Why critics are so impressed with Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Demolition'
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
While the movie itself is receiving mixed early reviews, 鈥淒emolition鈥� actor Jake Gyllenhaal is receiving praise for his performance in the upcoming film.
鈥淒emolition,鈥� which will come to movie theaters on April 8, tells the story of Davis Mitchell (Mr. Gyllenhaal), a banker whose wife dies in a car crash. It co-stars Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper, and Judah Lewis.聽
The film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and at the South by Southwest Film Festival, among other events, and so some reviews for the movie have already been released. The film itself has received mixed reviews.
writes that the movie is 鈥渁 rocky but highly enjoyable ride,鈥� but聽聽called it a 鈥渕uddled quirkfest 鈥� a frustratingly aimless soul-search,鈥� while聽聽found the film overall to have a 鈥渟ledgehammer-obvious screenplay that will stop at nothing to provoke a reaction."聽
Almost every critic so far, however, has praise for Gyllenhaal. The film is 鈥渁nother acting triumph鈥� for Gyllenhaal, writes , while Mr. Debruge called Gyllenhaal鈥檚 role 鈥渉is best performance since 鈥楤rokeback Mountain.鈥欌��
The role is the latest in a line of acclaimed performances by Gyllenhaal. The actor also received praise for his work in the 2015 movie 鈥淪outhpaw,鈥� the 2014 film 鈥淣ightcrawler,鈥� and the 2013 movie 鈥淧risoners,鈥� among others.聽
Gyllenhaal was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work in 鈥淏rokeback鈥� and was widely viewed as a contender for another nomination for his work on 鈥淣ightcrawler,鈥� though he missed the cut.聽
of Gyllenhaal鈥檚 performance in 鈥淣ightcrawler,鈥� 鈥淸Gyllenhaal] has had an increasingly remarkable filmography 鈥� impressive, darker movies.鈥�
Some of these projects for which Gyllenhaal is receiving praise may be more under-the-radar releases 鈥� the actor鈥檚 biggest hit domestically by far is still the 2004 action movie 鈥淭he Day After Tomorrow,鈥� with films such as 鈥淣ightcrawler鈥� having grossed far less. But the actor is being lauded by critics not only for his acting but for the quality of the projects in which he is choosing to participate.聽
鈥淕yllenhaal is one of the most gifted actors of his generation,鈥� Monitor film critic Peter Rainer wrote in a review for "Southpaw." 鈥淎nd, along with Joaquin Phoenix, he takes more chances than just about any of them.鈥�
