Concussion (2015) ★★★½ Quote:
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A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.
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Concussion doesn't have a big cinematic feel to it, at times being more like a made-for-TV movie than something that features several A-list actors. It's an important film with a clear David v Goliath narrative, a little like Michael Mann's brilliant The Insider. There are parallels between big tobacco covering up the dangers of smoking with the NFL refusing to acknowledge the link between professional football, concussions, and brain damage.
Will Smith is excellent as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant neuropathologist who finds a link between the concussive to sober concussive blows which people sustain when playing football and a brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The rest of the cast, from David Morse to Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw to Albert Brooks, extremely well cast and utterly convincing.
Unlike The Insider, which doesn't pull its punches about the borderline criminal behaviour of the tobacco firms who were suppressing the evidence about how dangerous their product is, I feel Concussion gives the NFL (and commissioners Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell) an easy ride. I am not sure why, but the film could have been much more critical of the NFL is dragging its feet on player safety at acknowledging the link between football and CTE.
This is a worthy and engaging film which is beautifully shot and scored, though one which could have been much more impactful if had a bit more 'bite' and showed more of these information which is in the superb documentary League of Denial. It's a film which should have made the NFL (and all those who watch and play football) uncomfortable.