Read Mixed User Reviews for Concussion (2015)

6

geedupJan 27, 2016

OK, this was turned into a movie from real events. Which is not rare. But real events based from the scientific community/background. Of course there isn't going to be gun fire and car chases and if you go into this movie understanding that,OK, this was turned into a movie from real events. Which is not rare. But real events based from the scientific community/background. Of course there isn't going to be gun fire and car chases and if you go into this movie understanding that, you begin to understand the HUGE discovery which is wrapped in this movie. The very backbone of americana's joy-sort of speak. But to digress, the information and events are interesting as a story. But the acting is horrid. How much money did they pay Smith to look concerned/convicted with furrowed eyebrows? All in all, worth a watch to put some faces to the information.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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5

StevieGJDJan 22, 2016

Concussion was not nominated for any Academy Awards because it is not very good. It is just ok. The point of the real story is important and the main message of the film is as well. Will Smith is not great. He is fine, but not great, YouConcussion was not nominated for any Academy Awards because it is not very good. It is just ok. The point of the real story is important and the main message of the film is as well. Will Smith is not great. He is fine, but not great, You never lose the fact that charismatic movie star Will Smith is being himself with an accent. It is probably true that the NFL did everything it could to hide the real Doctor Omalu's findings. It is also true that Dr. Omalu's story could have been told better and a better film made.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

AliceofXMar 1, 2016

Will Smith was good in this film and he created an interesting character. His doctor Omalu was not just a silly accent, as some have called him, but a many layered character with whom you could empathise in his struggles. And I also likedWill Smith was good in this film and he created an interesting character. His doctor Omalu was not just a silly accent, as some have called him, but a many layered character with whom you could empathise in his struggles. And I also liked David Morse in his small part but Concussion's biggest problem is that it's really not a people story. It's more concerned about the events and and the people serve more as accessories to them.

Also they clearly didn't want to alienate football fans by making this a „football = bad" movie. But how they went about doing this was by having the various characters give „football is great" speeches and it all comes out as lots of tell and little show. If what they wanted to do was show why it matters to so many people they should have made the audiences feel what a majestic game it is. But they don't and the film becomes a boring fence sitter.

The best part about Concussion's story is its good themes about religion. Through out the film it talks about how sport has taken the church's place in the modern world and just how inadequate it is in that role. There are some smart things in this story but they are never fully realised.

Overall Concussion is a decent film but more fitting for the small screen.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

tjman09Jan 3, 2016

In the last few years, awareness about the problems retired football players are facing has risen. Just a few years ago a large group of retired football players sued the NFL because they all had concussion-related issues, Concussion is aboutIn the last few years, awareness about the problems retired football players are facing has risen. Just a few years ago a large group of retired football players sued the NFL because they all had concussion-related issues, Concussion is about the beginning of that. Concussion is well acted, tells a well-timed story, albeit it being a little generic. The best thing about this movie is Will Smith, especially his performance as Dr. Bennet Omalu.
Will Smith anchors the film as Forensic Pathologist Bennet Omalu, and he flourishes in the role, even handling Omalu’s accent pretty well. The film features a talented ensemble including Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, and Gugu Mbatha Raw. The entire ensemble is great, even the actors only appearing for short periods, despite some weak characters. Perhaps the only caveat is that Smith and Raw’s romance feels more awkward than romantic at times, but it seems that was intentional.
The film also does very well portraying a timely story, that will undoubtedly be relevant for years to come. The film brilliantly shows the story of one man against one of the biggest corporations in America and the cover-up of a major issue. That is not an overly original storytelling method, but the film definitely portrays the NFL as an “evil” organization. Much like Spotlight earlier this year, the film shows the scary true story of how when an organization gets too much power it can cover up terrible truths.
The film does have some problems, namely, that is somewhat generic and slow. Concussion follows the sports drama formula and struggles pushing the story along. While the film is only 2 hours, it feels more like 2 and a half hours. Because the film tells a story that is still unfolding, it’s ending is a little anti-climactic. On top of that, the dialogue in the film isn’t very good, and the film has next to no humor.
Concussion is a very entertaining sports drama featuring a great performance from Will Smith. The film’s story is interesting, because of it’s modern appeal, as well as the fact that it pulls no punches, and ambitiously accuses one of the most powerful corporations in america. However, the film struggles it feels long, is a little generic, and limps to the end. In the end, sports fans will more than likely enjoy the film, but beware the film has a lot of football criticisms littered through it.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

tvnewsguidoDec 26, 2015

Interesting subject matter but boring to watch.

