Demolition

It plays better than it reviews — the watch lands harder than the write-ups suggest.

• “This sort of storyline could go wrong very quickly, but thanks to some fortuitously funny moments, Vallee’s assured direction and Gyllenhaal’s spectacular performance it’s surprisingly compelling. And, let’s be absolutely clear: it’s Gyllenhaal who keeps it all together.”

  Gregory Ellwood, Hitfix · 83

• “Vallée's movie itself begins falling apart after being so artfully put together. Yet Gyllenhaal's performance is the center that holds, making Davis' melancholic obsession and irrational acts seem like the sanest things anyone could do. His disintegration is the actor's triumph.”

  Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times · 83

• “Much like the characters themselves, all of these off-kilter and seemingly disparate elements come together far better than they should and something just a little beautiful happens as a result.”

  Sarah Kurchak, Consequence · 75

• “The trouble here is that neither Bryan Sipe, who wrote this highly original script, nor Vallée, remain true to the bitter whimsy with which they began.”

  Kate Taylor, The Globe and Mail (Toronto) · 75

• “It’s a unique take on what could otherwise be a morbidly depressing tale of loss and grief, dishing out tons of energy and spats of devilish humor, though not always fitting its numerous parts into a succinct whole.”

  Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter · 70