X
- 2016
- R
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 41 m
- 2016
- R
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 41 m
Summary Davis (Jake Gyllenhaal), a successful investment banker, struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. Despite pressure from his father in law Phil (Chris Cooper) to pull it together, Davis continues to unravel. What starts as a complaint letter to a vending machine company turns into a series of letters revealing startling pers...
Directed By: Jean-Marc Vallée
Written By: Bryan Sipe
- 2016
- R
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 41 m
- 2016
- R
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- 1 h 41 m
Demolition
49
7.4
Where to Watch
Summary Davis (Jake Gyllenhaal), a successful investment banker, struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. Despite pressure from his father in law Phil (Chris Cooper) to pull it together, Davis continues to unravel. What starts as a complaint letter to a vending machine company turns into a series of letters revealing startling pers...
Directed By: Jean-Marc Vallée
Written By: Bryan Sipe
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 42 Critic Reviews
49
29% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
60% Mixed
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
12% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 42 Critic Reviews
49
29% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
60% Mixed
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
12% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
Vallée's movie itself begins falling apart after being so artfully put together. Yet Gyllenhaal's performance is the center that holds, making Davis' melancholic obsession and irrational acts seem like the sanest things anyone could do. His disintegration is the actor's triumph.
Demolition spends its goodwill early on, eventually giving itself over to cheap-feeling twists and a problematic final act.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 170 User Ratings
7.4
70% Positive
119 Ratings
119 Ratings
26% Mixed
45 Ratings
45 Ratings
4% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 170 User Ratings
7.4
70% Positive
119 Ratings
119 Ratings
26% Mixed
45 Ratings
45 Ratings
4% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Magnificent film. It's director, Jean-Marc Vallée, gives it a "french cinema" taste. Excellent usage of "La Bohème". Gyllenhaal at the top of his game. Also great acting by Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper and Judah Lewis (great expectations on this kid!).
Probably the best movie of 2016 so far. I seriously don't understand Empire Magazine's three star review!
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A highly moving, authentic & extremely well-crafted journey! Superb acting from start to finish - the movie had me riveted in my seat. Once again delivering depth and unique perspective, Jean-Marc Vallée has again created my favorite kind of movie - where I myself can truly feel the journey of our hero. I'd see Demolition and Jean-Marc Vallée's thought-provoking story telling again and again. And wow, that Judah Lewis is a golden find!
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Gyllenhaal and Watts's yin-yang performances help things along.
There is much to savor here, especially the unforced performance of Judah Lewis — one more recruit to the terrific roster of younger actors who are streaming into the movies. Yet the film lacks the courage of its affliction.
There’s nothing wrong with stretching audience credibility, but, to quote another movie that dabbles in the highly improbable, these things must be done delicately.
Stuffed with so many strenuous editing ideas you suspect the influence of something illegal, Demolition is mainly casting about for a point, when it doesn’t feel like a wrecking ball aimed squarely at itself.
The film’s attempted cathartic payoff is inauthentic and unearned, and it’s a shame considering that Gyllenhaal once again gives a committed turn.
First off, I don't understand the bad critic reviews. The movie had a very original idea about a man that lost his wife but did not seem to realize it. The film had great foreshadowing so the directors added great details to marvel about. The comedy at times was strange but funny. The end of the movie was cool because Davis Mitchell finally has emotion towards his wives death. I will certainly get this on dvd.
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In “Demolition”, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a New York investment banker who becomes emotionally disturbed after he loses his beloved wife in a car accident. Everything becomes metaphorical after he demolishes many of his things including his house to then realize that he needs to rebuild himself.
Gyllenhaal continues his streak of terrific performances after “Southpaw” and “Nightcreawler”. The supporting actors include Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper who are also great, but the film lacks in story and the screenplay is convoluted. Moreover, it is easily forgotten through some mediocre scenes of the movie.
It is directed by Jean Marc-Vallèe who did “Dallas Buyers Club” with Matthew McConaughey and “Wild” with Reese Witherspoon which happens to be both movies that deal with human behavior and Oscar-worthy in performance categories. Demolition may not be as good as two of his films, but still, it offers an effective dark tone to dramedies.
VERDICT: At the end of the day, Demolition cannot decide what path it is going due to screenplay issues, but Gyllenhaal and his co-actors certainly hold praiseworthy performances.
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Very strange film. Jake Gyllenhaal along side with Naomi Watts give great performances. Especially Gyllenhaal. The film was definitely interesting with occasionally funny moments/scenes. But it did have a lot of problems. Jake really plays a psychotic well first "Nightcrawler" and now this.
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At first I thought I wont get the story why the heck he's destructing things and keep on doing that. But I understood the story but I do not like it. It is not something that thrills you at the end or shocked you. No, its only like that don't expect too much at the end. Maybe that's creative and unique idea of showing the emotions of a man after losing a wife. I rate 3 because it portrays curiosity, confusion, losing mind maybe,. It tells the viewers to be observant about things and to appreciate how things work.
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Sometimes even an excellent performance by an actor doesn’t make a movie which is what happens with “Demolition”. Jake Gyllenhaal is a strong, respected actor who can and does tackle any role that is thrown at him as this movie shows and makes more out of it then it is or written in the screenplay.
When, if ever, have you heard of a customer service representative call a customer, let alone at 2 in the morning? Okay she is a pot head but still—and that is only one of the ridiculous segments in this movie. We also get a lot of reading of letters between them and narrative off camera by Gyllenhaal playing the role of Davis who just lost his wife in a car accident. Oh yes, the reason he writes the first letter is because the candy he wanted to didn’t drop down in the vending machine.
Naomi Watts, plays Karen, the single mother addicted to pot, still fails to impress me as an actress though I have seen her in a half a dozen movies.
Chris Cooper as Davis’s father-in-law is Gyllenhaal’s in power as an actor and their scenes together will definitely hold your attention. Also there is great chemistry between 14 year old Judah Lewis, playing Karen’s son Chris, especially in a scene where he and Davis discuss whether the former might be ****.
Watching Gyllenaal demolishing walls, bathroom doors, taking apart computers, a refrigerator, among other things offers a smile here and there but unless you want to see 5 star performances by Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper and Judah Lewis this really isn’t a movie worth seeing for the story of grief.
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Production Company
Black Label Media,
Mr. Mudd,
Right of Way Films,
Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Release Date Apr 8, 2016
Duration 1 h 41 m
Rating R
Tagline LIFE: Some Disassembly Required.
Awards
SXSW Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Rotterdam International Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Golden Trailer Awards
• 1 Nomination
