Star Rating:

Concussion

Actors: Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Release Date: Friday 12th February 2016

Genre(s): Biopic, Drama

Running time: 123 minutes

With the lack of Oscar nomination for lead Will Smith somewhat overshadowing the actual production, talk has veered away from the film - which was seen as a worthy contender pretty much since Big Willy became attached. Ultimately a noble effort around an admittedlyfascinating subject, it lacks the impact that Smith's solid work deserved.

Smith is a Nigerian Doctor, Bennet Omalu; a man who rocked the NFL with a damning study of the effects of head trauma on former players in the National Football League. Initially, his findings are met with apprehension by his peers, but they can't deny the science after an increasing amount of retired players act out violently, causing harm to others and themselves.

Alas, the NFL is a multi-billion dollar organisation and will do everything in its power to bury the facts - so that America can keep enjoying its favourite past-time of a Sunday afternoon.

It's an intriguing set-up and throughout there are genuinely shocking statistics of what kind of damage repeated head trauma can do to an individual; especially when they're essentially used as a weapon, which is often the case. While the behaviour of the former players affected is both tragic and upsetting, the unravelling of Omalu's study is quite pedestrian. He figures it out, tells some people who instantly believe him and the NFL get a bit annoyed.

Director Landesman began his career as an investigative journalist, so the facts are all there and the execution is aesthetically reminiscent of Michael Mann. While ostensibly a good thing, that and the subject matter just draw natural comparisons to Mann opus, The Insider. The difference being that when you've finished watching The Insider, you didn't feel like you'd just consumed a drama about a tobacco industry whistleblower, but rather some sort of epic battle of right versus wrong. Concussion just doesn't have the chase, and you struggle to connect with it as a result.

Smith nails the tricky accent and evokes the required empathy while Baldwin and Brooks are also stand-outs. Luke Wilson had a pivotal scene as NFL head honcho Roger Goodell cut (for fear of a lawsuit), which renders his casting ultimately a distraction. Whether that scene would've given Concussion more weight overall is unlikely. Regardless, he's barely in the finished film.

Worth a watch, as it's a noble effort - just not the incendiary work it could have been.