Omalu Inception

“Concussion”, written and directed by Peter Landesman was released Christmas Day 2015 and it depicts the based on truth, story of Dr. Bennet Omalu’s findings with regards to damage sustained by football players who have repeated traumas to their head. Anybody who loves films based on truth will find “Concussion” to be well delivered. The plot involves Omalu, who initially conducts an autopsy on Mike Webster, a former NFL football hall of fame player. This ultimately leads him to finding a disorder CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, which turns out to be a common thread linking a pattern of similar deaths of other football players. His findings bring him to publishing a medical journal that the NFL is avidly opposed to becoming public

Smith’s portrayal of Omalu, a forensic pathologist is truly remarkable, right down to his Nigerian accent. The character was well-developed through subtle visuals in the film, for example Omalu’s devout religious faith is depicted through quick shots of a crucifix that hangs from the interior of his car’s rear view mirror and a bible placed on a nightstand. Interestingly, his hands also played a significant role to the theme and visuals of this movie. Omalu’s hands were often the focal point and can be seen busy at work, touching his face in contemplation, clasped as if in prayer, reaching to hold his wife’s, used in gesture to his dialogue and at the movie’s end crossed in front of him as he stands watching a football practice.

“Concussion” opens with the sounds of a football practice and the referee’s whistling blowing… A speech can be heard from Mike Webster while shots of the NFL Hall of Fame, a parade, football play and cheerleading accompany the sound. The opening series of shots establishes the subject, a key character and the power behind the NFL

The sound of a railroad crossing can be heard and then the rumble of a motorcycle, which pulls up to the area that the truck is parked. The man in the truck is pouring ammonia on a cloth and breathing it in and it is quickly learned that the two know each other. One is Mike Webster and the other is a fellow NFLer both of whom seem to be suffering from similar symptoms of extreme confusion. Their minds are having an impact on their quality of life and it is from here that a switch is set in motion.

In the next scene, at church, Omalu is introduced to a woman who he is told by his pastor is in need of refuge/shelter… Enter love interest… Which I must say was a lackluster love story… If I am to critique this movie honestly, I am to say that the love story was less than moving. It was stagnant and I felt it was very underdeveloped. The marriage proposal that comes later in the story felt like a business proposal, which could very well have been intended to develop Omalu’s detached from personal relationship’s character, but it made for a yawn worthy response as the