Despite its familiar themes, Concussion (2015, USA) is still fresh. It brings out of the film closet a topical issue.

Hollywood has always been forerunners when it comes to bringing to the fore the timely issue, whether we would agree or not on the issue.

Concussion is another forerunner, as it depicts the struggle to expose the dangers of American football head injuries.

Coroner Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) struggles to be heard, even when the evidence is compelling. Facing Goliath is never easy, as Concussion makes us see, again.

Older themes come back in Concussion

A history of older movies is downloaded into the opening few minutes of football injury drama Concussion. This film has familiar themes, but they are well worth reviewing.

Themes in 12 Angry Men and Planet of the Apes resurge as coroner Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) testifies in court about the likely causes of a death.

Dr. Bennet’s testimony goes against the prevailing wisdom. He is unconvinced by the consensus and he stands alone on sticking to his findings.

The person standing apart from the consensus is like what happened in 12 Angry Men (1956). In 12 Angry Men, a jury member isn’t convinced about the superficial conclusions of others on the jury.

Bennet’s opening speech is also reminiscent of Planet of the Apes (1968), where new discoveries are ignored and the status quo maintained.

Man against the establishment is a theme in Concussion. Dr. Bennet has a mind of his own and a method of working which does not make him ‘fit in’, which is typical of Dr. Bennett throughout the film.

He stands by what the brain and human beings can take when pushed beyond the limits and how dangerous that can be.

Warnings—brief profanity/offensive language and disturbing content

Notes:

Available on DVD/Blu-ray

Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith), Dr. Julian Bailes (Alec Baldwin), Dr. Cyril Wecht (Albert Brooks), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Prema Mutiso), David More (Mike Webster)

Writer/Director: Peter Landesman

Based on GQ article ‘Game Brain’ by Jeanne Marie Laskas