'Concussion' doesn't have enough to say about the national obsession with football
In writer-director Peter Landesman鈥檚 鈥淐oncussion,鈥� Will Smith gives an聽intelligent, measured performance as Dr. Bennett Omalu, the real-life,聽Nigerian-born doctor who, while working in Pittsburgh, researched brain trauma聽in football players and, facing great resistance and personal sacrifice,聽pressured the NFL to recognize the burgeoning health crisis.
Since the NFL, its officials and doctors, and even players and fans were聽slow to acknowledge the problem, and still are, the movie has an聽immediacy. But except for this ripped-from-the-headlines topicality, and聽Smith鈥檚 quiet, steady work, the film is rather flat.聽To Landesman鈥檚 credit, and Smith鈥檚, Omalu has a stubbornness and a聽sense of entitlement that occasionally make him appear less than saintly.聽But sanctification still imbues the atmosphere. This man, we are聽maneuvered to believe, is a hero.
Fair enough, but what does the film have聽to say about the national obsession with violent sports? Landesman聽doesn鈥檛 go beyond the obvious: We should be aware of the risks. If聽鈥淐oncussion鈥� really stuck its neck out, it would聽have been the better for it. The film comes on as hard-hitting, but it鈥檚 weighted聽down with protective gear. Grade:聽C+ (Rated PG-13 for thematic material including some disturbing images, and language.)
