Early in Demolition, there’s a short scene that catches your attention. Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) is looking at himself in a mirror and crying—the kind of exaggerated crying some less talented actors do, straining their faces because they can't actually cry. Gyllenhaal isn’t one of those bad actors, thankfully, and Davis quickly recovers his composure. Was he practicing? Maybe, especially when you think abo…

I’ve been paying attention to Jake Gyllenhaal's career and he consistently delivers impressive performances in his movies. He ranks among the five finest actors of our time. So I generally like all of his films, particularly those from recent years—it’s hard not to if you appreciate compelling narratives and strong acting. I anticipated this would be another standout film, and it was, though not quite as exceptional …