It's been nine years since Bryan Sipe's script for Demolition scored a spot on the Black List, but the finished film is finally making its way into theaters. Jake Gyllenhaal leads as Davis Mitchell. He's got a successful career and beautiful home, but then his world is shattered when his wife is killed in a car accident. It's not because he's plagued with grief, but rather because he feels nothing. His only means of coping is by taking his life apart piece by piece - or rather, by demolishing everything in it.
Before it hits theaters on April 8th, Demolition celebrated its US Premiere at SXSW. While in Austin for the event, I got the chance to sit down with Gyllenhaal and director Jean-Marc Vallée to discuss the film's journey from the Black List to the big screen, how they cope with career disappointments, the worst things they've broke in real life and more. You can catch all of that in the video interview below and keep an eye out for much more from the cast of Demolition including Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper and Judah Lewis.
Here’s the official synopsis for Demolition:
Davis (Jake Gyllenhaal), a successful investment banker, 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 (Judah Lewis), Davis starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew.