A Discovery Channel or ESPN documentary would have been better than Concussion at telling the tale. Smith is fine. Brooks is fine. Everybody in the picture is fine but it just kind of sitsInteresting subject matter but boring to watch.

A Discovery Channel or ESPN documentary would have been better than Concussion at telling the tale. Smith is fine. Brooks is fine. Everybody in the picture is fine but it just kind of sits there really.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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6

EpicLadySpongeFeb 2, 2016

If you're looking for to increase the user score on your favorite movie, I'm sorry for making this review... but we all have to admit that life's unfair, right? Concussion is decent work from Will Smith, but his latest movie couldn't possiblyIf you're looking for to increase the user score on your favorite movie, I'm sorry for making this review... but we all have to admit that life's unfair, right? Concussion is decent work from Will Smith, but his latest movie couldn't possibly save him from receiving a good score.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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5

JacobDec 25, 2016

Concussion is Oscar-bait. Will Smith gives a phenomenal performance and is a fantastic actor. With the right script Smith could get that Oscar nomination. Unfortunately, despite tackling some great source material, the standard presentationConcussion is Oscar-bait. Will Smith gives a phenomenal performance and is a fantastic actor. With the right script Smith could get that Oscar nomination. Unfortunately, despite tackling some great source material, the standard presentation makes for a slow film that despite having a unique story is by the numbers and forgettable. Smith fans and history buffs may enjoy it but at the end of the day watching this movie is about as stimulating as playing football.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

SpangleOct 22, 2017

Like a plain piece of white bread, Concussion is alright. It would be better if it were toasted. Butter would be a nice touch. Maybe even some jelly. Heck, some meat or cheese in between and the white bread could be transformed into a greatlyLike a plain piece of white bread, Concussion is alright. It would be better if it were toasted. Butter would be a nice touch. Maybe even some jelly. Heck, some meat or cheese in between and the white bread could be transformed into a greatly delectable sandwich. Unfortunately, the toaster is busted, the butter expired, you ran out of jelly last week, and the meat and cheese were on the shopping list but you entirely forgot to pick them up. Thus, you are stuck with just this plain piece of white bread. It will get you through the meal, but it is rather boring, predictable, and presents a similar element - the white bread - to many better experiences eating white bread. However, with nothing to accompany this peace of white bread, it just has those echoes of greatness rather than actually achieving it at all. Concussion is exactly this, plus if that white bread had an African accent and cloyingly grabbed your arm trying to get you to understand what it was preaching about.

With echoes of The Insider - hell, the film mentions how the NFL is similar to the tobacco industry repeatedly - but without any of the tension, Peter Landesman's Concussion explores the work of Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) in exposing the dirty secret of the NFL. It is a worthy subject and one that could be great in right hands. Unfortunately, Landesman only has left hands so that ship seems to have sailed. Detailing his research, solemn findings, and the eventual rejection of that information by the NFL, Concussion happens both too slowly and too quickly to truly make an impact. In essence, the film's pacing drags terribly. This is a slow, methodical film that deals with a very technical subject in a dreadfully uninteresting way. Will Smith is passionate in the lead role, but off-putting and unengaging as the self-righteous Omalu, who constantly gives off any air of superiority. Stodgily going through his research and fight with the NFL, Concussion is never thrilling or gripping. It seems to just go through the motions and beats of a great film like The Insider without any of the heart or understanding of what made that film work so well. Instead, it just goes beat-by-beat without ever hooking in the audience or making them truly care about what it is talking about. It, instead, operates like a lecture about CTE and what happened to Omalu in the aftermath of his article being published about the topic. As a narrative work, it is just not that interesting and lacks any of the requisite passion, as such it just happens.

