Concussion

CONCUSSION

Director : Peter Landesman
Year : 2016
Genre : Biographical drama
Rating : ****

While he may be better known for his more energetic and charismatic performances, Will Smith has proved in movies such as 'Hitch', 'Seven Pounds' and 'Ali' to be a very accomplished dramatic actor and 'Concussion', the debut feature film from director Peter Landesman, sees him at his very best. Brilliantly portraying Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian born pathologist who incurred the wrath of the NFL after discovering the horrifying effects of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in American football players, Smith delivers a terrifically understated and uncharacteristically gentle performance - a performance that won big at the African-American Film Critics Association Awards but has been shamefully and controversially overlooked at this years all-white Academy Awards season. Fine supporting turns from Alec Baldwin, David Morse, Guru Mbatha Raw and the always splendid Albert Brooks perfectly sustain the taut dramatic tension of the movie while well chosen, wince-inducing scenes of actual on-field collisions help to drive the true horrors of the story home. A surprisingly riveting and powerful watch.