Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 2 ratings
An emotionally desperate investment banker finds hope through a woman he meets.
Demolition is a quirky grief drama that tries to subvert expectations with its unconventional protagonist and literal demolition metaphor, but ultimately falls into familiar indie emotional-journey territory. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a committed performance and Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper add solid support, but the material doesn't fully capitalize on their talents. The cinematography is competent but unremarkable for a New York-set drama. The central conceit — a man processing grief by literally tearing things apart — is intriguing but the film struggles to develop it into anything truly resonant or original. The ending feels unsatisfying and unearned, leaving the emotional arc incomplete. It's a film with interesting ideas that doesn't quite cohere into something memorable.