A lot of this lack of intrigue, tension, or passion, ties into how the film goes too fast. The pacing is slow, but the narrative progression is rather rapid. In one scene, Dr. Cyril Wecht (Albert Brooks) urges Dr. Omalu to get a girlfriend. Just a few scenes later, he is handed a woman to house by his Church. He then gets married just a bit later. With his research, things do happen more methodically, but when the NFL rejects the presentation by Dr. Omalu's co-worker Dr. Bailes (Alec Baldwin), it seems as though the research has hit a brick wall. Fortunately, two scenes later, another poor sap dies and Dr. Omalu can get his big celebratory moment when his research is finally accepted. In essence, there is no triumph or sense of the film having earned its emotional send-off. It never builds the anticipation of seeing him victorious or positions it as too much of a struggle. Instead, the film's over-dramatic and showy approach to the film renders it dramatically inert, barreling towards a cliche celebratory speech with powerful words delivered to a body of men who do want to hear him speak. We know Dr. Omalu will be successful - even if unfamiliar with the story itself - because the film clearly positions him as a crusader for truth and the argues him to be the very essence of what makes America great. In this, the film is almost merciful in not beating around the bush and pretending that he may not be successful. Yet, this lack of doubt that feels akin to inevitability is often what robs Concussion of any intrigue or of being too compelling. It is a film that so desperately wants to cross the finish line and let its hero into the victory circle, it skims through the troubles he faces and instead opts to focus on the victory which is terribly dull.

Tragically, even the pushback received by Dr. Omalu is either factually inaccurate or forced, demonstrating that perhaps the film was actually better off for focusing on his successes, even if unearned due to lack of tension. Showing the arrest of Dr. Wecht, a verbal attack by Dave Duerson (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaye), his wife Prema Mutiso (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) being followed by a suspicious car, and then her later miscarriage, the film misconstrues facts to create tension but then immediately drops the topic.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

j1trainJan 16, 2016

A few strong moments anchored by Will Smith's performance can't save this weakly written drama. It's an important story that doesn't quite get to the hefty big picture it aims for. The romance too feels out of place and rushed.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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4

amheretojudgeSep 1, 2018

a pathos art..

Concussion Concussion is a character driven dramatic biography about a man whose good deeds were piled upon by the commercial politics of the country. Unlike any other biographies, it doesn't start from zero, it accounts ina pathos art..

Concussion

Concussion is a character driven dramatic biography about a man whose good deeds were piled upon by the commercial politics of the country. Unlike any other biographies, it doesn't start from zero, it accounts in only and only essential bits of the protagonist's life to keep the audience rooting for it as much as possible. But this concept fails miserably, as it starts aging on screen and the primary reason to that is the inability of the makers to know the difference between an elaborated script and an overstretched one. Ticking for around two hours, the feature tests viewers patience with only few good moments here and there for them to survive. Brimmed with power packed performance and huge star cast, the makers wisely milks every drop out of the them by offering enough range for them to flaunt. Despite of a sloppy narration, there is a lot of craft to admire, especially the way it manipulates emotions out of the audience; Smith is in his A game. The background score is non-existent as in it barely factors in with creative cinematography that works only half of the time. The camera work is handled manually to offer a more personal touch to the viewers. Landesman's world is lazy and incompetent whilst it should have been busy and in need of an emergency. As mentioned earlier, Smith has never been better with Baldwin supporting him with all his potential and Mbatha-Raw being the only weak link on the performance objective. Not only does the adaptation need polishing and better editing, but so does the execution which is unfeasibly low in here. Stellar performances and multiple perspective that the screenplay enfolds in are the high points of the feature. Concussion is a pathos art, where innocence is the protagonist and the big guns of the makers but unfortunately it too runs out of ammo.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

JLuis_001Sep 6, 2017

Concussion is not a bad film, its theme is quite interesting and relevant, but the treatment on the screen does not have enough strength. I recommend it but with reservations.

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5

JesseDillingerApr 25, 2023

Remember almost nothing about this movie but I know I watched it. Just adding it to my list. But I remember not disliking it

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