Concussion

Name: Concussion
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Released: December 25, 2015
Duration: 123 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Albert Brooks, Alec Baldwin, David Morse, Paul Reiser, Will Smith

2015

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 157 Ratings

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 157 Ratings

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Concussion

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 25, 2015 | PG-13

Starring: Albert Brooks, Alec Baldwin, David Morse, Paul Reiser, Will Smith

Summary: American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist, discovers CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fights for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.

Director: Peter Landesman

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Sport

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 123 min

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Critic Reviews

Leah Greenblatt

Dec 17, 2015

Director Peter Landesman, who also helmed last year’s political thriller "Kill the Messenger", doesn’t color much outside the lines of conventional drama. But his straightforward telling actually serves the strong cast and taut script — and a story that would be deemed too outrageous to believe if it wasn’t true. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Dec 14, 2015

Concussion is a good movie that could have been great without trying so hard to be great. Read full review

Steve Persall

Dec 24, 2015

Concussion is essentially Erin Brockovich with shoulder pads, a crowd pleaser built upon an issue long ignored. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Dec 24, 2015

Smith’s performance, in which he resists the urge to go over the top, and the subject matter make Concussion an interesting movie, but not the urgent one it could have been. Read full review

Jesse Hassenger

Dec 16, 2015

Smith’s Omalu makes a compelling character, supported by his mentor Cyril Wecht (Albert Brooks) and former team doctor Julian Bailes (Alec Baldwin). But Concussion doesn’t crackle like the best whistleblower dramas. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Dec 24, 2015

The key problem is that writer-director Peter Landesman has pushed too hard to make this story fit into a dramatic mold, alternating melodrama and romance with those earnest warnings in a way that is more ungainly than effective. Read full review

Justin Gerber

Dec 21, 2015

Concussion tries to “tell the truth!” but its filmmaker feels compelled to surround the truth with tales of a man whose life is just not that interesting. Read full review

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User Reviews

karenrkane

Jan 7, 2016

Very engrossing movie. Shows how business, the NFL in this case, can manipulate to protect their own interests to the detriment of others. Will Smith did an amazing job.

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

LeZee

Mar 24, 2016

At first in the past, all good things in the world were always denied.

Based on the real life story of a Nigerian forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu who discovered CTE disorder that most of the American football players are suffering from. So he fought for his theory against the NFLAt first in the past, all good things in the world were always denied.

Based on the real life story of a Nigerian forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu who discovered CTE disorder that most of the American football players are suffering from. So he fought for his theory against the NFL who was denying it. I was neutral when #OscarsSoWhite broke out, but for this movie I definitely agree on that. Whether he would have won or not, Will Smith name should have been in the best male actor in the lead list.

That's not at all, this movie did not qualify for any other category in the event which is not unfortunate, but deliberately the Academy chose a wrong side to stand. Felt like they are supporting NFL instead of fact and its own product. This biographical movie talked mainly about one particular sport, maybe there are other sports in the globe that might cause CTE as must as this one. Since Dr. Omalu's research came from NFL players, so it was all about between them.

This is a wonderful movie, I was very surprised for it. In the past, every good thing in the world was always opposed in its beginning, but later accepted widely like the global warming. I hope people aware of such thing is exist and act accordingly. No need to abandon the sport, just change the rules and the style of play. This is one of the best movie you could find from the 2015. I think it is a must see biopic, the credit must go to Ridley Scott who is the man behind for this movie to happen.

9/10… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

drose70

Dec 25, 2015

Whatever short comings the film may have, it is made up for by the powerful story. It is hard to believe that the current season is ending in time for questions to be asked of the NFL on Superbowl press day. American football represents some of the best that we are along side the very, veryWhatever short comings the film may have, it is made up for by the powerful story. It is hard to believe that the current season is ending in time for questions to be asked of the NFL on Superbowl press day. American football represents some of the best that we are along side the very, very worst that we are.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

bfoore90

Feb 8, 2017

A very well done movie with a very committed performance by Will Smith along to lead off a talented cast. Its a very engrossing film, that does a fine job showing how the NFL, glossed over CTE despite the harm it caused to their players and how it manipulated the public to protect their ownA very well done movie with a very committed performance by Will Smith along to lead off a talented cast. Its a very engrossing film, that does a fine job showing how the NFL, glossed over CTE despite the harm it caused to their players and how it manipulated the public to protect their own interests to the detriment of others. The only negative I had with this film was how it washed over how WWE wrestler Chris Benoit was the first known case of CTE that went public, if it wasn't for Benoit being one of the first known cases of CTE going public then along with numerous other pro wrestlers dying then CTE would not be the boogeyman it would be known as today.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

geedup

Jan 27, 2016

OK, this was turned into a movie from real events. Which is not rare. But real events based from the scientific community/background. Of course there isn't going to be gun fire and car chases and if you go into this movie understanding that, you begin to understand the HUGE discovery whichOK, this was turned into a movie from real events. Which is not rare. But real events based from the scientific community/background. Of course there isn't going to be gun fire and car chases and if you go into this movie understanding that, you begin to understand the HUGE discovery which is wrapped in this movie. The very backbone of americana's joy-sort of speak. But to digress, the information and events are interesting as a story. But the acting is horrid. How much money did they pay Smith to look concerned/convicted with furrowed eyebrows? All in all, worth a watch to put some faces to the information.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

j1train

Jan 16, 2016

A few strong moments anchored by Will Smith's performance can't save this weakly written drama. It's an important story that doesn't quite get to the hefty big picture it aims for. The romance too feels out of place and rushed.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

dannygards

Feb 13, 2016

Decided to give this a watch after all the Oscars boycott talk.

Absolutely dreadful film, no one involved in this train wreck should work again let alone be talking about the Oscars. The NFL concussion issue could be an excellent movie if it stuck to the facts. Instead we got a Will SmithDecided to give this a watch after all the Oscars boycott talk.

Absolutely dreadful film, no one involved in this train wreck should work again let alone be talking about the Oscars. The NFL concussion issue could be an excellent movie if it stuck to the facts. Instead we got a Will Smith vehicle that does not work as either an entertaining movie or a factual piece. I'll be carrying out my own boycott in future.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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91	#91 Most Discussed Movie of 2015
72	#72 Most Shared Movie of 2015