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Concussion (2015 film)

From Alfawiki
Concussion
Company typeFilm
IndustryMotion picture
Founded2015
FounderPeter Landesman (director and writer)
ProductsBiographical sports drama film
Websitewww.sonypictures.com/movies/concussion

Concussion is a 2015 American biographical sports drama crafted and helmed by Peter Landesman, inspired by Jeanne Marie Laskas's 2009 GQ article "Game Brain." Set in the early 2000s, the film features Will Smith portraying forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu, who confronts the National Football League over its efforts to suppress research regarding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among professional football athletes.

The movie debuted at the AFI Fest on November 11, 2015, and was distributed by Columbia Pictures on December 25, 2015. Produced with a budget ranging from $35 to $57 million, it earned $48.6 million globally and received mixed critical reception. Smith's performance garnered a Golden Globe nomination.

Plot

In 2002, former Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster is discovered deceased inside his pickup truck, following years marked by self-inflicted injuries and homelessness. Prior to his passing, fellow ex-player Justin Strzelczyk shares concerns with Webster about memory problems and unpredictable conduct. Webster replies by recalling his Hall of Fame induction speech, underscoring that "all we have to do, is finish the game."

Bennet Omalu, serving as a forensic pathologist at the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania coroner’s office, performs Webster’s autopsy. Observing extensive neurotrauma, he determines that Webster’s death resulted from prolonged effects of repeated head injuries, introducing the term chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Supported by former Steelers team physician Julian Bailes, neurologist Steven DeKosky, and coroner Cyril Wecht, Omalu publishes his research in Neurosurgery, which the NFL initially rejects. Subsequently, Omalu identifies comparable symptoms in deceased NFL players Strzelczyk, Terry Long, and Andre Waters.

Omalu secures permission from new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to address a player safety committee but is ultimately prevented from presenting; Bailes delivers the presentation instead. The NFL refutes any association between football-related head trauma and long-term brain injury. Former NFL Players Association official Dave Duerson confronts Omalu with skepticism.

Amidst significant resistance due to football's cultural significance and economic impact in Pittsburgh, Omalu faces threats including potential deportation and legal challenges aimed at undermining his credibility. His wife endures a miscarriage amid these pressures. The family relocates to Lodi, California, where Omalu joins the San Joaquin County coroner’s office.

Three years later, Duerson dies by suicide, leaving a note affirming Omalu’s conclusions and donating his brain for scientific study. Omalu speaks at an NFLPA conference addressing concussions and CTE, accepting responsibility for informing players about risks without harboring resentment toward the NFL.

By 2011, under Congressional scrutiny and mounting lawsuits, the NFL begins taking concussion issues more seriously. Omalu declines an appointment as Chief Medical Examiner for Washington, D.C., opting to remain with his family in Lodi. He becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015. The narrative concludes by acknowledging the 2012 suicide of Junior Seau and ongoing legal actions initiated by former players against the NFL.

Cast


Development

The NFL concussion drama was developed by Ridley Scott, inspired by Dr. Bennett Omalu’s groundbreaking research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in former NFL athletes such as Junior Seau and Dave Duerson. Scott intended to direct the film following his work on Exodus: Gods and Kings and sought a top-tier screenwriter for the project. By late 2013, other films addressing NFL concussion issues had surfaced, including Matthew A. Cherry’s Game Time Decision and the Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald-produced League of Denial. The screenplay was adapted from Jeanne Marie Laskas’s 2009 GQ article titled Game Brain.

In June 2014, negotiations began with Will Smith to lead the cast, with his official casting confirmed the next month; shortly thereafter, Alec Baldwin was added. Additional casting announcements prior to filming included Albert Brooks, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Luke Wilson, Bitsie Tulloch, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. To prepare for his role, Smith met with Omalu, then serving as San Joaquin County’s chief medical examiner.

The production secured $14.3 million in film tax incentives from Pennsylvania.

Filming

Principal photography commenced on October 27, 2014, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, continuing until mid-January. Significant scenes were shot at locations such as Altius Restaurant in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood, a church situated in the Hill District, the Braddock Carnegie Library, and various sites throughout downtown Pittsburgh.

