Is the will smith movie concussion based on a true story. Concussion could throw american football the sport smith and his sons love into turmoil. Watch the trailer for concussion starring will smith. Bennet omalu, the nigerianborn neuropathologist who, after performing autopsies on several deceased players. Concussion takes two things that america has consistently lovedwill smith and investigative medical proceduralsand pits them against an even bigger cultural touchstone. The film is opening at a prime time, not only because of the holiday movie season. Omalu, a forensic pathologist who grew up in nigeria and. Concussion star will smith on the head injury and brain.
The 2015 film concussion, which is nominated for an mtv movie award in the true story category, stars will smith as dr. Will smith gives a borderline insufferable performance the wrong side of the borderline in a. Will smiths concussion to bow christmas day deadline. Will smith gives a borderline insufferable performance the wrong side of the borderline in a solemn and. Will smith gives a borderline insufferable performance the wrong side of the borderline in a solemn and unsatisfying sports drama, in which.
Bennet omalu, as does gugu mbatharaw as his gentle, loving wife prema mutiso. But as the star reveals, this film was too important not to make. That being said, there are at least a few positives to concussion. Will smith and alec baldwin in a scene from the film concussion, directed by peter landesman. Will smith talks about how his role in the film concussion has stayed with him and forever changed his views on american football. Bennet omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of cte, a footballrelated brain trauma, in. Bennet omalu, who takes on the nfl when he discovers cte, a footballrelated brain trauma.
Bennet omalu, a forensic pathologist who fights against. Cast member will smith poses during the premiere of the film concussion during afi fest 2015 in hollywood, california, november 10, 2015. Bennet omalu, a pathologist who becomes embroiled in a battle with the nfl after his research indicates that a football career can lead to lasting brain damage but just how true is the story read. In concussion smith plays real life forensic pathologist dr. Effective enough as a cautionary tale about willful ignorance and as a showcase for will smith. Omalu, a practitioner who has such pride in his profession that he corrects people who refer to him as mister with doctor, but who is so kindhearted, brilliant, enthusiastic and likable that the tic doesnt play here as irritating, is in an unusually american fix in this factbased drama. Will smiths upcoming film is stirring up some controversy, and it hasnt even hit theaters yet. Although smith is the star of the film, this is a true ensemble movie, in which every performer enriches the tapestry. The recently released trailer for upcoming film concussion, which stars will smith as nigerianborn forensic neuropathologist bennet omalu is a controversial one on social media. Biografie sport film geregisseerd door peter landesman. The response his findings elicit from the nfl quickly prove him mistaken.
Start with omalu himself, whos rendered graciously by smith including a flawless nigerian accent but who also comes across as inhumanly perfect, which prevents him from being multidimensional. Will smiths concussion trailer will smith takes on nfl. Concussion is another film about actual events that would better be served by a. Bennet omalu, a nigerian doctor working in pittsburgh who examines the body and brain of deceased local hero mike webster david morse. While conducting an autopsy on nfl legend mike webster. Twelve septembers earlier, when he was working in the allegheny county coroners office in. Sony pictures announced today that it has scheduled the will smith drama concussion for a christmas day release. Concussion is a 2015 dramatic thriller produced by ridley scott, written and directed by journalistturnedfilmmaker peter landesman, and starring will smith. Photograph by melinda sue gordon columbia pictures everett.
A sensitive will smith anchors film that hits home. Nfl columnist peter king of sports illustrated got an exclusive. Like a football game, the first quarter of this film is a little slow, but when the hard knocks start coming, will smith and concussion pack an emotional punch. Will smith stars in concussion 2015 film will smith is the lead actor in concussion, a medical drama thriller based on the astonishing true story of american immigrant dr. Will smith delivers an especially praiseworthy performance as dr. I share the view of many that concussion, although not without its flaws and controversies, is certainly a brilliantly acted, written, and directed film. Six things concussion the movie wont tell you but brain experts will. Concussion is a 2015 american biographical sports drama film directed and written by peter landesman, based on the expose game brain by jeanne marie laskas, published in 2009 by gq magazine. Bennet omalu, the nigerianborn pathologist who found out what kind of damage those repeated hits can do to a football players brain, and in the film anyway. Omalu discovers, the impact trauma associated with the sport can cause neurological deterioration similar to that of alzheimers.
Will smith stars in concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true david vs. This film, written and directed by peter landesman and based in part on a 2009 magazine article, portrays omalu as a cheerful, quietly religious man who, as a nigerianborn immigrant, believes strongly in the american dream, and believes that doing the right thing is part of that whole trip. The real doctors behind concussion movie speak out. Bennet omalu, doctor will smith played in concussion. Once again, the film never should have attempted to portray anything other than from bennets perspective. Actor will smith has said he believes players who receive repeated knocks to the head are in danger of developing longterm brain damage. Bennet omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of cte, a footballrelated brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. The repercussions of a life of hard hitting playing. The star of concussion, a film based on the story of. Will smiths film concussion causes controversy with nfl. This film brings to the forefront an important message. The movie is called concussion, and its reportedly causing the nfl a bit of a headache.
Concussion official trailer hd watch the trailer for concussion starring will smith. The real doctors behind concussion movie, bennet omalu. Reuterskevork djansezian new york twotime academy award nominee will smith plays christian dr. Atlanta falcons coach asked nfl prospect eli apple, do you like men. Will smith, 46, is definitely going to get a ton of oscar buzz portraying dr.
Concussion is not only a timely drama about the discovery of cte but also an important film that puts a human face on immigration. This drama is based on the true story of a forensic pathologist who made a controversial link between nfl players concussions and brain disorders. Concussion makes a christian argument against football. Bennet omalu, a nigerianborn pathologist who brought the issue of brain damage in retired nfl players to the forefront, concussion is. As mentioned earlier, will smith is a dynamic presence in the film, at least when he is given enough screen time. The film, directed and written by peter landesman, may suffer from an overly simplistic, sometimes sermonizing. Bennet omalu, played in this movie by will smith, laments to his wife prema, near the final quarter of concussion. This december 25, 2015 watch will smith transform into dr. Will smith touched by god on set of concussion the.
One might expect that pop warner, the nations largest youth football program, would flinch at the release of a trailer for the upcoming will smith film concussion. Bennet omalu, a pathologist who becomes embroiled in a. Written and directed by peter landesman, concussion includes among its stars will smith, gugu mbatharaw, alec baldwin, david morse, albert brooks, and arliss howard. Bennet omalu, left, and actor will smith pose together at the cast photo call for the film concussion at the crosby street hotel in new york. Bennet omalu in the film concussion, which documents the relentless pursuit of the truth to reveal how football is causing longterm brain. Omalu is the forensic neuropathologist who first discovered cte a footballrelated brain trauma in a pro player and fought to divulge the truth.