Concussion

Even if you don’t follow sports, you’ve probably heard about concussions in recent years. It is the sports issue of this decade. Timing isn’t the only thing on the side of Concussion, as its namesake subject matter is prime material for the best kind of incendiary off-the-field sports film. But for everything in its corner, it doesn’t fully seize the moment, or the Hollywood stage it’s been given.

The arguable impetus for this ongoing issue was the research of Dr. Bennet Omalu. While working for the Pittsburgh coroner’s office in 2002, the Nigerian-born pathologist (played onscreen by Will Smith) was tasked with performing the autopsy of former Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster (David Morse), who died at age 50 after living for years in a shockingly disoriented mental state. Omalu discovered a never-before-seen degenerative disease on Webster’s brain, dubbed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (or CTE, an acronym many have likely heard). The National Football League, not wanting to endanger their lucrative game, tried to discredit and silence Omalu, but a string of more ex-player deaths (many of them suicides) and the revelation that they, too, suffered from CTE proved the doctor right.

Smith anchors the picture admirably. He’s got the accent down pretty well, but more affecting is his understated intimation of a more universal immigrant struggle. Certain moments allude to the need he feels to be a “good American” (i.e., someone who wouldn’t speak ill of the beloved institution of football) conflicting with his conscience as a man of medicine. This element is ever so slight, however, as the depiction is mostly a glowing and pure one, equal parts modest grace and determined strength against long odds. Clearly, the star has a strong reverence for the man he’s playing, as do the filmmakers.

Despite his research and findings, the real Omalu has insisted during the movie’s promotional rounds that he isn’t outright against football. The film, though, is not so nuanced. The scenes of damaged ex-players—Webster as well as the now-deceased pros Justin Strzelczyk (Matt Willig), Andre Waters (Richard T. Jones), and Dave Duerson (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) are depicted—are haunting. The only football footage is of hard hits intercut with ominous music, examinations of CTE-riddled brain tissue, and even an animated demonstration sequence straight out of a medical film. And when the NFL doesn’t seem like a faceless, sinister entity, its representatives come off like stonewalling, obviously-lying politicians. And in defense of pro football? A little lip service about how the game is entertaining to watch, and how it's a way out of poverty for a lucky few who play it. The film seems to believe it’s occupying some middle ground, but it's only kidding itself, and doesn't realize its strongest moments are its most damning. 

Concussion is a competent product, if rather meat-and-potatoes in its construction. At the very least, it succinctly transmits the gist of Omalu's story and CTE for those who haven’t been following them in the news. But it probably won't make any waves in the larger concussion discussion like the filmmakers are certainly hoping. It’s not sufficiently angry or impassioned, not daring enough to take a stand. A more polemical approach might have gotten people’s attention, not to mention made for a more interesting movie.