Will Smith’s latest role is one which is based on an extraordinary true story of a medical professional, Dr Benner Omalu.
Omalu is a forensic pathologist who takes on the biggest corporate sports organisation in the world, America’s National Football League (NFL), after he finds a link between consecutive head trauma and significant damage to the brain.
Smith carries the film; he is the star of the show as Omalu, as he puts on a compelling performance in a very emotional film.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Omalu’s wife, Prema, and is a great supporting role throughout.
On screen though, Concussion is not for those with a soft stomach as some scenes show dead bodies ready for an autopsy.
However, at times it feels as though Smith relies on the accent to pull him through some of the trickiest scenes, which he is evidently capable of delivering – as his previous work demonstrates.
The movie is based on a strong theme that “anything is possible” – the American dream. Smith symbolises this through his fight with the NFL and the obstacles he faces in trying to convince the powerful bosses that he will not give up.
Peter Landesman has taken on the role of director for a second time in the film, while other well known faces on screen include Alec Baldwin, whose character, Dr Julian Bailes, is confronted by a Mike Webster, played by David Morse, a former NFL player suffering the effects of consecutive head trauma in a rather confusing scene.
All in all Concusssion is a great film and pays homage to a truly righteous man.
If you’re a fan of Smith you’ll probably like it, but don’t expect it to be one of his best performances because it isn’t.
Concussion was released in the UK on February 12, 2016
Featured image by Columbia Pictures.