Jake Gyllenhaal’s latest character quite literally takes a sledgehammer to his life in his new film Demolition. The Hollywood actor plays Davis, a successful investment banker, who struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. Despite pressure from his father-in-law Phil (Chris Cooper) to pull it together, Davis continues to unravel. What starts as a complaint letter to a vending machine company turns into a series of letters revealing startling personal admissions. Davis’ letters catch the attention of customer service rep Karen (Naomi Watts) and, amidst emotional and financial burdens of her own, the two form an unlikely connection. With the help of Karen and her son Chris, Davis starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew.
Gyllenhaal talks about how cathartic it was to tear apart a house for the movie and how he lost his inhibitions dancing in the streets of New York City. He also tells how the film – which is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée of Dallas Buyers Club (2013) fame – deals with the subject of grief in an unconventional way and what attracts him to emotionally charged roles …
You can read the complete interview in the print edition.
Demolition
Drama/Comedy, USA 2015 – Director Jean-Marc Vallée
Screenplay Bryan Sipe Cinematography Yves Bélanger Editing Jay M. Glen
Production Design John Paino Music Susan Jacobs
Starring Jakey Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper, Judah Lewis, C.J. Wilson, Polly Draper
Distribution ABC Film, 100 min
