Demolition reviewed by Mark Kermode 

I loved the movie and was deeply impressed by it. I also interpreted it in my own way, since the brilliant script had opened a door for it. I thought the little kid was the childhood of our protagonist. And throughout the film he faced with his past eventhough not totally accepting everything (not openly naming his homosexual tendency). Remember him telling how he missed his childhood and his mother's caressing his hair and kissing his eyes when he was sick. There is the exact scene in the movie, instead with the kid and the mother . 'Care' was also another main theme in the movie. He often remembered about the fridge he failed to care and fix. And there was also a focus to the mother's carelessness towards the kid which resulted in a serious battering. He didn't really love his wife...partly true. Yes, it was not a sexual attraction. But he immensely missed her company and motherly compassion. He realized this fact after facing himself (dismantling the stuff was a metaphor for self realization) and destroying the barriers (demolition theme) that have been preventing his emotions from being expressed freely. Only after that he managed to honor her legacy.

I can see Mr Kermode's complaints, but they didn't negatively affect my enjoyment of the movie. It was entertaining, darkly comedic and Gyllenhall was great.

I loved the film.

So he's not angry, he's just disappointed?

gotta love clips that give you the GENERAL TONE

I have always looked up to Kermode as the most realistic and open minded reviewer/critic but I have to say I disagree with him here maybe for the 1st time in last 5 years of me following his reviews. This film was one to be felt and interpreted by the symbolism it portrays . The idea that a detached and "cold-hearted" man experiences a tragedy and develops a desire to rebuild his life by taking it apart and the instances which show Gyllenhaal's character trying to turn a new leaf, are just so palpable. The film is thought provoking and touching on so many levels.

I understand all of Mark's reservations about the film, however i liked the film very much and where as Mark saw triteness and contrivance, i saw intricate storytelling and compelling, moving character development.

Gotta love Jake

I loved this film. It has everything I enjoy: Intensity, dark humor, slightly strange and deeply emotional.

I love Jake.

It always feels weird when he mentions things James King said at a screening...

I loved this film but I totally understand where Mark is coming from.

I thought it was about the stages of grief

I’m glad I saw the film before watching Mark’s review, I rather liked it for what it is and wasn’t bothered by or indeed notice any triteness or contrivance , which otherwise might have coloured my judgement. Any film with Free’s Mr Big on the soundtrack is ok by me.

This film has seemed to split opinions right down the middle. I personally loved it, despite agreeing with Mark on some of its faults such as the quirkiness etc. I suppose certain things just resonate more with certain people. It also made me want to smash stuff. In a good way though.

Shame hearing this because I've been wanting to see it. More for the fact I think Jake gylenhall had been in some phenomenal films of late and he seems to choose roles a little bit quirky but always really good. Oh well I'll still check it out

I really really loved the film

Sufjan Stevens :)

3:30 yeah, it's not believable, smuck all in to be fitted. but i loved it after all.

It's not like it was quirky for the sake of being quirky, though, like most of David O. Russell's films, for example.

But who's sanding the boat?

Hated it. It trivalised grief and i didn't like any of the characters.

Nothing is a metaphor

I almost agree with everything you said Mark, also "if I might add" the forest scene with the kid and Jake involving a gun without any spoilers made me uncomfortable, especially when such scenes are portrayed by cool people which would glamorize an already existing gun culture.

film was ok...

I hate this film actually. Showing how a rich guy coping with loss by throwing tantrums