Concussion

Films that are based on causes that are a strain on our society are often fraught with emotion that can range from a crawl to a gallop depending on the issue at hand. We've seen many issue-related films: "Silkwood", "Contagion", "Philadelphia", "The China Syndrome", "Still Alice". And in each one of these films, the issues brought up are to inform using talented acting, writing and directing to tell a story in hopes that the audience can take what they see and learn from it. This is surely what the studio and writer of "Concussion" were undoubtedly attempting to convey as well.

This dramatic thriller based on the incredible true 'David vs. Goliath' story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith), is a brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy)-- a football-related brain trauma. He performed an autopsy on a 50 year-old pro football player and found the condition then only to have to fight for the truth to be known. Omalu's emotional quest puts him in at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world-- the NFL. So with the help of his boss, Dr. Cyril Wecht (Albert Brooks), an NFL 'defector', Dr. Julian Bailes (Alec Baldwin) and his smart and understanding girlfriend, Prema Mutiso (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), he pursues to attempt to convince the NFL that they are basically killing their football players with little to no success.

Others to round out the cast are David Morse as Mike Webster, Arliss Howard as Dr. Joseph Maroon, Mike O'Malley as Daniel Sullivan, Eddie Marsen as Dr. Steven DeKosky, Hill Harper as Christopher Jones, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Dave Duerson, Stephen Moyer as Dr. Ron Hamilton, Paul Reiser as Dr. Elliot Pellman, Luke Wilson as Roger Goodell, Richard T. Jones as Andre Waters and Sara Lindsey as Gracie.

This was directed effectively by Peter Landesman ("Parkland" '13). Certainly this filmmaker is a relative newcomer in the director's chair--he's more of a writer, but this was delineated in such a way that he allowed Smith's character, Omalu to be showcased in order to emit the true importance of what this film was attempting to convey to its audience. The others were there to bounce Omalu's passionate lines off of. He will certainly receive more work. It was written incredibly well by Landesman ("Parkland" '13, "Kill the Messenger" '14) which is based on the GQ article "Game Brain" (in part) by Jeanne Marie Laskas. Truly this writer has a lot to say, as did Smith in this, because the passion of both exuded importance of a topic that not only needs to be addressed, but because it's not being addressed as much as it should be, many are dying in the process, namely anyone who is involved in a consistent high contact situation--this zeroing in on football. Sure, this did get a bit preachy, but it's more forgiving considering how much an entity like the NFL has to be jolted to 'get the hint'. How many more guys in this sport, as with others, have to needlessly die for all to be protected so they can live long, productive lives? Landesman makes this perfectly clear with conviction, passion and clarity. Look, when I'm not reviewing films, I work in an ICU where we see many neurological cases due to auto/motorcycle accidents and the like, and if these people can sustain a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) or the like, why would it be so difficult to believe that these sports figures couldn't sustain CTE's or TBI's when in constant head on contact? Think about it. Also, Smith's performance was his best ever. I see a possible Oscar nod in the making.

If message films are your thing, get ready for a delight, but even if you're just into fluff and pure entertainment, this has got to speak to one's heart, because, at the end of the day, aren't all of us more important than our own desires to sit and just watch fluff all the time?

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                             Rated: PG-13                             123mins.