Director: Peter Landesman
Writer: Peter Landesman (Screenplay) Jeanne Marie Laskas (Article)
Starring: 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, Luke Wilson
Plot: In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Event Changing Film
Story: Concussion starts as we meet Nigerian Doctor Bennet Omalu (Smith) a pathologist who has a slow method when he examines the dead, his boss Dr Cyril Wecht (Brooks) wants him to become more traditional quicker. We meet former NFL star Mike Webster (Morse) who has been struggling since retiring as have his team mate Justin.
As Bennet opens his doors to Prema (Mbatha-Raw) a successful African looking for a start in America, we see how Mike is falling further into a mess as his Dr Julian Bailes (Baldwin) is running out of ideas before he finally dies. Bennet is assigned to figure out why this once hero has died to give the how state a final answer to what happened. What he learns could change sports from a medical stand point forever.
Concussion shows how one sport can cause so many issues later in their life. We get to see how a neutral was the one person that was willing to push the limits against the NFL. We get to see how to see how the players are getting ill moments before their deaths. We don’t get into the NFL side enough as we only focus on Bennet’s story which is slightly disappointing. This is an important story because it shows yet another cover up in America
Actor Review
Will Smith: Dr Bennet Omalu is the Nigerian pathologist living and working in America, when one of his town’s favorite players dies he is assigned to examine the body, while examining the body he learns about the brain damage the NFL players are suffering from which could easily change the game forever. Will gives one of his best performance in many years here.
Alec Baldwin: Dr Julian Bailes is the former NFL doctor who couldn’t understand why he former players were acting the way they were. Once Bennet releases his research he teams up with him to turn his much loved sport into something safe again. Alec gives us a great performance in this role.
Albert Brooks: Dr Cyril Wecht is the head of the hospital in which Bennet works, he lets Bennet take these chances to make sure he can protect further injury even if it puts his own career in danger. Albert gives us a good performance which is perfect in the supporting role.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw: Prema is the young African woman who comes to live in America where she gets asked to live with community man Bennet, over time the two fall in love which makes her the strong part whenever Bennet is feeling weak. Gugu is good in this role without being anything special.
Support Cast: Concussion has a good supporting performance but sometime lacks the character time required.
Director Review: Peter Landesman – Peter gives us a good film exposing the truth about a sport that many people in the world enjoy.
Sports: Concussion shows the affects playing the sport could have on a human body.
Settings: Concussion doesn’t make too much out of the settings with none being anything memorable to the final story.
Special Effects: Concussion uses the effects to show how the affects happen to the brain.
Suggestion: Concussion is one to try, it is good to see how sports can be dangerous to the people playing. (Try It)
Best Part: Smith’s performance.
Worst Part: NFL side of the story.
Believability: Based on what happened and how the sport was changed.
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Awards: Nominated for Best Actor in Golden Globes.
Oscar Chances:
Runtime: 2 Hours 3 Minutes
Tagline: Even Legends Need a Hero
Overall: Solid sports drama that doesn’t go into the real depths of the battle.
Rating
