as a humorous one.
Insomnia and One Hour Photo sucked hard, too. And he's not funny, and never has been. But this movie was shot down the street from me in Greenpoint so it's got to be rented.
So help me, if I see Robin Williams in one more touchy-feely role...
Good review. All you need to know is Robin Williams playing a mentally retarded janitor. I read that Rosie O'Donnel is playing a mentally retarded person in an upcoming TV movie. There should be a special section in the video shop for movies featuring mediocre actors desperatly trying to prove their abilities by playing a mentally retarded person. The only actor that pulled this off was william h. macy in the excellent "Door to Door."
I hate it when actors don't play characters, but instead play themselves as characters.
Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson and George Clooney are the most habitual offenders (though it works a lot of the time and I do like their work), but Robin Williams is absolutely annoying when he does Robin Williams. And playing a retarded guy is such a transparent Oscar grab. You should get your SAG card taken away for that shit.
I'm with toyochin on this one