Concussion (2015)

Genre

Biography | Drama

Director

Peter Landesman

Country

USA

Cast

Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Morse, Arliss Howard, Mike O'Malley, Eddie Marsan, Hill Harper, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Stephen Moyer, Richard T. Jones, Paul Reiser, Luke Wilson, Sara Lindsay, Matthew Willig, Bitsie Tulloch, Eme Ikwuakor

Storyline

In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.

Opinion

Last night I finally watched the film with a lot of interest because of its sensitive subject and because of Will Smith's performance that according to everybody was Oscar worthy. I was disappointed.

"Concussion" would have been a compelling drama, and an excellent biopic if it wasn't so long and so unfocused.

So the film tells the story of Nigerian pathologist Bennet Omalu who discovered that football players, just like boxers, can suffer from CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), and the NFL knowing it and did not say anything about it, more or less accurately. The problem is the way it tells it, so awful it made the film barely watchable.

It is a sport related story, but the film doesn't really establish a relation between the doctor and the sport. American football gets mentioned only to attract fans of the sport, it doesn't really have another purpose. 

Then the filmmakers thrown in a romantic sub-plot in order to give Smith something to do other than cut brains of dead footballers. A romance that is pointless, flat and whose only purpose is to lengthen the film. 

It also seems like the filmmakers tried very hard to make a mess out of the film. In addition to a non-linear narration that doesn't make any sense, and an awful editing, the focus shifts from the legal battle to the inner struggle of Bennet Omalu to be considered a doctor in America.

At least Will Smith's performances is excellent. I actually was afraid that his attempt on Nigerian accent would have made him into a caricature, but thank god that didn't happen. Instead, he brings a lot of intensity in each line spoken, and his portrayal of the character is amazing. The supporting cast is average, nobody really stands out. 

What can I say? Maybe it just needed to be a documentary.

Mention-Worthy Quotes

Bennet Omalu: Need is not weak. Need is need... You have to be the best version of yourself. If you don't know what that is you pick something and fake it