Finish the Game

Rating: 7/10 (27 December 2015)

It's really amazing just how powerful the NFL is. They control a day of the week (as the movie clearly states) and they allegedly even tried to get the filmmakers for Concussion to cut down on some of the film's harsher segments. Some have said that the film doesn't go after the NFL enough for its concussion issues, which I can somewhat agree with, but I also think the film did a good job balancing the science behind concussions and how much denial went on for years from the NFL towards these particular doctors.
Will Smith plays the lead doctor, Bennet Omalu, behind the finding of brain issues in former NFL players and what is now known as CTE. We get a look at a handful of the hundreds upon hundreds of NFL players who have had brain issues including Dave Duerson and Mike Wesbter. Both were incredibly vital in Omalu's path to finding CTE and proving the NFL that it is in fact a real issue and maybe even an epidemic.
We also get a look at Dr. Omalu's personal life with his wife, Prema Mutiso, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. At first, their relationship doesn't necessarily fit in with the rest of the film and for awhile it becomes a distraction. With that said, their chemistry is very good and Smith's performance thrives alongside Mbatha-Raw. I would almost go as far as saying Smith's performance is probably better than the film itself.
It takes awhile to get going but once it does Concussion is an interesting watch. What the NFL did to protect itself (and really STILL doing) is fascinating. Smith brings life to the film with his unrecognizable performance, but it doesn't give the NFL the punch it probably deserves and you don't leave the theater knowing much more than you probably did. Even with all that, Concussion is worth the price of admission.
+Smith gives his best performance in years
+Fascinating science
+Supporting performances and chemistry between characters
-Pulls some punches
-Some unnecessary focus on Omalu's personal life at times
7.4/10