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The upcoming drama, 鈥淐oncussion,鈥� which stars Will Smith and looks at the history of head injuries in the National Football League (NFL), recently screened for the first time at the AFI Fest.聽

Smith portrays Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who noticed unusual physical attributes when examining former Steelers player Mike Webster. Omalu begins to investigate what else may have happened to other football players and the NFL soon reacts to his findings. (The league has not yet commented on the film.)聽

Football鈥檚 place in American culture means the topic of head injuries has proved divisive and Smith, a football fan, said to take on the role. 鈥淚 didn't want [the situation] to be the reality, and, at a minimum, I didn't want it to be me who had to say it,鈥� the actor said.聽

But Smith said he now wants to . His son played football in high school.聽

鈥淚 watched my son play football for four years and I didn't know," he said. "I didn't know. That became our quest: to deliver the truth. People have to know.鈥澛�

Peter Landesman, who directed the film that also stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, and Albert Brooks, reiterated the intent to of their message.聽

鈥淸The movie] is exposing a very uncomfortable, and to the NFL, a very dangerous truth,鈥� he said.

So now the question is, will people go see the movie, which will be released on Dec. 25?聽

It remains to be seen whether curiosity over the controversy will win out for moviegoers over what are some fairly critical early reviews. While others will be published closer to the release date of 鈥淐oncussion鈥� and could be more positive, the film is not doing well in early notices. That could undercut the effect those behind the movie are hoping it will have and cause audiences to avoid the film.

writer Stephen Farber called 鈥淐oncussion鈥� 鈥渋mperfect, [but] it has unmistakable urgency鈥� thoroughly engrossing and entertaining鈥� Smith transforms himself impressively鈥� competent but not inspired.鈥�

But Andrew Barker of found it to have 鈥渁 clich茅d, confused script鈥� the film鈥檚 attempt to marry an earnest public-health expose with a corporate-malfeasance thriller and a sweet immigrant love story never comes together in a satisfying way鈥� the repeated willingness shown by so many Americans to shoot the messengers bringing bad news about cherished institutions presents a potent subtext鈥� Yet 鈥楥oncussion鈥櫬爊ever quite trusts its audience enough to dive down any interesting rabbit holes.鈥澛�

writer Inkoo Kang was even less impressed, calling the film 鈥渢imely but dreary and dramatically inept鈥� grimly ponderous鈥� Smith delivers a fine performance [but] pretty much everything else in 鈥楥oncussion鈥� feels requisite鈥� Too bad 鈥楥oncussion鈥� has so little to add to the discussion.鈥