Music

The film’s score was composed by James Newton Howard, complemented by synth programming from Klayton of the band Celldweller. Additionally, R&B singer-songwriter Leon Bridges contributed an original track entitled "So Long."

Release

Sony Pictures Entertainment released the first official trailer on YouTube on August 31, 2015. The movie premiered in theaters on December 25, 2015, supported by promotional efforts including commercials broadcast during NFL games.

Concussion became available for Digital HD download on March 15, 2016, followed by DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD formats released on March 29, 2016.

Box office

Globally, Concussion earned $34.5 million across North America and an additional $14.1 million internationally, culminating in a worldwide total of $48.6 million against its $35 million production budget.

The film opened domestically on December 25, 2015, alongside releases such as Daddy's Home and Joy, with initial forecasts estimating $8–10 million from 2,841 theaters. Ultimately, it grossed $10.5 million and ranked seventh at the box office. Despite the involvement of star actor Will Smith and a substantial budget, the film underperformed commercially relative to expectations.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Concussion has garnered a 58% approval rating based on 207 critiques, with an average score of 6.00/10. The general consensus describes it as a competently performed and timely film, though its impact is somewhat restrained by the traditional sports drama approach. According to Metacritic, the movie holds a score of 55 out of 100 from 39 reviews, reflecting mixed or average feedback. Audience surveys by CinemaScore awarded it an "A" grade.

Will Smith earned acclaim from the Associated Press for delivering a "sensitive [and] understated" portrayal. Alec Baldwin’s performance was mostly praised, despite some criticism directed at his accent.

Accolades

Awards
Award Category Recipients Result
African-American Film Critics Association Best Actor Will Smith Template:Won
Black Reel Awards Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture Will Smith Template:Nom
Outstanding Motion Picture Concussion Template:Nom
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture Gugu Mbatha-Raw Template:Nom
Outstanding Ensembles Template:Nom
Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Drama Will Smith Template:Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards Razzie Redeemer Award Will Smith Template:Nom
Hollywood Film Awards Actor of the Year Will Smith Template:Won
MTV Movie Awards Best Male Performance Will Smith Template:Nom
True Story Template:Nom
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Motion Picture Concussion Template:Nom
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Will Smith Template:Nom
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Gugu Mbatha-Raw Template:Nom
Palm Springs International Film Festival Creative Impact in Acting Award Will Smith Template:Won
Directors to Watch Peter Landesman Template:Won
Satellite Awards Best Actor Will Smith Template:Nom

Controversies

Relatives of former NFL athlete Dave Duerson, who was diagnosed posthumously with CTE and died by suicide, voiced objections to the film’s depiction of Duerson, criticizing scenes where his character refers to Dr. Omalu as a "quack" and uses racially sensitive language. They also challenged portrayals showing Duerson ridiculing another player’s injury claims. Director Peter Landesman defended these choices as capturing emotional and spiritual truths. CTE expert Steven DeKosky acknowledged that certain factual liberties were taken.

Slate's science journalist Daniel Engber highlighted inaccuracies such as the implication that Wecht’s corruption arrest was connected to Omalu’s research paper, although the arrest occurred several months afterward. Engber contended that the film reinforces misconceptions about football and brain injuries, referencing a 2012 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study which found that football players generally enjoy longer and healthier lives despite elevated risks for neurodegenerative diseases.

More recent investigations emphasize the role of cumulative subconcussive impacts in CTE development. A 2018 study linked participation in tackle football before age 12 with an earlier emergence of CTE symptoms, including cognitive decline and behavioral problems.

In the aftermath of the Sony Pictures hack, Deadspin reported that edits were made to the film to appease the NFL by diminishing the visibility of figures such as Roger Goodell and Paul Tagliabue, along with modifying dialogue. The New York Times disclosed emails discussing the removal of "unflattering moments for the NFL" and softening content "for legal reasons." Landesman explained these adjustments were intended to portray characters accurately while minimizing potential legal challenges from the league.

See also

External links

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