Cert 15
99 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language, sex references, injury detail
Outside of mainstream movies, there is a regular push-me, pull-you over what is art and what is entertainment,
There are many scenes in Jean-Marc Vallée's Demolition where the audience might, with some justification, feel that the director has 'gone off on one."
For example, there is a showcase of Jake Gyllenhaal's admirable dancing skills which just comes out of the blue and yet it is strangely engrossing.
'Strange' would be an apt one-word description for Demolition. 'Bereavement seen through art' might be a more nerdy summary.
Gyllenhaal plays Davis a successful money man whose wife (Heather Lind) is killed in a car crash in the movie's opening scene.
From then on, Davis becomes emotionally detached and, as a consequence, finds himself hugely at odds with his father-in-law (Chris Cooper) who is also his boss.
He finds weird solace in complaining to a vending company about a machine which did not release a packet of peanut M & M's (I found comfort that I have not been the only one infuriated by the way in which they often become stuck).
Anyway, he becomes embroiled in a relationship with the company's customer care manager (Naomi Watts) and even acts as a father figure to her troubled son (Judah Lewis).
I suspect my synopsis makes Demolition appear far more straightforward than it is.
Its intent seems to be to drift around the mind of a widower who did not love his wife. His reactions are not the norm because he cannot cry and he finds himself reaching out in unexpected directions.
Gyllenhall excels in the lead role and Lewis is a surprising and powerful foil, backed up by the ever reliable Cooper and Watts.
It is not a movie for everyone and has myriad flaws but I found myself unexpectedly drawn to it.
Reasons to watch: stand-out performance by Jake Gyllenhaal
Reasons to avoid: very surreal for much of the time
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10
Star tweet
The movie Demolition got bad reviews but I thought it was outstanding. So on point.
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