The late great Jean-Marc Vallée often did not receive the praise that his career warranted, as the Canadian filmmaker tackled complex stories about the human condition, many of which earned major accolades for their stars. Matthew McConaughey took home the Academy Award for Best Actor in Dallas Buyers Club, and Reese Witherspoon gave one of her deepest performances ever in Wild. However, neither of these stars would have been able to reach their potential without the steadfast, intimate direction that Vallée provided. Although it didn’t earn the Oscar attention that some of Vallée’s previous films received, Demolition is an unusual, entertaining dramedy about the grieving process, and features one of the best performances that Jake Gyllenhaal has ever given.
What Is ‘Demolition’ About?

Demolition is centered on the prominent private equity investor Davis Mitchell, played by Gyllenhaal, who mourns the death of his wife, Julia (Heather Lind), who died in a car accident. Although they were both in the car at the time of the crash and Julia was driving, Davis struggles with a numb, conflicted emotional state. While he doesn’t openly mourn or show traditional grief, there’s an undercurrent of survivor’s guilt and a haunting sense that he should’ve been the one to die. Davis can’t help but feel that he should have been the one to die. Davis’ situation is complicated by the fact that his employer is Julia’s father, Phil Eastwood (Chris Cooper), who has always looked down upon him. As his anxieties rise about how to honor his late wife’s legacy, Davis becomes fixated on a vending machine that does not work properly, and calls the customer service representative Karen Moreno (Naomi Watts) in an act of desperation. It’s to his surprise that Karen is also going through a period of trauma, and the two begin engaging in more regular conversations. Eventually, Davis initiates a friendship with Karen’s teenage son, Chris (Judah Lewis), who is in need of a strong paternal figure in his life. Demolition allowed its stars to give naturalistic, engaged performances that accurately reflected what it is like to deal with the immediate aftermath of a tragedy. Gyllenhaal is an actor who is capable of giving both methodical dramatic performances (Stronger, Brokeback Mountain) and playing more eccentric, wild roles (Nightcrawler, Okja), and Demolition falls somewhere in the middle. Feeling adrift after Julia’s death, Davis begins to abandon the routines and social expectations he once followed — giving Gyllenhaal the chance to peel back layers of grief, detachment, and quiet chaos. Although Davis’ new attitude causes conflict with Phil and his family, it brings him closer to Karen and Lewis.

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‘Demolition’ Is a Complex Examination of Grief

Demolition examines the complexities of grief, as it is not a feeling that can be easily brushed away, nor one that emerges in the same way for people of different backgrounds. In an amusingly heavy-handed metaphor (which Vallée purposefully played for laughs), Davis attempts to break down his life by literally demolishing his home. The film is more than willing to acknowledge that grief is not tidy or one-size-fits-all; it even questions whether anyone should dictate how a person ‘should’ grieve at all. Demolition ends on a somewhat hopeful note, acknowledging that grief is an endless journey, but it can be harnessed to build something lasting and meaningful. In the film’s powerful final montage, Davis crafts something original that honors Julia’s legacy on his own terms. Demolition is the type of film that Hollywood needs to make more of. While it was obviously not intended to be a blockbuster, it was a tad too weird and conformational to ever be a serious award-season contender. With the exploration of trauma, the mourning process, and isolation are universal, Demolition is tailored to a specific experience that makes it more powerful, and benefits from its dark sense-of-humor. It signified a bravery on Gyllenhaal’s part, as he was able to generate sympathy for a character that is often unlikeable, but shows a genuine interest in improving his approach to life. Between its excellent performances, and unique tone, Demolition also represents why Vallée was such a unique and underrated storyteller.

Demolition

Release Date

April 6, 2016

Runtime

100 minutes

Director

Jean-Marc Vallee

Writers

Bryan Sipe

Producers

Ellen H. Schwartz, Jason Reitman, John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon, Molly Smith, Russell Smith, Sidney Kimmel, Thad Luckinbill, Helen Estabrook, Jon Schumacher, Nathan Ross, Trent Luckinbill