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| Poster design by Cold Open Copyright Sony Studios |
“Concussion” is a powerful biopic about a man of color who stormed the football world in “Any Given Sunday.” It flawlessly captures the man’s struggles and accomplishments.
Will Smith shines on screen. The script of this heartfelt story was tailor-made for the actor to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance.
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| Poster design by Cold Open Copyright Sony Studios |
The life of Nigerian immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu is brought to the big screen. The forensic specialist in the Science of Death discovered “chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),” a traumatic brain injury better known as a concussion.
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| Copyright Sony Studios 2015 |
Dr. Omalu follows the paths of former NFL players once considered untouchable gods by fans and sports authorities. In his findings, he sees a constant worry about those bizarre and tragic deaths, because it was not customary to die at fifty, active, rich, and famous.
Oma Lu’s character is true to the truth and unafraid to engage in an epic David-and-Goliath battle.
The football players suffered from a progressive, degenerative brain disease, a trauma resulting from the constant bumps sustained while playing America’s favorite sport, football.
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| Copyright Sony Studios 2015 |
The Nigerian character is a doctor who came from outside and had the vision to understand the true nature of the sport without fanaticism or infatuation. He delivers a significant report on animal skulls, which act as natural shock absorbers, protecting their brains from damage. For example, woodpeckers have this feature, which humans don’t.
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| Poster design by Cold Open Copyright Sony Studios |
During Dr. Omalu’s research, he makes enemies, including the high NFL administrators and the FBI.
With determination, he is risking all his savings to investigate the disease.
With determination, he is risking all his savings to investigate the disease.
He also makes a few allies, including a supportive boss, Dr. Cyril Wecht (Albert Brooks), and Dr. Julian Bailer (Alec Baldwin), who believes in Omalu’s honesty.
As a forensic, he is so immersed in his work with the dead bodies that his boss tells him, “You need a girlfriend and to touch someone alive.”
As a forensic, he is so immersed in his work with the dead bodies that his boss tells him, “You need a girlfriend and to touch someone alive.”
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| Copyright Sony Studios 2015 |
As an immigrant in America, the Doctor has the advantage of being educated, which sometimes helps him open some doors to continue his studies. But sometimes there is a stigma working against him, even among his own people.
Mr. Smith nails the Nigerian accent to perfection. Mastering the English/Nigerian accent took him over three months.
Mr. Smith nails the Nigerian accent to perfection. Mastering the English/Nigerian accent took him over three months.
The script of “Concussion” has some circumstances falling together too quickly, and some additional sugar-coated dialogue that sacrifices symbolism and subtext, making the information in the spoken parts too easy to explain.
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| Photo by José A. HJosésillo Copyright FestivalinLA 2015 |
The opening scene of “Concussion” was not impressive. A montage of the Doctor’s close-ups working with the microscope is more powerful and meaningful in introducing the story.
Another reference is the Best Picture Oscar winner, “A Beautiful Mind,” where we can see the character’s real struggle.
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Photo by José AlbeJoséHermosillo Copyright © 2015 Festival in LA |
Director Peter Landsman’s artistic background helped him achieve progressive cinematography and perfect color in the characters’ evolution, setting the emotional tone in a suitable mode.
For example, while the Doctor is working in the morgue, everything is dark gray, and towards the end, when “Mr. Will Smith Goes to Washington” to speak to the committee, we can see the warm light at the tunnel’s end.
“Concussion” is a story of perseverance and struggle for tolerance and understanding. A drama with nationalistic rhetoric to which all of us can relate and learn something valuable about football and the preservation of human nature.
Copyright © 2015 Festival in LA
Copyright © 2015 Festival in LA
excelente, no me la pierdo.
ReplyDeleteGracias Natalia.
ReplyDelete