CONCUSSION

US, 2015, 123 minutes, Colour.
Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha- Raw, David Morse, Arills Howard, Mike O'Malley, Eddie Marsan, Hill Harper, Adewale Akinnuoye- Agbaje, Stephen Moyer, Richard T.Jones, Paul Reiser, Luke Wilson.
Directed by Peter Landesman.

Concussion seems a title straight to the point – but the question remains as to what exactly is its point. For someone seeking an action film, it might indicate plenty of fights and head-butting. Head-butting is the case – but it is in the sport so beloved to Americans, their football, the hard-playing tackles, leaps, clashing of helmets, the hitting of heads, the repercussions for brains.

This is a fact-based film, the story of strongly-qualified coroner, Bennet Olumu, originally from Nigeria, working in Pittsburgh. He has way with the people he examines in an autopsy, speaking to them, trying to elicit something of their story, the background of how they died. The nurses assisting are sympathetic. The supervisor is certainly not. But he has the support of the medico in charge (Albert Brooks).

Bennet is played by Will Smith, a strong and serious role, Smith affecting an African English accent quite effectively – skilled, confident in his qualifications, a strong ego, and serious about his craft and eager to investigate mysterious illness. This comes in the form of a player whom the audience has already seen (David Morse), receiving tributes, in action in his long sports career, a popular player, but his life collapsing around him, alienated from his family, isolated and ultimately killing himself. Bennet wants to know why this happened to such a popular man.

This begins an investigation into the suicides of several players after their descent into some kind of depressed and mentally disturbed existence. It leads Bennet to investigate concussion and the repercussions on the brain, detailed and thorough investigations, criticism from his supervisor, support from the medico, paying for the research himself, eventually taking it to a respected doctor (Eddie Marsan) who accepts his finding as scientific and is prepared to be seen as a co-author of the published results.

We are also introduced to a sports doctor, played by Alec Baldwin, enthusiastic in his encouragement of the players but, after hearing the results of Bennet’s investigations, begins to question his own past action, the action of the NFL and teams up with Bennet, pointedly being asked by the NFL to present Bennet’s case when they refused to listen to Bennet himself.

Alongside this is a personal story, and Bennet being humanised as his supervisor suggests. The parish priest asks Bennett to take in a young woman from Kenya who is trained as a nurse and needs accommodation. He is not used to sharing anything much with others but warms to her and, gradually, she being interested in his work, love develops between them, Bennet even going to a site in Pittsburgh where he will build a house for them. The nurse is played by Gugu Mbatha Raw who was seen very effectively in the film about Britain and slavery, Belle.

Bennet is subject to increasing criticism, scepticism about his findings, being accused of fraud and, has as been mentioned, even refused permission to speak to the authorities.

As might be expected, there is something of happy ending but, not before humiliation and suffering, with authorities ultimately accepting his findings, acting on recommendations to protect players against damning concussions with their dire consequences.

One of those “inspiring” films which are also quite enjoyable.

1. An inspiring and crusading film? True story? The impact, medical impact, the world of sport, the world of business? David and Goliath situation with the National Football League?

2. The 2002 setting, the book written in 2009? Bennet and his investigations, career, engagement and marriage, reputation and media and official tests? American citizen in 2015?

3. The title, the tone, the reality of concussion, the visuals of concussion in football matches, throughout the film, the decision of the football managers, the coaches, the players themselves, the underestimating of concussion, reports, cover-ups? The reality, the medical investigation, x-rays, the published paper, the establishment of the illness and its mental consequences, leading to suicides?

4. The city of Pittsburgh, the vistas of the city, homes, building sites, sports arenas, hospitals, morgues, the work of the coroner? Meeting halls? Media? The visit to Washington DC, life in southern California, the town, home, family? The place of football?

5. The importance of football in the United States, God and football? The NFL, the players, the games, tough, the demands of the coaches? People watching, loyalties to clubs? Young boys taking up the sport? The beauty and grace of the movements? Dire consequences?

6. Bennet, his background in Nigeria, his studies abroad, the many qualifications, presenting them in court, his testimony, the study of hands, blood and medical records, the innocence of the accused?

7. His work at the morgue, coroner’s work, talking to the patients, regarding them as persons, eliciting their stories from them? The women working as the nurses, their support? His supervisor and his continued hostility, criticism? Snobbery, racism?

8. Cyril, in charge, his personality, his support of the Bennet, criticisms of the supervisor? The arrival of the body of Mike? Bennet and his questions, the puzzle about his mental state, his killing himself? Wanting further tests, prepared to pay for them himself, $20,000? Cyril and his support?

9. David and his character, self-confidence, civil urging him to make contact with someone else, a girl? And the supervision? Going to the church, the priest, his proposal about the girl, a home, his proper behaviour, his office, her watching the television and his not, sharing?

10. Prima, from Kenya, pleasant, at the church, moving in, and getting a job as a nurse, sharing the apartment, the interest in the issues, going to the plot of land, in its proposal and her acceptance, and the building of the house?

11. Mike Webster, the introduction, a celebrity, his sports career, his family, alienation, mental state, living in the abandoned car, his friend coming to see him, his death? The big football player, his descent into madness, alienation from his family? The other players and their deaths? Dave, his arrogance, not helping his friends, wanting to be Mayor, the clash with Bennett, his latest descent into madness and suicide?

12. The autopsy, the tests, battered discussing with his friends, going to see the expert, the interrogation, the expert believing him, on the basis of scientific method, agreeing to have his name on the publication? Cyril and his congratulations?

13. The challenge, the criticism of the doctors, the coaches, the president of the NFL? The meetings, the denunciations, policies? Julian being allowed to address the group but that hostility, accusations of fraud?

14. Julian, as a Dr, his sports career, in himself, the article, meeting Bennett, the discussions, friendship, his support, collaboration, explaining to Bennett that he could not address the NFL, his failure to persuade them about concussion?

15. The effect on Bennett, not able to talk to the NFL, the denunciations, criticisms, the media?

16. Washington, the explanation of the job, the offer, his turning it down?

17. Moving to Southern California, the years, the growing family, life, his work as a coroner? Decision to stay? His American citizenship?

18. The issues of concussion and the scientific findings? The parallels with other cover-ups, especially smoking? The role of vested interests, cases, testimonies, the revelations of cover-ups and the financial settlements?