Concussion (2015)

** ½ out of ****

Sometimes the obvious is so obvious that it escapes the attention of just about everyone, sort of like “only a crazy person would vote for Donald Trump”. Such was the case at the turn of the century with how many NFL players were dying young with serious issues in the mental stability. It took the autopsy of Pittsburg Steeler Mike Webster by a forensic pathologist before someone recognized that dead footballers often had brains that were smashed almost to pudding.

The forensic pathologist was Ben Omalu (Will Smith), an immigrant from Nigeria with no ties to professional sports. But he started an investigation that led to his discovery of CTE, a brain injury caused by repeated minor concussion sustained over a long period of time. When his findings were published, the NFL went far out of it's way to try to discredit both Imalu and his findings, because if it were true could eventually cause the downfall of the entire professional football system.

Coming to Imalu's defense is former Steelers doctor Julian Bailes (Alec Baldwin), and Imalu's boss Cyril Wecht (Albert Brooks). But their small team seem no match for the multi-billion dollar NFL, especially when considering the NFL had unlimited screentime and are America's favorite sport. But Imalu's refusal to back down, and his personal conviction that it was important to get his work recognized for the protection of the players, eventual leads to people starting to listen.

Will Smith is actually extremely good in this role, affecting a Nigerian accent almost flawlessly and really committing to the doctor's cam passion. Baldwin is also surprisingly poignant as the NFL “defector”, a man more concerned with protecting people than his career or reputation. You spend much of the film shaking your head over the actions of the NFL in trying to suppress Imalu's findings, but the passion of the film is pretty toned down.

It isn't riveting viewing but it's a story well worth watching, with some strong performances that make it all worthwhile. Will Smith continues to pick smaller profile films than he used to, but often (as here) it results in more interesting films.