It benefits from a credible performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, but the drama often remains situated in a demolition zone that slowly destroys, with each iteration, the potential of its premise about grief and redemption. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 5/10 | Oct 15, 2024

A frustrating experience. There is a lot to appreciate about this film and it had massive potential, but like Dallas Buyer Club, Vallée wasn’t exactly sure where to take the film and it shows.

| Original Score: B- | Aug 1, 2024

Neatly tied resolutions and dime-a-dozen aphorisms feel as fleeting and immaterial as a television drama, while any lasting impression must be hard-fought and pried from between the lines of the script.

| Aug 1, 2023

At times unpredictable and funny, Vallée's few inspired flourishes fall short of transcending the story's obviousness and sudden ending, despite a strong central performance by Jake Gyllenhaal.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 18, 2022

Demolition is a moving character study boasting a phenomenal central performance from one of today's most exciting acting talents.

| Sep 29, 2021

Demolition is a work of art .. the story, the performances, direction and tone, it sets a new standard in film. Jake Gyllenhaal continues to spread his wings in his third film with an iconoclastic Quebecois director.

| Sep 29, 2021

Demolition bravely explores the psychology of loss and grieving with compassion and humor. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is superb.

| Sep 29, 2021

A disappointingly shallow dig into the soul of a man who should be on the edge, but isn't...

| May 5, 2021

The poetic dialogue, the dreamlike flashbacks, and the unfocused randomness (director Jean-Marc Vallee seems to be aiming for a modernized Godard) are always compelling.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 4, 2020

Gyllenhaal, giving yet another great performance as a man running in place, doesn't hold a thing back without overdoing a single take.

| Nov 10, 2020

Even the most cynical drama requires an anchor of warmth, but there is none here.

| Apr 2, 2020

Jake Gyllenhaal takes on another tough role, but seemed to have fun at times breaking down all kinds of walls, emotionally and physically.

| Oct 16, 2019

You may pull more out of it than I did. However, I can say that if you're looking for a really strong Jake Gyllenhaal performance and a few good laughs here and there, then give it a go.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Aug 7, 2019

Though the movie occasionally teeters precariously on the edge of cliché...Vallée and screenwriter Bryan Sipe manage to avoid pitfalls that would undercut their larger construct.

| Aug 2, 2019

However strong the cast though, this is a meditation in common coming-of-age dramatic filmmaking which sadly doesn't quite hit home.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 3, 2019

For all the emotional weight supposedly put into DEMOLITION, it's impossible for the story to be put into context of reality.

| Original Score: C- | Dec 10, 2018

Demolition shines due to Jake Gyllenhaal's stellar performance of a man demolishing his way through grief.

| Original Score: 7.5/10 | Oct 25, 2018

It is a role that requires an actor that does more than what is on the page. Something that Gyllenhaal accomplishes spectacularly.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Oct 16, 2018

In a movie about a man who tries to find a way back into the life he's emotionally left, there is no sense of gravitas or proper character development.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 31, 2018

Demolition's cast and comedic and emotional performances makes it a watchable film though it is as unfocused and scatterbrained as its central character.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 30, 2018