Demolition (2016) REVIEW

Jake Gyllenhaal plays young investment banker Davis, who is travelling to work one day when he and his wife are in a terrible car accident. His wife, Julia doesn't make it, and Davis is left alone with only his memories. Davis' issue is that he is struggling to feel anything at all. The only emotion he can muster is anger when his peanut M and M's won't come out of the vending machine at the hospital. This results in him writing a honest and lengthy complaint letter to the vending machine company. 

His letters increase and become even more personal. Julia's father Phil (Chris Cooper) is Davis' boss and is becoming increasingly bemused by Davis' odd behaviour, willing him to pull himself together. Karen (Naomi Watts) from customer services at the vending machine company has been reading Davis' letters and they soon spark up an unlikely friendship, Karen has her own issues as well... Davis decides to start pulling his life apart literally, by destroying his old home, his old life.
Firstly, the glue that holds this whole film together is Jake Gyllenhaal. He truly does own the screen here, playing yet another 'broken' character. Apart from the emotional side, he brings humour which comes easy to him, in particular a dance scene. He gave Davis a vulnerable side which I'm not sure if any actor could pull off as the character is not the most likeable at first.
The film itself has good intentions, but sometimes it lacks in its delivery. It is definitely more subtle than some other dramas, and that might not be to everyone's taste, but I still found very involving.
The film shows flicks of individual shots, to symbolise Davis' memories of Julia - as the film progresses and they reappear, it is clever how their meanings change.
The support cast are somewhat under used, but they work well with that they have. The young actor Judah Lewis has great chemistry with Gyllenhaal, I particularly enjoyed their scenes.
Demolition offers a very fresh (non typical Hollywood) look at grief and how we sometimes deal with it.
Overall an unpredictable, black comedy about grief and life after. 7/10